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When I glance at Jilly, she looks like she’s on the verge of tears.
Fuck. I forgot that anything remotely scary is off the table when it comes to her.
“Okay, guys. Let’s get going,” I start, clasping my hands together as I straighten and address their dad. “Peter, I will call you when we’re on our way back. Again, I know you’re heading out so if you need me to keep them, I can take them back to my house and Abraham can stay at his apartment.” All things have been discussed, the logistics of the night between us three adults and the potential that I may have to take them home with me.
He nods and it’s then that I notice he’s dressed up himself, his shirt tucked into his slacks and all. His blond hair is combed to the side like some sort of Clark Kent and I want to ask him ifhe’sheaded on a date but I’m sure he’ll share when the girls aren’t around.
He squats down and hugs both the girls before Jilly takes off running to the car, Penny walking beside Abraham behind her.
This is a life I’d never even given myself permission to dream of.
I’m about to walk away when Peter says my name, and I turn back to look at him.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I search his eyes, waiting to hear what he has to say. Years of a shared life come to mind as he stares past me at the girls and Abraham. One of the car doors shuts and I make a mental note to doublecheck their booster seats before we hit the road.
“I’m happy for you,” he murmurs, a melancholy air to his tone as he continues to watch them. “It’s been an honor to share a life with you. To have two beautiful children with you.”
I don’t know what to say as I look at him and he finally meets my gaze.
“I don’t regret it,” I whisper in return, trying for the hundredth time not to cry. “Thank you.”
He’s been around Abraham dozens of times by now. I’d discussed his comfortability with him, acknowledging that it’s paramount in order to make this situation as effortless as possible for the girls. Through it, they’ve formed their own relationship and while they’re not best friends, they have a shared fondness that warms me.
I shattered a life and created stained glass from the shards of it.
“Have fun tonight,” he says before turning to step and grab his suit jacket. He squeezes my shoulder as he passes me on the steps to unlock his car, it chirping in reaction to his remote start button.
As I walk toward the three most important people in my life, I stare up at the night sky with a sigh.
I think of the day I prayed to the stars, and I can’t help but think that they heard me. That in some way, they led me to my happy ending.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
OPEN YOUR EYES
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Stellina.”
Sleep clings to me as I hear his voice just before I feel his hands slowly running up my back. When he reaches my shoulder, he massages it in his firm grip.
“I need you.”
A groan rumbles from my chest as I roll onto my back, trying to claw my way to consciousness as my body refuses to comply.
Abraham uses this moment to lightly pinch my nipple before his hand slides down my stomach to cup my pussy.
“Apri gli occhi,” he murmurs as he rubs his thumb over my clit, causing my body to spasm before my lids snap open. “Good girl.”
I’m disoriented, unsure how he ended up here in my bed. As if he realizes, he begins to tell me.
“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow so I came straight from the airport and used my spare key.” He leans forward to press a kiss to my lips, parting them to sweep his tongue over mine before pulling away. “Seven days is too long.”
“I missed you, too,” I mewl as I stretch, pushing myself further into his touch. When I attempt to sit up, he nudges me back down against the bed. It’s too dark to see him but the dim moonlight cast across my bedroom makes his outline visible.
There’s a thrill, an excitement at the idea of him showing up here, wanting me so badly that he couldn’t wait. Letting himself into my home and climbing into my bed.
“Did I ever tell you how many times I watched that old video of us?”
