Page 97 of When We Met

“Oh, definitely.” With her head on my chest, she breathes out slowly. “Barron?”

“Yeah?” My heart beats a little faster. I never know what this girl is going to say next.

“I know I said it, but I never meant to hurt you. I should have told you sooner.”

That shitty feeling returns. The one I fight so hard to ignore. “You didn’t hurt me, Kacy. I don’t feel used. I just, I don’t know. I worry about them.”

“You have every right to worry about them. They’re your daughters.”

“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen when you leave.”

She lifts her head, the firelight reflecting the agony in her eyes, probably because I said “when you leave.” Like this wasn’t a choice for her any longer. Is it? Do I want her to leave? She crashed into my life so suddenly, I hadn’t prepared myself for what falling for someone would feel like for me or my girls. Now it’s left me completely devastated in some ways. Not because of the lie, but because of the reminder of how temporary it can be.

“My favorite part was that you didn’t know me. You didn’t know the drama, the rumors, any of it,” I admit, opening myself up to her. “You crashed into my life and didn’t know me. Or at least I thought it was that way.”

“That was my favorite part, too, because I felt the exact same way. You didn’t know me or my family. I was just a girl.”

We stare at the fire in silence, breathing easy. I might not know what the next few days will bring, but I’m glad this girl is with me. “Who hates egg nog?” I add, trying to draw some humor into it.

A gift I didn’t see coming.

BARRON

I’ve had five Christmases with Camdyn. I’ve had three with Sev. I had four with Tara, and now, one with Kacy. In all that time, all those mornings when you’re supposed to be thankful for those around you, this one means the most.

Amongst wrapping paper and giggles, I stare at the vintage spellbook that Kacy had engraved with Sev’s name on it. “You didn’t have to do that. It must have cost a fortune.”

Kacy beams with pride, wearing Christmas pajamas she bought to match the girls’. “It’s worth it to see the look on her face.”

Leaning forward, I press my lips to her temple. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for letting me stay. This was the first Christmas where I’ve seen snow and a real family together.”

I smile, but inside, it’s sad to think she had been so unhappy before this. And I can imagine Tara had a lot to do with it.

As the girls continue to open their gifts, Kacy scoots closer to me.

“Do you think those will fit her?” she asks, gesturing to the Ariat boots she got for Camdyn. She put them on as soon as she opened them and hasn’t taken them off since. I doubt she will, even if they are two sizes too big.

“They’ll fit her soon. Their feet grow like crazy.” Reaching behind me, I pull out the necklace I asked Tilly to pick up for me in Austin last week. Granted, this was before I knew about her connection with Tara, but still, I don’t regret it. Sighing, I hand it to her and then reach for my coffee without words.

She stares at the box in her hand. “What’s this?”

“I had Aunt Tilly pick it up for you when she was in Austin.” I bring the cup to my lips, trying to keep my smile hidden. “That was before I knew how much you liked egg nog. Or I would have gotten you a bottle.”

She makes a gagging sound, and Sev turns to look at her, a black princess crown haphazardly balancing on her head and a custom spell wand pointed at us.

“What are you doing with that wand?” I ask her, curious why she looks like she’s trying to burn a hole in my head with her stare.

“Makes me a brother,” she growls in her monster voice.

I glare back. A brother? She wants a brother? What the fuck? First a mom, now a brother. “It doesn’t work that way, little girl.”

Kacy gasps beside me, having opened the box. “I love it!” She hands it to me. “Can you put it on me?”

With her neckline in view, I’m thinking about putting something else on her. I fasten the spring ring clasp on the necklace for her. It’s a vintage chain with a camphor glass drop that says:Not all souls that wander are lost.

She touches her fingers to the camphor glass. “It’s so beautiful.” Jumping up, she reaches under the tree for a small box and pushes it toward me. “I got you this.”

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