Page 44 of Blame It On the Lattes

Twenty-Two

Avery

“Honey!” I exclaimed, jumping off Sam quicker than a bucking bronco in the rodeo.

Kennedy rubbed her eyes and frowned.

“Were you two kissing?”

I rubbed my lips together as I tugged my shirt down, hoping she hadn’t seen his hand up it as he fondled my breast.

“Umm,” I said, hesitating to answer.

“Yeah, we were,” Sam answered coolly.

I gave him an angry look and swatted his chest before climbing off the couch and rushing over to her.

“What? Why bother lying to her when she clearly saw us? She’s not stupid,” he said quietly for only me to hear.

I knew that she had seen us, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to live in denial for as long as possible. Admitting it only forced it to be more real, and I wasn’t ready to explain whatever this thing between him and I was to her yet.

“Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you up?”

“I had a bad dream.”

“I’m sorry. Do you want to tell me what it was about while we go lie down in your bed?”

She shook her head, and tears filled her eyes.

“Oh, honey,” I said, pulling her into me for a hug. “Whatever it was, it was just a dream. I promise.”

“I want Sam to tuck me in. He’s the only one who can protect me!”

I pressed a hand to my heart and frowned, wondering what in the world could have upset her so badly. Within an instant, Sam was off the couch and headed right for her.

“What happened in your dream, sweetheart?” he asked, concern heavy on his face.

“A monster came and tried to take me from my mommy,” she said, crying hard as she let him pick her up and hold her.

I was torn between feeling an endless amount of love toward this man who was comforting my daughter right now and jealousy that she had picked him over me. For five beautiful years, I had always been the one she went to.

“Monsters aren’t real, honey. No one can take you from me,” I assured her as I rubbed her back while she laid her head on Sam’s chest.

“It wasn’t a real monster,” she cried. “It was daddy.”

I turned away and waved my hand in front of my eyes to keep them from letting out the tears that were begging to be set free.

I knew Sam was right behind me because of the way my body instantly reacted. But I couldn’t deal with that right now. My world felt like it was crumbling around me, and it was taking everything in me to try to stay standing.

“I think we should talk about this,” Sam said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and sucked in another deep breath, struggling to keep it together.

“Yes. You’re right. We should talk about it. That’s a great idea.” I smiled and wiped the tears from Kennedy’s face as I followed Sam to the couch and sat beside them.

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