“Every baby I buried took a little piece of my heart with them. The soil I covered them with was watered with my tears, and the flowers bloomed from the despair I fed them. I wanted to go with them. God, you have no idea how much. Even long after they were gone. But there was no way I was going to let Star take my place. And she would have. I wasn’t stupid. I figured out that was why he wanted a girl so bad. I was too old for his tastes anymore.”
I snap my mouth closed when our food is placed in front of us. I stare down at it, my hunger gone. I hear movement, but I keep my eyes on my bowl, fighting back tears. When I feel a nudge at my side, I look up just as Ambros edges me over. And sits beside me. I make space for him, confused for a moment before he slips my spoon into my bowl and scoops up some of the oats. I watch as he brings it closer to his mouth and blows on it.
I swallow down a wave of emotion as he moves it over to me.
“You’ve gotta eat, angel.”
I part my lips and accept the spoon. His eyes lock on my mouth as he scoops up another spoonful.
I don’t say anything. I know I should feel stupid. I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself, but there is something oddly endearing about him taking care of me. Once I’m done, he wipes my lip with the pad of his thumb before sucking it into his mouth.
“Your turn,” I croak out.
He grins. “You gonna feed me too?”
I narrow my eyes before I drag his plate closer. Picking up the knife and fork, I cut everything into bite-sized pieces before I stab some onto the fork and lift it to his lips. The fire in his eyes has an unfamiliar heat pooling in my belly. When he opens his mouth, I slip the fork inside and watch with rabid attention as hechews and swallows before his tongue swipes across his bottom lip.
“More,” he growls quietly.
The fork trembles in my hand as I scoop up more food and hold it out for him. We keep going, caught up in our own little bubble, until his food is gone.
Once I put the fork down and slide the plate away, Ambros slips his fingers under my jaw and tilts my head back, his eyes scanning my face.
“Thank you. Not just for making sure I eat, but for being here with me today, and yesterday. For spending time with my sister when she really needed a girlfriend she could let loose with. Thank you for just being you.”
“You’re welcome,” I whisper, my eyes slipping closed when he presses his lips to my forehead.
“Let’s drink our drinks and start our journey back. People will be wondering where we got to.”
“Okay. Thanks for bringing me with you.”
“I rode so long you got cold and your ass is numb. Not sure what you’re thanking me for.”
I lean forward until our faces are only inches apart and steal his earlier words.
“Then you haven’t been paying attention.”
Chapter Four
AMBROS
I stare downat the bar top in a world of my own when I feel a hand on my arm.
I turn and see Nevaeh looking at me with a determined expression on her face. It’s been a month since I buried my sister, and most people have been pussyfooting around me. But judging from the look on her face, that’s about to come to an end.
“How you doing, Ambros?”
I open my mouth to tell her I’m fine, but then remember the conversation I had with Citi not so long ago, finally getting what she means about feeling like my grief should have an expiry date.
“I’ve been better. You need something?”
She sits on the stool beside me and sighs. “I need help.”
“And you think I’m the right guy to ask? It’s barely ten o’clock and I have a bottle of beer in my hand.”
She waves me off. “I also know you’ve been working every day since the funeral, so I think you’ve earned it.”
“You stalking me, Tink?”
