Drew
WHEN SARA CALLEDme, her voice full of anguish and devastation, I bolted out of my aunt’s house without giving anyone a goodbye or an explanation. I’d get shit for that later, but I didn’t care. Sara didn’t know how to ask anyone for help. She never trusted anyone enough. But she calledme. She sobbed in my arms and then she kissed me and let me kiss her. My mind was reeling as I followed her into the apartment, her hand still clutching mine like a lifeline.
I hated that she felt so unlovable when she was the complete opposite. I remembered the brittle and withdrawn beautiful woman I’d met all those months ago, and the little pieces of herself she gave me as she slowly let me in. She had the purest heart behind all those walls she barricaded it with. Now that I had a taste of her, pretending to only be her friend would be impossible. I’d been dreaming of those soft lips on mine since that first day in the hallway, and I wanted more. I wantedher.
She turned to me with those deep brown eyes, still bloodshot from crying. She gave me a sweet smile before pulling me all the way inside and locking the door.
“You’re a foolish man, Kostas. Crazy and foolish.” She let out a long sigh and buried her head in my chest. I cinched my arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m crazy aboutyou, Caldwell,” I whispered into her hair.
“Mommy!” A little girl barreled into us, hanging onto Sara’s leg as she cried into her hip. “I thought you left; I thought you’d miss Christmas.”
Sara grimaced as she crouched down in front of her. “I’m so sorry, Victoria.” She took Victoria’s face in her hands and kissed her cheek. “I would never leave you at Christmas. I . . .” She winced before her pained gaze slid to mine. “I heard some bad news and I didn’t want you to see me upset. But I never meant to worry you. Forgive me?” She pouted her lip at her daughter, drawing out a giggle.
I’d known Sara was a mother from the beginning, but seeing herbea mother knocked the wind out of me. The soft way she spoke and the pure love in her eyes caught me right in the chest and made it real. Loving was who she was and thinking of what she’d gone through at the hands of her own mother made my blood boil.
“Everything all right?” A man’s voice asked from behind us. His eyes bore into us as he crossed his inked arms, raising a brow as he looked between us.
“Drew.” I extended my hand. “I’m a friend of Sara’s. You must be Josh.” His mouth flattened as he took it, still eyeing me as if he was sizing me up.
“Drew?” Victoria’s head shot up with a gasp. “You’re the one who gave us the gift certificates. I gottwoWonder Woman comics.”
“Two, wow!” I knelt down before her. “I love a girl who loves comics. You must be Victoria. I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I should get your autograph.”
She laughed. “I don’t know much about you. I know I saw your name on Mommy’s phone screen a lot.”
I turned my head to Sara’s apologetic shrug. “Well, we should get to know each other then. Can I see the comics you bought?”
“Yes! Stay here, I’ll be right back.” She scrambled down the hall, her brunette ponytail bobbing behind her.
“She’s lovable,” Sara whispered.
“I normally wouldn’t pry.” Josh ambled over to me, his jaw still tight. “But with the way Sara ran out, and now you’re here making friends with my daughter, I need to know if there’s going to be any more trouble.”
“He didn’t cause the trouble.” Sara stepped in between us before letting out a long sigh. “I spoke to my family for the first time in nine years and . . . it didn’t go very well. I ran out so Victoria wouldn’t see me upset, and I called Drew from the car.” She slid her hand into mine and laced our fingers together.
Josh grimaced as his shoulders relaxed. “I’m sorry, Sara. I wish you would have said something. You had us all worried.”
“I’m so sorry.” A woman with long blonde hair wearing a red bathrobe came up to Sara and squeezed her shoulder. “That’s awful.”
Sara nodded but kept her gaze on the floor. “It’s something I should be used to. My own fault.”
“No,” I growled and gripped her hand tighter. “It’s not.”
“Drew is right,” she agreed before turning toward me. “I’m Brianna. Nice to meet you.”
I nodded a hello before Victoria rushed back in, holding her comics against her chest.
“This one’s my favorite.” She pulled at the sleeve of my jacket before poking the cover. “Her hair looks so awesome. I want my hair long like that, so I can wear a tiara.” Her gushing was adorable. Sara was right, she was lovable as hell.
“I guess every girl wants to be a princess, right?” I winked.
She folded her arms and glared at me. “I want to be a princess with a sword who kicks ass.”
“Victoria!” Sara scolded.
“Not a nice word, Sweets.” Josh agreed but let a snicker slip out. “And this princess needs to get into bed, so Santa can come. Cookies are out, say goodnight.” He kissed the back of her head and pointed to her room.
