Huh?
“Morning,” he said.
When Willow saw me, she squealed and kicked her chubby little legs.
“Morning. How’s my favorite niece today?” She leanedtoward me—something she’d just started doing—and I gladly took her. I pressed a kiss to her soft cheek, and she giggled.
James looked past me. “Theo, I want to move back in, if that’s okay with you.”
I stepped out of James’s way and grabbed his suitcase, lugging it inside.
“Uh…” Theo’s gaze volleyed between us. The house was a two-bedroom. If James moved back in, especially with Willow, there would be no room for me.
“Actually, that’s perfect.” I set the suitcase down. “If he’s here, there’s plenty of space for me back home.”
Even if James hadn’t shown up this morning, I was planning to head home today. Mom had offered me Anna’s old room the day I got here, but as masochistic as it was, I’d gotten used to sleeping where Jules had slept every night.
Not anymore.
As insane as it sounded, her wanting Liam instead of me hurt worse than her dark and sordid past. And in her bed was the last place I wanted to be.
“Okay,” Theo said to James. “Sure. But what happened? Did you get into a fight with your parents?”
“No.” James gave me a guilty look. “Last night made me realize I was acting like a selfish tool.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I said.
“You’re just going through the stages of grief,” Theo said.
“I am,” James admitted. “But it’s time to move from anger to… I dunno… there’s nothing to bargain. God’s not going to resurrect Sage anytime soon.”
Theo tapped his temple. “If I remember correctly, after anger and bargaining comes guilt.”
James swallowed visibly. “Sounds about right. But I think that’s part of why I’ve been angry. I already feel incredibly guilty.” His eyes softened as he gazed at his adorable baby girl. “All Sage ever wanted was to be a mom. So why do I get to be here with Willow when she doesn’t?” His voice broke. “Why didn’t God take me instead?”
“James,” I said in a hush.
He flexed his jaw once, twice, trying to get his emotions in check. He turned to me. “And I feel guilty that your heart has been massacred, when I got to be married to the best woman who ever lived. I’m so sorry, man,” he said, like it was his fault. “You don’t deserve this. I’ll miss Sage until the day I die, but I can rest easy knowing she never would’ve done to me what Jules has done to you.” He nodded once. “And she deserves my respect and for me to teach Willow how amazing she was.”
“Amen,” I whispered.
Theo echoed the word.
“And Bowen’s right.” James almost smiled. “But don’t you dare tell him I said so. I have to start living again. It’s time for Willow and me to start our life together.”
“Glad to have you back,” Theo said. “And no worries. I got you and Willow.”
“I know you do.” James smiled. He grabbed the handle of the suitcase, wheeled it across the room, and pushed open the bedroom door. Then he swore. “Theeee-oooo?” he bellowed in the same tone Dave Seville uses when he yells Alvin’s name. “Why does my room look like a teenage girl’s Pinterest board?”
“Bro,” I groaned, balanced on a ladder, rubbing my back. “You said we were going fishing tonight.”
James had managed to exist in this room for the past two weeks without issue. No clue why tonight was the night he decided to go into full renovation mode.
On an identical ladder six feet over, he rolled his eyes. “Quit yer bellyachin’. The Pepto Bismol pink was making me cranky. Felt like I needed to hand in my mancard. We’ll go fishing just as soon as we’re done.”
Theo sniffed. “It’s Cotton Candy Blush, thank you thankyouverymuch.”
“Thankyoufor proving my point.” James climbed down to dip his roller again.
