Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Because I’m not family the way Janey is. I’ll be here for a short while, and then, like always, I’ll drift on to another job, another place, another family who needs me. I’m going to miss them, though—Cole and Janey and Emmett, Grace, Cameron. Especially Grace and Cameron.
I don’t get the chance to tell her that, though, because Emmett’s cries ring out through the house and Janey instantly jumps up, running for the nursery.
Alone in the living room, I replay everything Janey’s told me, trying to make sense of it. But my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I see that it’s a message from Cole.
Don’t hurt him.
I snort out a laugh. As if I, Riley Stefano, could hurt a man like Cameron Harrington. I lift a brow, glaring at the camera in the corner of the room, trusting that Cole’s watching for my reaction to his text.
A second later, another one comes through.
Don’t let him hurt you either.
I lick my lips because that’s entirely possible. Plausible, even, because I’m in too deep with Grace, with Cameron, with the Harringtons.
I’m a runner. Always have been, always will be. The open road tempts me with new adventures, and I go, too afraid to put roots in deep where they’ll get ripped out anyway. But this family is tempting. The way they love each other, as imperfect as they are, and support one another, even when things are rough. It’d be nice to be a part of something like this.
But that’s not my destiny. It never was and never will be.
The best I can do is enjoy the hell out of it while I have the chance, knowing it’ll be good memories when it’s time to move on.
CAMERON
“Are you sure about this?” I ask Grace, searching her face.
This is a sleepover at Hannah’s house. After wearing braids to school, Grace swears that she and Hannah are fine. Apparently, Hannah called the braids ‘cute’, and that’s all it takes to get back in my daughter’s good graces. I’m not such an easy sale, though.
Her brows wrinkle together and she frowns. “Yeah, we’re gonna watch movies, learn a new TikTok dance, play with makeup, and have ice cream for dinner.”
“And who all will be there?”
I already know the answer, but it’s good to ask repeatedly on the off-chance the answer changes, even slightly. And yes, I learned that from a parenting book. I started reading a new one because Riley’s thoughts on my daughter’s best friend have stuck with me, and I’m wondering if there’s something I might’ve missed over the last year.
“Hannah, of course. Me, Megan, Trinity, and Bella.”
“Which Bella?” There are three in Grace’s grade, plus several more in the school.
“Bella Wilcox, the one who plays piano.”
I nod, appreciative of the reminder because I’m not sure I could tell you Bella’s last name, but I do remember the girl who played Golden Hour at last year’s talent show because the crowd had gone crazy and I didn’t even know the song. “Okay, call me if you need anything, and I’ll pick you up in the morning after breakfast.”
She leans my way for a forehead kiss, and I tell her, “I love you. Have fun.”
“’Kay! You and Riley have fun too! Love you!” She bolts from the car but calls back, “Bye, Dad!”
I watch as she rings the bell, dances from side to side as she waits impatiently, and is then greeted by a mass of other girls who screech happily as they absorb her into their group. Hannah’s mother, Amelia, appears at the open door, smiling as she looks between the kids and me. The first time the girls had a sleepover, I’d basically tortured her, grilling her with questions and what-if scenarios, and had still almost left with Grace because I just couldn’t leave her with someone other than family. Amelia had been patient but finally told me that the girls would be fine if I’d let them be. It’d been a gentle rebuff and our relationship as the annoying, but necessary parentals of the girls was cemented.
Maybe I should talk to her about Hannah’s comment? She wouldn’t be okay with it, I know that for sure. I almost put the car in park, but Riley’s words come back to me. I need to let Grace handle this. She’s capable, and learning, but she also knows I’ll support her if she needs help. So I wave to Amelia and drive away.
When Grace asked if she could go to Hannah’s for a sleepover, I hadn’t really considered the full scope of what that would mean. But when she said for me and Riley to have fun, it’d hit me—Riley and I will be alone in the house all night.
Alarm bells are going off in my head. And in my pants.