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“Make something up,” I growled. “I need to tell her about thething.”
“Ahh. Right.” He crouched down. “Come on, Mira, we’ve got some cool ropes you can play with.”
When she nodded, Brian hoisted her up in his massive arms and strode back to the weighted ropes.
Zoe watched them walk away with a soft smile on her face. “I think she misses coming here.” Then her eyes lit up. “Oh, I got a call today. That pediatric therapist the lawyer recommended agreed to take on Mira. We can take her in a couple weeks.”
I took a step closer. “We can talk about that later.”
At the urgency in my voice, Zoe’s eyebrows popped up. “What’s wrong?”
“We fucked up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We didn’t book shit for her birthday party.”
Zoe’s lips twitched. “Liam, we havemonthsuntil her birthday.”
I leaned in closer. “And I won’t be the reason she doesn’t have fucking Moana at her fucking birthday party. You wanted structure, yeah? Add it to your spreadsheet. I’m calling today.”
So that I didn’t have to hear Zoe laugh or see any fucking glimmer of happiness in her eyes, I started back toward the corner where Mira had gone.
I stopped, pivoting to face Zoe. “And she needs swimming lessons. I’ll deal with it.”
Zoe’s mouth opened, but I turned before she could say anything. I’d pay for all this later, 100 percent, but I couldn’t bring myself to calm the hell down.
Then I paused, glancing back at Valentine. “Want me to bring her home when I’m done? I’ve got about another hour yet.”
Her face morphed with surprise. “You don’t think she’ll get in the way?”
I eyed the corner of the weight room, where Mira had five giant football players gathered around her, doing their best to look like fools in order to make her laugh.
“Nah. She’ll be just fine.”
Zoe snapped a picture of the display in front of us. Then she smiled at me. A real smile too.
My heart could hardly take it.
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you at home, then?”
See you at home.Said like she hadn’t sliced straight through my ribs.
I managed a nod and watched her go tell Mira that she could stay with me. Mira hugged her neck and then ran back into the group of players.
Zoe’s eyes were locked on mine as she walked past, and I felt it through every inch of my body.
Structure,I thought again.
Structure was our friend.
And I’d need a structure forged from iron and steel to keep that woman out. But I could do it.
Maybe.
Chapter Seventeen
ZOE
