it was hard for him, too, not being able to show affection in front of our little audience. “Text me what
I’m supposed to grab, and I promise I’ll take good care of her for you.”
“I know. That much was never in doubt. Thank you.” I nearly stumbled when he mouthed, I love
you. I gave him a simple nod to let him know the sentiment was reciprocated. “Princess, be good for
William, okay?”
“I will. You hurry though. I might need you to snuggle me, too,” she insisted.
“You’ve got it. Maybe we’ll do a snuggle pile tonight to help you feel better,” he offered.
“You need William snuggles, too?” I bit down on my lips to keep from laughing. This kid was too
damned perceptive. We didn’t stand a chance of keeping the truth from her. “He’s cuddly like a big
teddy bear. I’ll share him with you.”
Corey’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “Oh, so he’s yours now? He was my friend first.”
“Corey…” There was no heat behind my warning, and Willow giggled. “Quit fighting. There’s
more than enough of me for both of you, and I think we can definitely test that theory once you get
home from work.”
Home. Four little letters that had never meant much to me, but now they meant everything. Sure, I
craved my connection to Vivvie and Jayden, but they’d never filled me with this longing to create an
honest home for myself.
I made an excuse to get out of there before I said anything else to tip my hand. Corey walked us to
the door, resting his hand against the small of my back the entire way. At that moment, the yearning I
felt strengthened. This was what I wanted. This was my family—not by birth, but because some other
cosmic force had brought us together—and I’d do everything I could to protect both of them.
20
COREY
WE’RE DOWN AT MY SISTER’S. COME IN THROUGH THE BACK DOOR WHEN YOU GET HOME.
I frowned at my phone. Maybe it made me an ,ass but I was already irritated that I wasn’t going to
get my nap, and now William expected me to meet his sister. I was tired from him keeping me up late
last night, stressed because Willow was sick and I hadn’t been able to drop everything to take care of
her because I worked with morons, and annoyed as hell that Lisa still wasn’t answering her phone.
I’d always sworn I would do whatever was in Willow’s best interest, but recently, I was confused
over what exactly that was. Lisa wasn’t a horrible person, but she was selfish. Now that she was
