“Uh…” I peeked over at his mom from across the table, wondering how the fuck I was supposed to answer that. “Guess from eating all my food as a kid.”
“Well, I don’t got to worry about that because I eat everything, so I bet I’m gonna be just as big as you. You think I could be a big giant like you?” He grinned up at me with a blob of mashed potatoes smeared on his cheek.
His light brown hair a mess and sticking up all around his adorable face.
“No way, you can’t be as big.” Eva giggled like mad, her head tipped back and the two dimples in her cheeks showing.
“And you don’t have the grumpy part, so I don’t think you’re like him.” Addy peeked at me. More of that wariness oozing out. Like she was wondering how I was going to react to her saying it.
Exasperated, I looked around at each of them. At this sweet little family that Daisy was trying to protect in the only way that she thought she could.
This woman, who was always supposed to mean the most to me, who I was struggling to keep at arm’s length.
I met her gaze from across the table. Those blue eyes so dark they were etched in that hue of purple. Hope and fear filling them full.
My chest stretched tight.
Couldn’t imagine having these three kids, loving them so damned much, and being terrified that I might not be around to ensure they were safe. Not knowing if they would have a home or if they would be loved. Not knowing if they were supported or cherished.
But wasn’t that exactly what she was asking of me? To become that person?
Understanding passed through her gorgeous features, like she saw my own fear and pain, though I didn’t miss the plea that was woven in the middle. It twisted through me like ribbons and bows or maybe thousand-pound chains.
Hooks that impaled my spirit.
I got stuck there, just staring at her, while her children giggled and laughed and chatted like they weren’t in the middle of the turmoil that raged between me and their mom.
Like they had no clue about the mess they were in.
I must have been staring forever, caught up in her gravity. I jarred back when I realized what I was doing.
Falling.
Tripping.
I roughly cleared my throat and pushed from my chair. The legs screeched as I stood, and dishes clattered as I started tossing them into a pile that I balanced on my left palm.
Needing to get away from the reckless ideas I was having.
“You don’t need to do that.” Daisy stood, too.
“You made a delicious dinner. The least I can do is the dishes,” I grated.
She shook her head as she started gathering dishes on her side, her voice filled with emphasis when she whispered, “I owe you my life, Cash.”
I froze.
I knew she wasn’t referring to right now. That she wasn’t talking about my letting them stay here or the promises I made to protect them.
She was talking aboutthen.
Pain splintered through the middle of me, and my heart stalled in my chest.
A shattering of my spirit.
“You don’t owe me anything.” It clawed up my raw throat, and I turned and stalked around the island to the kitchen sink.
Hands shaking, I tossed the dishes in. Silverware and porcelain clattered and clinked, my breaths heavy heaves as my pulse thundered through my veins.
