Page 185 of Unexpected Heroine

And I don’t want to be that way.

A wave of sadness rocks through my chest, knocking me deep into the seat cushion.

I want to bicker with Tomer like we’re an old married couple.

I want flirty antagonism and bratty defiance.

I want my old life back.

Breakups are the pits. One day, I’m sure I’ll have that again. At least, I hope so. But it’ll never be the same. Because it won’t be with him.

That’s what I’m mourning.

The familiarity and comfort of being his brat. Of flirting and playing around with him. Of making him smile. Making him happy.

That’s what hurts the most.

While Stella and Freya have evolved from strangers to acquaintances to friends to possibly more right in front of my eyes, my life has moved in the opposite direction.

Their raucous laughter drags me back into the moment again, rescuing me from what was quickly becoming a one-way ticket to sad squirrel time.

“Anyway, I think we’re here,” Stella singsongs, all upbeat and cheery. “As previously stated before I was interrupted,” she side-eyes Freya, “I will do something questionable to your ass if you brought us here to see him instead of your father.” She puts up air quotes around the word father.

Why did she say it that way? Doesn’t she understand how air quotes work? He is my father. Allegedly.

Well, damn. Maybe I’m the one that doesn’t understand air quotes. She might be right. DNA hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Should I do that? Does anyone have a cotton swab? That’d be an interesting introductory meeting with my alleged father.

Hello, Big Daddy Alan. Remember me? Lettie Holt, trafficking survivor. Pleasure to meet you. I’ve got some news. Turns out, I’m allegedly your spawn. Surprise. Open wide so I can swab your cheek, and I’ll be back with the results in seven to ten business days. Toodle-oo!

Houston, we are a go for headache.

I wonder if my llama misses me as much as I miss him.

Freya puts her blinker on and turns into a parking lot driveway with a guard shack and gated entry. My heart seizes in my chest.

Oh no. What do we tell them?

Heart restarting, panic shoots through my veins like slivers of ice.

“Changed my mind.” Reaching into the front seat, I smack Freya’s right shoulder repeatedly. “Let’s go. I can’t do this right now.”

Stella whips her head around to meet my eyes. “It’s okay, Lettie bear. Breathe. We don’t have to stay.”

Freya nods markedly in silent agreement.

Stella continues. “You say the word, Lettie. If you don’t wanna see him now, we don’t have to do it now. There’s no rush.”

Relief starts to warm my veins, driving out the ice. “Yeah, I wanna go home. This was good, though. I got out of the apartment.” I throw up jazz hands ironically. “Yay, Lettie.”

Essentially, my babysitters took me for a walk in the stroller today.

Chapter 34

Say anything

TOMER

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