Page 68 of Wilde Hearts

“He had two black eyes for weeks,” Vivianne added.

Ensley glared at her parents. “You two hush!” Turning back to me, she drew in a breath and held it.

I closed my eyes—and when nothing happened, I peeked open one eye to see Ensley staring at me.

“If you’re going to hit me, just do it.”

“Not in my house will there be any violence tonight,” Vivianne stated, as if this was a normal, everyday occurrence.

It took me a second to realize Ensley’s attention was focused on my right hand. When I looked down, I saw the bracelet she’d made for me shortly after we started dating. It had been on my wrist for nearly twelve years. I’d never taken it off.

Her eyes snapped back up to mine. “I didn’t notice that earlier today at lunch.”

I held up my wrist. The bracelet had seen better days. “I had on a long-sleeved shirt.”

She swallowed hard and reached for my hand. Her finger ran over the bracelet she’d lovingly made so many years ago. “You’re still wearing it.”

“Of course I am. The only way it’s ever leaving my wrist is if it falls off.”

Those beautiful baby blues looked up at me, wetness building before she quickly blinked it away. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

We were soon lost in each other’s eyes, and just as she leaned closer to me, and I leaned closer to her, Ladd’s throat cleared, snapping us both from our trance.

I quickly looked up and asked, “Do you need me to help with anything?”

Vivianne was smiling, and Ladd was attempting not to, but failing.

Finally, Vivianne said, “The salad’s done and so are the meatballs. I’m just going to pop the sandwich rolls into the oven to warm them up.”

“Would you like to eat in here or the dining room?” Ladd asked.

“The dining room,” Ensley said quickly, as she reached into a cabinet and pulled out some plates, handing them to her mother. For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed. I’d come over to the Wildes’ plenty of times for dinner in the past and had always been treated like one of the family.

“Silverware still in the same spot?” I asked.

“Sure is!” Vivianne replied, as she slid the rolls into the oven.

Ensley followed me into the dining room with napkins and we set the table in silence. When I took a moment to look at her, she was frowning.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

She set the last napkin down and faced me. “You never took it off?”

I held up my wrist and smiled. “I would’ve had to cut it off, and that was something I’d never do. I cherish it.”

“Cherish it?” Her head tilted, and though she had a slightly skeptical tone, a soft smile stretched her lips.

“Of course I do, Pip. You made me this.”

She started to chew on her lower lip, and I swore she wanted to ask something else. Instead, she cleared her throat and said, “We should go back to the kitchen and help grab stuff.”

Vivianne was just placing mozzarella cheese over the meatballs, and my mouth started to water. No one could make meatballs like Vivianne Wilde.

“My father would kill to have some of these meatballs,” I said with a laugh.

Ladd handed me two plates with sandwiches. “He’s in kale hell, I’m sure.”

It took everything I had not to laugh once again. Instead, I carried the two plates into the dining room and set them down. One in my spot, one in Ensley’s. We all sat and quickly fell into an easy conversation. Ladd asked about my travels, and at first I thought it would bother Ensley to hear, but she soon started asking questions, as well.