Page 18 of Shuttered Hearts

“It hasn’t, and it won’t. None of us will let it. But you’re important to them too, and that needed to take priority. At least for a little bit.”

I probablyshouldhave kept the normal schedule with Max, but I really had wanted everyone to have a chance to get re-acclimated to Quinn being around. She left when Max was still so young, so just having her back in the house with him and Scott would have been different. I also didn’t know how she would feel about some stranger—at least to her—being so present in her entire family’s lives. I didn’t want her to feel like I had taken her spot. Of course, based on everything I’ve heard from her family, I shouldn’t have been worried about how she would react to me being in their lives. At her core, Quinn is a good person, with a caring heart. All she’s going to care about is if her family is happy.

“If it makes you feel any better, both Scott and Caleb didn’t agree with me,” I tell her, shoving my hands back in my pockets to stop myself from touching her again. “I was the one who was adamant about taking a step back.”

She studies me intently for a few moments. Whatever she sees settles her. Her shoulders relax, and she releases a small breath. “No more removing yourself on my behalf.”

“Deal.”

Quinn puts her hand out in the space between us. “Shake on it.”

My eyes bounce between her hand and her face. Looking directly at her, I place my hand in hers, and we shake. But that spark is back, sending a shiver up my arm and down my spine, and now I can’t look away from her or take my hand back because I’m frozen in place.

I don’t know if she does, but I know I move even closer to her, leaving the smallest amount of space between us, just enough room for our hands that are still clasped together. She tilts herhead to look up at me, and I can’t stop my eyes from tracking down her face to her lips. Lips I am definitely thinking about kissing.

But before I can act on those thoughts, the bell rings, making us jump.

Quinn looks down, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, and steps back. “You’re sure you’re good to take Max today?”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “I’ve got Max.”

“Okay.” Quinn looks at me through her lashes. “Then, I’ll see you later this evening.”

“Yeah.” I nod, still stuck, standing here looking at her, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

The late bell signaling the start of fifth period rings, knocking me out of my trance. I am officially late for my own class.

nine

DECLAN

“Declan!”Max shouts when he sees me standing outside the school. Watching him run, with his backpack swinging away, causes a massive smile to form on my face.

“Hey, kid.” I laugh as he barrels into me, wrapping his skinny arms tight around my middle. I wrap my arms around him in a tight hug. I know I saw him briefly yesterday, but it’s been a while since I’ve spent any serious amount of time with him.

“What are you doing here?” Max keeps his arms around me but tilts his head up, resting his chin against me.

I look down at him, ruffling his hair a little. “Well, your sister had to go pick up your dad from the hospital, and she thought we could go back to our old routine on days you have soccer practice.”

Max releases me, taking a step back. “Did everything go okay with Dad today?”

“Yeah, he came out of surgery great. He’s probably already at home, giving your sister a hard time.” I give him a reassuring smile.

“Good.” Max looks down at his feet, shuffling around slightly. “So, I get to hang out with you all afternoon?”

“Yeah.” My smile grows even more. “It’s you and me until I take you home after practice.”

The love I have for this kid is undeniable.

When I was younger, I always imagined getting married and having kids when I grew up. But when I married Melissa, it never crossed my mind. It probably should have been a sign, but having kids with her never felt right. After we divorced, the idea of getting married to someone else felt impossible. Which meant the likelihood of me having my own kids was non-existent. I won’t lie, the thought of never having my own kids put me in a not-so-great place. While it had been an abstract thought, I knew it was something I wanted.

Being welcomed into the Marks family opened my eyes in so many ways. I wasn’t Max’s father, nor was I looking to be. But him knowing I would always be in his corner, supporting him however he needed, was a balm to my soul. I loved this kid as if we were my own, which meant having kids of my own wasn’t required for me to have the kind of life I had always imagined. It was possible to find family in so many different ways.

“Good.” Max grinned. “I’ve missed our soccer afternoons.”

“Me too.” I throw an arm around his shoulder, tucking him into my side and turning toward my truck. “Did you have a good day at school?”

“It was fine,” he mumbles.

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