“You like girls better, huh?” I run a gentle hand across his cheeks, wiping the tears. “You sure take after Daddy. Grandma said he only liked girls when he was your age. Nothing wrong with that, but choose them wisely. Some will break you ten different ways.”
I step aside, gritting my teeth as I gesture for Blair to enter. This isnotfucking happening right now. Theo’s lucky I love his kid, and can’t bear to see him cry.
He’s also lucky I love his wife and understand she needs time off, or else I’d be bursting into the restaurant and dumping River on their table.
I look at Blair when she outstretches her hand toward him.
“Hey there,” she coos softly, making the little traitor show his two new bottom teeth.
“Noah was never this loud,” I admit, handing River over before closing the door. “He slept a lot until he turned one.”
“Noah is Logan’s son, right?”
“First-born,” I confirm. “Eli’s on the way. Any day now.”
Her eyes remain on River as she boops his nose with her finger. Swallowing the bitter taste coating my tongue at letting in the girl who did nothing but hurt Mia her whole life, I temporarily put my hatred on hold.
It’s been almost a year since Mia was assaulted. She dealt with the trauma. Made peace with the past, forgave her enemies, and used the bad things that happened to toughen up.
I don’t share her worldview that everyone deserves a second chance. An apology and admission of guilt is not enough to wipe a slate clean.
I blamed myself last year. I’ve worked through it since, but the memories sometimes steal my breath. If I’d gone after Mia right away, if I didn’t let her out of my sight, if I paid more attention... everything would be different.
That evening changed a lot of people’s lives.
Blair’s included. At least she keeps swearing it was an eye-opener. I’m not buying her remorse, and I’m not buying those meaninglesssorrys she’s spewed for months. Granted, she hasn’t done anything hurtful since then, but it doesn’t mean I’ll forget her sins.
“You want something to drink?” I ask when she sits, bouncing River on her knee.
“Tea if you’ve got any.”
I nod, grateful for a five-minute escape.
My whole body is crawling now she’s close. I don’t want her here, but kicking her out equals upsetting my nephew, and I love him more than I hate her.
Taking my sweet time with the tea, I glance over my shoulder whenever River coos or giggles. He’s grinning at Blair, eyes big, round, and sparkling.
Kids are amazing. Carefree, innocent. They don’t judge or overthink. They take the world as they see it and trust their gut when it comes to people, the survival instinct helping them along.
It’s painful to think that, one day, River will grow up. He’ll lose his innocence. He’ll see the world for the fucking shitshow it is.
I steal glances at Blair, too, racking my brain. She’s a year younger than me, but I’ve known her since she was five. We went to the same schools, and Blair’s pompous, spotlight-loving personality made her less easily overlooked than Mia.
While I didn’t notice Mia until high school, I sure noticed Blair. Spoilt, arrogant, rich bitch. The mean girl, always on top of the food chain, surrounded by worshippers, both boys and girls.
That’s not the same girl who’s sitting on my couch, playing peek-a-boo with River, whose ecstatic screams pierce my eardrums. This girl is different, somehow.
I can’t put my finger on what changed. I don’t think it’s her smile. I’ve seen that a thousand times.
Maybe it’s her clothes. She’s not one false move away from her dress accidentallyrolling up to flash half the student body. At some point, the guys made daily bets:what color thong is Blair wearing today?
Black, usually. Sometimes red. Never white.
“You got kids in your family?” I ask, setting the cup on a tall side table far from River’s reach.
My tone’s frosty enough to freeze an ocean, but I ask because I can’t deal with awkward silence.
“Not yet. Soon, though. My cousin is due in October.”
