“What about Orange and Winston?”
He cast a look at my dog, who was sitting next to us, leaning against his leg.“I’m sure they want to see their new home too.”
Okay, now I had no more arguments.I’d thought for sure that would be what might make him see reason.Winston hissed whenever he saw Vance, and Orange followed him around whenever he came over and left mountains of his hair everywhere.He’d also tried to get on the sofa bed with us, which was where Vance drew the line.
There was a loud banging on the door followed by a voice from the hallway.“You have some explaining to do.”
That was unmistakably Malena.
“I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.”
That was Linny.
“Oh, I’m definitely angry.”
And there was Keely.
Damn it, Malena must have activated the phone tree.I’d been suspicious that our group chat had been so quiet.Now I knew why.
Reluctantly releasing Vance, I skirted around him and opened the door.I was met with two angry faces and one disappointed one.
They barged in, Linny the last one through, closing the door behind her.They lined up in front of me, and I readied myself for the ass chewing I was about to get.
Warmth hit my back, and Vance’s hands came to my hips.“Hello, ladies.”
They mumbled their greetings, never taking their eyes off me.Unsurprisingly, Keely was the first one to speak.“Why did you never mention anything to us?Do you not trust us?”
Malena was next, not letting me respond.“We’ve been friends for years.And I never even had any idea.How could you not tell us?”
Linny jumped in right after.“I would have never thought of her as anything but your daughter.We all know you love her.But I am hurt that you didn’t trust us enough to talk to us.”
And now I knew I was an asshole.Because I should have told them.This mess was entirely my doing.“I’m sorry for not telling you.I just never knew how to approach it.And to be honest, it never mattered to me.She’s my daughter in all the ways that count.”
Keely pinched her nose between her fingers.“Except that she’s not, and now you’ve given Douchy McDoucheface leverage.”
Malena held up her hand.“I wouldn’t be so quick to say that.Vance and I found her birth mom.She might have given up custody, but technically she still has rights.”
Keely dropped her hand to her side, narrowing her eyes first at Vance and then at me.“I want in.That dickhead is not taking the girls.”
I put my hands over my chest, taking a sharp breath in.“You found her?Have you talked to her?”
Malena nodded.“I got her number this afternoon.I’ll call her tonight to see if she’d be willing to meet up with us.”
I dropped my hands, reaching for Vance, who immediately intertwined his fingers with mine.“I’m coming too.”
Keely nodded.“Good.Now we have a fighting chance.”
That’s when the girls burst into the room, both holding a backpack in their hands.“We’re all packed.”
Addy spotted our visitors first and shrieked in delight, quickly joined by her sister once she realized what the excitement was all about.
Elana rushed up to us, running from one person to the next, overwhelmed by who she should greet first.Keely noticed her dilemma and picked her up, giving her a hug and kiss, then handed her over to Malena to do the same, then Linny, who eventually set her back down.
Malena kneeled down, inspecting the backpacks they were holding.“Where are you girls off to this late at night?”
Addy hugged her backpack to her front.“It’s for tomorrow.We’re sleeping at Vance’s.”She leaned in and lowered her voice.“And he hasthreebedrooms.One for each of us.”
Malena made an approving sound.“That is indeed fantastic.Tomorrow will be lots of fun.”She stood back up, fixing me with narrowed eyes.“We’ll talk more at the office.”
