“Just making an observation.”
Joe looks like he wants to argue, but when he glances at Cormac, he quickly thinks better of it. He gets to his feet and goes in search of some glasses.
The moment his back is turned, Cormac stakes a hand around my waist and pulls me against him.
I instantly feel the nervous energy inside me dissipate, and I lean into his warmth.
“Did you give them the cookies yet?” Cormac asks under his breath.
I laugh quietly. “Yeah, they didn’t last long. Those girls could give Scout a run for his money when it comes to sugar, that’s for sure.”
“We might have to test that sometime.”
Cormac quickly brushes his lips against my forehead, and I look up to see nothing but sincerity in his eyes.
For a moment, I let myself picture what it would be like, sitting around playing games and eating cookies with Scout, Amber, and Skye, wrapped up in a bubble filled with their laughter. It almost feels too good to be true.
“I would like that,” I whisper.
Joe slams the glasses down onto the table to make his presence known.
I quickly break away from Cormac and snatch up the glasses and pitcher of lemonade he’s brought out, wanting to get the hell out of this room. I don’t trust myself not to say anything to Joe that won’t end up with him losing his shit. Not that Cormac would let him get anywhere near me.
It’s almost enough to get me to try and push his buttons. After all, it’s the least he deserves after keeping my nieces away from me for almost a year. But every second I spend in here is time taken away from Amber and Skye, so I happily leave Cormac to deal with him and go back to playing princess tea party with my girls.
I hurry back into the playroom where Amber and Skye are emptying their dressing-up box all over the floor and set down the pitcher and glasses on the small table.
Skye claps. “Now it’s a real tea party!”
“Do we have any cookies left?” Amber asks.
Skye pouts. “You ate them all.”
“I did not! You had way more than me!”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
I’m only half-listening to the girls as I pour out the lemonade, my thoughts too consumed by what little I overheard Cormac saying to Joe.
Did he really mean what he said about me being the most loving and loyal person he’s ever met?
Skye peers up at me with her huge blue eyes. “Auntie Fi, you okay? You look like you’re going to cry.”
I reach out to stroke her hair. “I’m just happy, sweetheart. I’m so unbelievably happy.”
Amber beams. “Me too! This is the best day ever!”
I wrap my arms around both of them and hold them close. “It really is. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I wish you came to my science fair. I got second place!” Skye’s words tumble over each other.
I forgot how quickly she talks. It reminds me so much of Carly that it steals the breath from my lungs.
I force a smile. “I would have loved to have been there. I will definitely be at the next one.”
I can’t believe it’s been almost a whole year since we were last together.
