Page 58 of Claiming What's Mine

Not without my girl.

Chapter Sixteen

Blue

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“Sit still, it's allmost done.”

Bliss slouched in her seat, laying her head on the back of the pew. “How much longer? You said that ten minutes ago.”

Giving her a quick stink eye, I didn't answer, turning my attention back to the stage. She could wait, we were at Sunday service.

Pastor Tom's voice came out strong and loud, projecting into the sea of people. It was still strange to not see my father up there anymore. Even though he hadn't done a service in over two years, it was like my brain just couldn't fathom another person in his place.

'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. . .'

Looking down at my bible, I read the passage he was referencing, and all I could think about was Jayden and how he had stormed into my life like an army at war. I smiled at the thought of him, I warmed from the memories, and tingled from the way his lips felt against mine.

He made me feel things no man ever had, even my ex-husband didn't have the effect on me that Jayden had. For years I excused those feelings, pretending that it was just puppy love, that it was never real love, that we were just kids looking for something more in life.

“Hey, Mom,” Bliss said, tugging on my arm. “Isn't that the guy from the other day?”

Her words were a mushed up pile of letters, all spilling into one ear and out of the other. Nodding, I touched her hand, keeping my eyes on my lap.

“Why is he looking at you like that?”

“What?” I asked, finally coming into the conversation.

“The guy from the store, he's over there.” Holding out her finger, she cautiously pointed so no one could see her.

Peeking over my left shoulder, I glanced around the faces behind me. Up each row, down each row, until I came to the very back.

He came, I can't believe he actually came.

Jayden smiled using just the corner of his mouth. Veering his stare, I could see his pupils as they twinkled, catching the light shining through the stain glass window.

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