Page 27 of Resist

They steal my thoughts and promote procrastination.

Fuck. I need to get laid.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Vaughn

The smell of the strawberry shampoo in her hair and the grip of her arms around my neck is exactly what I needed.

I breathe Lucy in. The soft hum she emits when she’s happy. The copper-colored Brushfield spots lighting up the irises of her pale-blue eyes. Her always-smiling face. Her constantly cheery demeanor, even after everything she’s been through.

I love absolutely everything about her.

Even her extra chromosome 21 that’s given her Down syndrome.

“I missed you like crazy, Luce!” I murmur into the top of her head when I press a kiss there, tears unexpectedly burning the backs of my eyes as I fight them back.

“I missed you more.” She kisses the palm of my hand. “I was waiting and waiting for Tuesday. ’Cause you always come on Tuesday, right? I’m so ex-excited you’re here!”

“Not as excited as I’ve been all morning.” Her smile widens, and I see my sister in her expression. It hits me harder than I expected this time around. Harder because I know the answers have to be in her journals, and yet I can’t bring myself to face them just yet. “I have so many fun things planned for us today.”

“Like what?” Her fingers link with mine out of reflex, and we swing our arms as we walk in the outdoor common area of the facility where she’s staying.

“I was thinking a carriage ride in Central Park.” The quick tightening of her fingers and high-pitched squeal tells me that idea went over well. “I mean, a princess needs her carriage, right?”

“Yes.”

“And then maybe story time at the library.”

“Is it a princess book?”

I twist my lips in pretend thought. “Of course!”

Her grin widens. “Can I bring my crown?”

“Only if you have one for me too!”

She chatters incessantly as we make our way back across the lush grounds to where her quarters are. Clinical halls decorated to disguise the fact that this is a community residence where little kids with disabilities are housed while their guardianship is settled in court.

Soon, baby girl. If I have my way, I’ll get you out of here soon.

“Be right back!” Lucy says as she heads to her room to grab her costume. Most likely it will be the yellow Belle one because that’s her favorite this month.

The tears threaten again as I watch her bound down the hall with energy and excitement.

Get a grip, Vaughn.

But that’s what I’m doing, right? I’m trying to ground myself by spending the entire day with the only person who matters to me. The one person I’m doing all of this for.

What happened with Ryker knocked me back some. Sure, it was two nights ago, but the more I think about it, the worse it seems. The more I know what a fiasco I created.

I spent all day yesterday trying to compartmentalize everything.

The result? I’ve written off Ryker Lockhart.

Maybe it’s easier to write him off so that I’m not worrying about the loss of possible income his referrals could bring and the funds I have to return to him. If I’m obsessed with the stress of how he’ll most likely ruin the reputation I’ve worked so hard to build, then maybe all of that will overshadow the truths hiding just beneath the surface.

The way my mind keeps wandering to memories I have of growing up while questioning the legitimacy of every single one of them.