“I think you know why.” I run my thumb along her cheekbone, capturing a lone tear. “I want to give you everything, Angel. Starting with this.”
“You’ve already given me so much,” she says, choking on the words. “This is too much. I didn’t even get you anything.”
“You gave me Jessie. Nothing will ever come close.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs. “This is a dream come true.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I say, needing to infuse a little levity into the moment. “We still have to spend hours on an airplane with a four-month-old baby.”
She backhands my chest. “Don’t talk about my daughter like that. She’s a perfect angel.”
Right on cue, a loud cry comes through the baby monitor.
“A perfect angel with very strong lungs,” I say. “I’ll get her.”
Chapter 35
The Wager
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Angelina
My parents flew backto Europe a few weeks ago, and we’re finally adjusting to life without them. They wholeheartedly approve of Griffin, not that I ever doubted they would. I miss them so much, but I’m so glad we got to have that time together. They were ecstatic when I told them we’d be visiting in June, and now they’re counting down the days until we’re finally on their side of the world.
“I’m coming with you,” Griffin says, clipping eight-week-old Jessie into her car seat and giving an extra tug on the straps. She coos at him, and his gaze softens like it always does. He peers down at her one more time, pulling the canopy over the seat.
“We’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I have to do this on my own. Having you there will just complicate things.”
“Are you going to let him see her?” he asks, his voice low and guttural.
“We’ve been over this already. He needs to see her. If he still feels nothing, he can sign the paperwork, and we can move on. I don’t want to leave any room for regret.”
“I don’t fucking like it.”
I take a small step into his space and wrap my arms around his waist. Tension instantly leaves his body as he returns the embrace.
“She’s still your baby girl,” I say. “Meeting the man who abandoned us isn’t going to change your role in her life.”
“And what about yours?”
My lips twitch into a half-smile as I glance up at him. “You’re jealous.”
“So what if I am?”
“I still have free will. A year ago, I chose you. He could get down on his knees and beg for all I care. Nothing is going to change my mind.”
“And if he wants to be in Jessie’s life?”
“He won’t.”
“But if he does.”
“Then he’ll have the fight of his life ahead of him.”
It would only take three simple words to set Griffin’s mind at ease, but I can’t bring myself to utter them—not now. Not while there’s still this threat looming over us. Once Tyler is out of the picture for good, I’ll tell Griffin I love him and hope like hell he says it back.
“I have to go, or we’ll be late.”
