Page 118 of Scarred

Setting her down, she watches me grab an extra toothbrush and slowly reaches for it as I start to brush mine. Keeping an eye on me like I’m going to change my mind at any second, we brush our teeth together.

When she drops her toothbrush next to mine in the holder, I can’t help but stare at the significance of what it means. It’s been just one for so long, and to have two side by side makes me feel like another piece of myself that I thought had died is coming to life again.

“Cayden,” she says softly, placing a hand on my back and bringing me back to the present.

“I’m good, Luna. Really good,” I smile.

And I realize I am as I take her hand and lead her to my bed.

Throwing the covers back, she crawls in, and I drop my grey sweats, leaving me in my boxer briefs before I slide in next to her.

I immediately reach for her and bring her body against mine as I spoon her from behind, not wanting even the slightest distance between us.

She sighs and sinks into me more as I wrap my arm around her.

I wait for the guilt to come.

I wait for anything to tell me this is wrong.

But all I feel is peace.

My body relaxes against hers, and for the first time in years, the night doesn’t weigh heavily on me.

The silence doesn’t hold everything I’ve lost anymore.

It holds everything I’m finding again.

Scar’s laughter fills the air in the distance, and I instinctively reach for Luna next to me, but all I find is an empty bed.

Blinking my eyes open, I see the sunlight streaming in and notice it’s already eight o’clock as I glance at the clock on my nightstand. I never sleep this late, let alone sleep the whole night through.

Tossing back the covers, I throw on my sweats and t-shirt before following the giggles coming from downstairs.

I stop when I get to the kitchen doorway, my heart beating strangely in my chest.

Luna and Scarlett have their heads together as they mix some batter in a bowl. Scar’s blonde curls bounce with excitement as they drop the chocolate chips in.

They both look adorable, with flour dusting their cheeks and their messy buns, which Luna must have helped my daughter with.

Scar is wearing her pink nightgown with a purple tutu thrown on over it, and Luna still has my grey t-shirt on with pink cotton shorts she must have had in her bag. A smile forms on my face as I watch the two of them interact.

“I’ve missed that smile.” I turn to see Mae standing behind me and frown.

“I smile.”

“You do, but it’s been a long time since it fully reached your eyes. Seeing as Luna is still here this morning, I take it your date went well?”

“Is it wrong that I didn’t want her to leave?” I ask quietly, my gaze turning back to their giggles as Scar pretends to feed her Stormy dolphin, a chocolate chip. “I have a woman in my kitchen with my daughter, and instead of feeling guilty, all I feel is how damn happy it makes me.”

“It’s not wrong that you feel that way, Cayden,” Mae says softly, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Loving someone new doesn’t mean you stop loving who you lost.”

“I never said anything about love.” I shake my head, but even as I do, my heart says otherwise. That one word holds so much fear for me that I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to say it again to another woman.

“You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”

I swallow down the emotions, unable to deny or speak what I’m feeling as I watch the two of them together.

Mae follows my gaze as we silently watch them interact.