Page 31 of The Lilac River

The truth, that no woman had measured up to Lily in ten long years, stayed locked in my chest.

I flicked Wilder’s chair leg, knocking it back onto four legs just as he was about to tip over.

"Fucker," he yelped, clutching the table.

"Serves you right," I said with a smirk. "Balance like a grown-up."

"You need to get laid," Gunner insisted. "Even I get more action than you and that’s saying something."

"Christ," I muttered, rubbing my jaw. "If I wanted this much judgment, I'd call Dad."

Bertie appeared then, hairbrush and band in hand, her serious little face determined.

"Daddy," she said, "you need to pick your outfit for tomorrow. And I need my hair braided."

I smiled and waved her over. "Come here, Munchkin."

She climbed into my lap, and while I smoothed her hair and braided it into a single, sleek plait, my brothers started snickering again.

"You know doing hair doesn’t get you out of tomorrow’s fashion crisis," Gunner teased.

"Yeah," Wilder added. "Gotta impress Miss. Gray."

I rolled my eyes.

Bertie beamed up at me. "Miss. Gray issopretty, Daddy."

Wilder leaned in, grinning. "Oh yeah? What's she like?"

"She’s beautiful. And kind. And she's gonna love Daddy. And maybe," Bertie finished sweetly, "then he can have a playdate, and his fun sacks won't dry up."

I dropped my forehead onto the table.

God help me.

Chapter 12

Burning House - Cam

Lily

Half an hour before the school day started, I was confident. I believed I could rebuild my life in Silver Peaks, quietly, successfully, without crossing paths with Nash Miller.

Then the doors opened for Get To Know You Day.

And he walked in.

At first, I blinked stupidly, my heart pounding in my chest. Bertie, bouncing excitedly beside him, clutched his hand. And just like that, it hit me. She wasn’t just a Miller.

She was his.

For half a second, I tried to tell myself she might be a niece or a cousin. But one look at them together, and I knew. She had his eyes, his lips, even the same warm brown hair. A beautiful, living echo of him.

"Miss. Gray, Miss. Gray!" Bertie cried, dragging him over. "This is my Daddy! He made cupcakes!"

She beamed up at him, pure joy radiating from her tiny body.

"Show her, Daddy. Show her the cakes!"

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