Page 88 of Second Shot

“Shit. I’m sorry. I know how much it meant toyou.”

She shrugs, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes. “There’ll beothers.”

I pull her against my chest and kiss the top of her head, feeling somewhat responsible. “Is there anything I cando?”

“Actually.” She chews on her bottom lip for a second before continuing. “I wanted Felix to come over and take a look at my newpieces.”

“Felix?” My lips tug down as I remember the look of the guy, or more specifically, the way he looked atBrynne.

“I know it’s awkward. You can sayno-”

“No. It’s fine. This is your home.” I drag my thumb along her jaw. “You don’t have to ask me to have peopleover.”

“Good.” She smiles. “Because I asked Kiley to come stay with me while you’re out oftown.”

Igrunt.

She chuckles, then stands on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I guess a grunt is better than ano.”

Chapter 29

Brynne

My father is sitting up,flirting with the nurse who’s taking his blood pressure when I walk into his room. He looks better. There’s a bit of color in his cheeks. But not as much as the pretty young thing who seems to be enjoying hisattention.

Sunlight floods through the large windows, and countless bouquets and balloons make it look more like a floral shop than a hospital room, which makes me chuckle, because one thing my father hates is flowers and shows ofaffection.

“Hi.” I push the stroller into theroom.

“Brynne.” The light humor that was in his eyes a second agodisappears.

“Is this a badtime?”

“I’m just finishing up here,” the nurse says, patting my father’sarm.

I wait in silence until she leaves, watching the door slowly shut behindher.

Noah stirs in his stroller, letting out a small cry, breaking oursilence.

I unbuckle him, and lift him up to myshoulder.

My father tries to shift on his bed, but he winces and falls back into his semi-uprightposition.

“Don’t strain yourself,” Isay.

“I want to see my grandson,” he says in his typical clipped manner. “Bring himhere.”

I sigh, a small smile tugging at my lips, because some things will never change. I remove the distance between us, shifting Noah so that my dad can seehim.

Something flickers in my father’s eyes. A touch of emotion that I rarelysee.

He raises his arms to take Noah fromme.

“I don’t think that’s a goodidea-”

“And I didn’t ask for your advice. Now, let me holdhim.”

I exhale heavily and place Noah in his arms, who looks up at him and starts to babblehappily.

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