Page 33 of Wild Hearts

"Are you going to use the same excuse? Because I don't think she should have sacrificed her happiness for me."

"I've never had you in my life before. You should be my sole focus. At least for now."

Her nose scrunched. "I'm not a baby. I'm independent."

I nodded. "I know. But let me have this time, okay? I lost so many years."

Dakota nodded.

"I promise I'll tell her."

Her eyes filled with excitement. "You will?"

"Yes. But no promises on when." I wasn't sure that Addison would be receptive to it. "Today, she said we were friends."

Dakota grinned. "That's a step in the right direction."

"I thought it was bad to be friend zoned."

Dakota frowned. "I don't think so."

"We'll see." I stuffed my mouth with pizza so I couldn't answer any more of her questions. I didn't know what the protocol for parenting was, but I was almost positive I wasn't supposed to discuss my love life with my thirteen-year-old daughter.

It felt good to share something personal with her though. We were becoming a family, a team, and I liked it a lot. "How are things going at school?"

Her nose scrunched. "Eh."

"What does that mean?" I'd read it was hard to discern information through teens, but this was taking that to a new level.

She shrugged. "I'm new. You know how that is."

"I was the new kid when I moved in with my aunt and uncle." I was so steeped in grief and pretending I was okay; I wasn't sure I cared about making friends.

"Everyone already has a friend group. I'm not sure how to break in or if I even want to."

"Does that bother you?" I had a feeling it did. Girls were more social than boys, and I'd seen her texting her friends back home.

"It would be nice to have friends."

I couldn't do much about this problem except listen to her. "Hopefully, things will get better next week."

Dakota shrugged.

I'd made some progress with her. I'd shown her she could count on me, and that I was here to listen to her problems. Hopefully, we were on the right track.

8

ADDISON

Walker texted to thank me for helping him out in the store. It wasn't a big deal, and I was positive anyone could have helped. But I was glad that I could be there for him.

Now I was supposed to meet them at the festival, and I wasn't sure why I needed to be here. It wasn't for work. I didn't need to make a follow-up report for another few weeks.

So this was purely social, which had me on edge. Why had I agreed to meet them? I told myself it was Dakota, and I couldn't say no to spending time with her. Something about her situation called out to me. Just like when I'd met Walker.

Their situations were eerily similar.

I texted when I arrived, and Walker said he'd meet me at the entrance to the festival area, which was marked with an overhead banner which read Wilde Winter Festival.

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