Page 153 of From Nowhere

“But you and Lola have done that for Maren. And despite her nearly losing her life a month ago, I haven’t seen my daughter look this alive since before Brandon died. So I want to thank you for taking a chance on my daughter. I know you’re protective of Lola, so your decision to let Maren into your life could not have come easily.”

I drop my head, staring at my dirty boots, one crossed over the other. “Loving your daughter has been effortless. Frighteningly so.” I shake my head. “And she has breathed life back into Lola and me. But I feel like I’m asking too much of Maren to patiently wait while I help Lola work through her issues from her mother dying.”

“I think you’re underestimating both of our daughters.”

I lift my gaze to Aaron’s crooked grin.

“Lola brings the really good stuff out of Maren, and I think Maren does the same to Lola. I advise you to step aside and let the women in your life work through things together. You’re spending too much time worrying that Maren will die and break Lola’s heart or that Lola’s slow recovery will hold Maren back from living her dreams. I promise you, those girls aren’t half as worried as you are.”

I think about his wise words and return a slow nod. “You could be right.”

“I am.” He slides on his reading glasses. “They were picking out paint colors because they decided on their own that Lola needs a room in this house.”

I smile, and it feels incredible. “Thank you,” I say.

Aaron glances up at me over his glasses. “For what?”

“For helping bring Maren into this world.”

Aaron returns his attention to the book, but not without a content smile settling on his face.

I open the front door, and Lola’s gaze shoots to mine. She’s playing a card game on the floor with Maren’s mom.

Lola taps her finger to her lips. “Shh. Maren’s upstairs sleeping.”

Colleen glances over her shoulder and smiles. “She should probably wake up soon, so she’ll sleep tonight. Unless she has a late-night visitor.” She smirks. Luckily, it goes over Lola’s head.

I remove my boots and head toward the stairs. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Colleen returns a drawn-out “Mm-hmm.”

Maren’s on her side, hugging a pillow, hair fanned out over the other pillow and lips parted as she softly snores.

I crawl sideways onto the bed and rest my cheek on Maren’s legs.

She exhales a long breath and soft hum, teasing her fingers through my hair. “She redeemed herself, so you don’t have to ground her.”

I grin. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“It’s getting ready to rain. I have to go. But I’ll consider your recommendation.”

“Stay,” she mumbles. “It’s your job to woo me, but your plate is full, so I’ll make an exception and woo you instead. Now get up here and kiss me.”

I have a few things to say about her wooing, but they’ll have to wait until I’m done kissing her. She snakes her hand up the inside of my shirt.

“You and Lola have no patience. She wants to roam the entire city on her bike like she’s twenty, not ten. And you don’t see that I’ve been wooing you since we met because you’re too twitchy to see that I have my own wooing style.”

Maren’s gaze sweeps in all directions along my face as she nibbles on her lower lip. “Twitchy? I’m not twitchy or impatient.”

I chuckle. “You are, and so is Lola.”

“She stopped for doughnuts this morning.”

“Gah!” I roll to my back and throw my arm over my head. “Don’t tell me that. I have enough worries.”

Maren laughs.

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