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“Don’t be. You’re the only thing getting me through.”

Alice rushes past me with one shoe on her foot and the other in her hand as Brooklyn crawls along behind her, laughing. I bite my lip to contain my giggles.

“Hey, let me help Alice get to class and figure out dinner for Brooklyn and me and then I’ll call you back, okay?”

He groans. “You’re killin’ me.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

We say good-bye as Alice races back into the room, buttoning up her shirt. “Long day, Al?” I ask, laughing and she shoots me a glare.

“I fell asleep on the couch and woke up to Brooklyn screeching in my face.”

Brooklyn plops her butt down next to me and reaches up. Laughing, I reach down and scoop her up, my body still aching something fierce.

“Did you scare your auntie?” I ask her and she screeches again, smashing her little hands against my chest.

“Little monster,” Alice growls as her lips twitch with the smile she’s barely holding back. Brooklyn blows a raspberry at her and we both laugh. “That girl is a ham.”

“I think she gets it from her auntie,” I muse and Alice shakes her head.

“Oh, no. I had nothing to do with that. This little girl,” she says, tickling Brooklyn’s belly, “is one hundred percent her mama.”

Thank God.

The thought flits through my head without warning and my smile falls as I struggle with the memories threatening to resurface.

“Shit, Quinn…” Alice says and I shake my head, holding my hand up.

“No, I’m good.”

My phone buzzes in my hand and I glance down, thankful for the distraction.

Lucas:

Don’t worry about dinner.

Something is on the way.

Me:

Thank you.

I would tell him that it’s really not necessary but I’ve already figured out that he wouldn’t listen to me anyway. Besides, being taken care of for once actually feels pretty damn good.

“And who is putting that smile back on your face?” Alice asks, trying to peek at my phone. I lock the screen to hide it from her.

“No one.”

“Mmhmm,” she hums, walking to the door and grabbing her book bag before opening the door. “Tell Lucas hi for me.”

“Go to class,” I grumble, giving her a playful shove and she laughs as she steps outside and closes the door behind her. I turn to Brooklyn and make a face. “Your auntie is trouble, little girl.”

She blows another raspberry and I laugh as I set my purse down and carry her into the living room. Once I have her set up with her toys, I sink into the couch and dial Lucas’s number.

“Finally,” he answers and I shake my head, giggling.

“I don’t think that was even ten minutes. Thank you for dinner, by the way.”