Page 51 of Loving at 40

“You okay, princess?” River states, still rubbing up and down Rosie’s spine. She stole my nickname, and I’m about to interject when Rosie does instead.

“I’m a pirate,” she announces, and River softly chuckles while Jenna presses a kiss to Rosie’s cheek.

“You’re a brave girl,” River encourages, offering a soft smile as the color slowly returns to her face.

“The pirate ship is grounded, though,” Zack adds, which forces Oliver to look up at his dad. His mouth falls open and then snaps shut, as if deciding against any argument. He walks over to Rosie and wraps a hand around her delicate ankle, swinging her leg a little.

“You shouldn’t be a pirate, Rosie. You’re a princess,” Oliver says.

“I can too be a pirate,” she argues, looking down at Oliver from her mother’s arms. Then she kicks out her leg, and Oliver releases his grasp. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the little boy just had his first experience with heartbreak. His ashen-colored face turns bright red with hurt.

Yeah, it’s going to happen, kid. Women will disappoint you many times in life.

On that thought, Oliver stalks away and. after pressing a kiss to River’s temple, Zack follows.

“What can I do?” River asks, meeting Jenna’s eyes. “Offer treasure? How about forbidden booty like a c-o-o-k-i-e?”

“I know how to spell cookie,” Rosie states around the thumb she’s returned to her mouth.

“Brave and smart,” River teases. “Good combination for a pirate-girl.” She winks at Rosie.

“We’re just going to go,” Jenna mutters, and River nods, but apology still fills her expression.

I pat Talia’s leg, and she unfolds from me.

“Help me up,” I jest, holding out my hand as if I’m going to use her to leverage me off the ground. Instead, I press up on one hand as she tugs me with all her might. “Wow, look how strong you are, ice queen,” I praise.

“I’ll go back to being a teacher princess today.”

Once standing, I softly chuckle, knowing Talia will definitely be teaching boys like Trevor a thing or two as she ages. Stepping over to Jenna and Rosie, I rub a hand up Rosie’s back and lean forward, pressing a kiss to the back of her head. Her soft blond curls tickle my nose, and my eyes find Jenna watching me.

Tears fill them as she mouths, “Thank you.”

“Anything for you,” I remind her, not giving a second thought to our earlier position. Even if Ryan is in her head, she and her girls are in mine, and I’m at great risk of them taking over my heart.

20

[Jenna]

I’m coming out of my skin. Once we return to the apartment, I don’t want to be confined inside, but the thought of a day at the beach, sitting still and reliving my daughter falling off that board above a swing is not something I can handle. I need to get out of here. I know River is upset, and it wasn’t her fault Trevor dared Rosie to walk the plank, but I need some separation from the group and an activity to settle my brain.

I’m afraid to let Rosie out of my arms or out of my sight, but I deposit her on the couch, telling the girls I need a minute. Archer is on my heels, entering the apartment. He follows me into his bedroom, where I leave the door ajar but stand behind the barrier it makes, pressing my body against the wall.

Immediately, Archer is in my face.

“Not now,” I breathe out. “I just can’t . . .” I can’t deal with him and what happened earlier, any more than I can imagine how I’ll ever repay him for rescuing Rosie.

His hand cups the back of my head, stopping my words as he pulls me into him. His large arms surround me as my chest heaves. I’m fighting off a delayed reaction of breaking into tears.

Holy shit, my baby girl is going to be the end of me.

“Just breathe, babe,” he whispers near my ear in that growly voice.

“I-I can’t.” My heart is still hammering, and my eyes burn. Archer’s other hand comes to my chest, covering that spot he likes. His flat palm is like a slow-releasing balm, attempting to soothe my racing heart and lower my blood pressure. His mouth lowers to mine. Soft. Gentle. Tender. He sips once. He kisses twice. Then he swipes his tongue across the seam of my lips.

“Archer, I just can’t—”

“Babe, shh,” he whispers, and he brushes his lips over mine again. “Kiss me.”