She swallows once, blinking up at me, the picture of innocence, her voice soft and quiet when she says, “I’m not lying.”
“Oh, Briar Rose.” I click my tongue, a dark smile curving up my face as I toss my boxers to the floor. “You should have lied.”
63
WE DO NOT SLEEP WITH OUR BABY DADDIES!
BRIAR
Pacingmy apartment for what is probably the thousandth time today, I glance up anxiously again at the kitchen clock. Lily and Remi are coming home today. Or, well, they were supposed to be home—an hour ago.
Lily texted a little bit ago, warning that they’d hit traffic coming into the city, which is really not a shocker, but I’m stuck in pause mode. Unable to do anything else until they walk through that door.
After everything that happened last night, I need to hold my daughter in my arms, but most of all,I need my best friend.
Koen and I spent the night together,andmost of the morning. We didn’t sleep. What we did, instead, felt like crossing a line that can’t be uncrossed. And when he finally dropped me off at my apartment, I hated how much I didn’t want to get out of his car.
Koen has an important meeting today that’s supposed to keep him away all day. I have rehearsal tomorrow, but he’s supposed to pick me up after. We’re supposed to go out to dinner. Our very first date. And I—I am going to tell himeverything.
I can’t keep going like this. It’s not fair tohim; it’s not fair tome; and most of all, it’s not fair toRemi.
Koen isn’t the cold-hearted mafia king I thought he was. He deserves to know he has a gorgeous, sassy daughter who looks just like him.
I wring my fingers together as I pace the apartment some more. After tomorrow night, the truth will be out and, hopefully…hopefully… Koen can forgive me.
A few more painfully long minutes later, the doorknob jiggles violently, which may have been scary if it weren’t the exact way Remi attacks the door before you can get your key through the lock.
I rush for it, throwing it open wide.
“Mommy!” Remi squeals, dropping the many stuffed animals she’s carrying to leap into my arms.
I pull her tight, inhaling her sweet scent, before planting kisses everywhere I can reach.
“No kisses!” Remi screeches, trying to twist out of my arms.
“Nope!” I squeeze her tighter, increasing my kiss rate across her cheeks. “You’ve been gone too long. I demand my right to kisses.”
My daughter lets out a sound of dissent but stops fighting, accepting my bout of kisses until I’m ready to release her. “Mom…” she grumbles, wiping at her cheeks like she can wipe them away.
“I missed you. I’m sorry,” I shrug before pointing at the floor. “Do you want help with those?”
At my prodding, Remi suddenly remembers the armload of stuffed animals she walked in with. “No, I've got it!” She snatches up the lot. “I’m going to put them in my room.”
“No running!” I call after her as she sprints down the hall, far too chaotically for my taste, seeing as how she can barely see over her haul.
“I think running is her default speed.”
Smiling, I look back toward the door, finding my best friend shoving their two suitcases over the threshold.
“I would have helped you with those!” I chide, reaching out to grab both bags from her.
“It’s fine,” she huffs out, collapsing onto one of the island’s stools, out of breath andclearly not fine.“I needed the workout.”
“It’s five floors.”
Lily recovers quickly, and I notice how her eyes dart around the tiny space. “Is he here?” Lily whispers, looking curiously around the apartment.
“No,” I whisper back, checking for Remi before continuing. “But one of his guys is probably parked outside.”
