Page 85 of Crazy Love

“I’m not really a PTA person, no, but drop-offs are?—”

“Want to tell me what game you’re playing at, Penn? And how you managed to convince my daughter to play it with you?” He leans in and nudges his index finger into his desk with his next words. “Because I’ve listened to her talk about a wedding by the water with lots of flowers and how pretty ice sculptures are, and you name it, and you know what wasn’t in the picture at all?”

I shake my head.

“Eloping with a guy she barely knows.”

A bead of sweat creeps down the back of my neck, nausea making my stomach turn over.

“I’m not playing a game,” I say, but even to my own ears, it sounds weak.

He puts his elbows on his desk. “I’ve loved that girl since before she even entered the world. So I’ll ask again. What are you getting out of this?”

I feel the guilt like a gut punch. Because the truth is—it did start as a game in a way. Not with Addy’s heart, never that. But with the idea of creating a secure environment for Sam. Making the foster board happy. Bucking the system. Giving Sam a stable home so they would stop throwing up roadblocks for us at every turn.

But now…

It’s not that simple.

I clear my throat. “I’m in this. Addy and I are in this together. And yes, Sam is part of the equation, but it’s not all about him.”

He watches me closely, and it’s like he can see right through me.

I swallow hard. Married life has been pretty fucking great. Coming home to Addy. Waking up next to her. Finding Sam atthe table with bedhead. Talking about his homework. All of it…it’s been so much better than I imagined it could be. But how do I even begin expressing that when I don’t know how to define it myself yet?

It’s silent for a few moments as he studies me. Then he leans back in his chair. “I’m watching you, Penn. And if you hurt her…” His jaw tightens. “I will hunt you down and make your life a living hell.”

“I know,” I say quietly. “I never want to hurt Addy, I promise you that.”

He kind of snorts like he doesn’t believe me but nods. “Get outta here.”

I stand, muscles tight as I head for the door. My heart’s still hammering, but it eases up when I step into the hallway and take a deep breath.

That feeling doesn’t last long.

When I get home, Sam is waiting by the window. His face is pale, his arms wrapped tight around his knees. He looks up when I walk in.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, walking over.

Addy walks in with a tray of celery covered with peanut butter and raisins and I give her a quick kiss after she sets it in front of Sam. Her eyes are sad too.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Sam’s jaw clenches. “It’s Winnie.”

My stomach drops. Winnie is one of the little girls who lived in his foster home. “What happened?”

“She was hurt. I didn’t see her, but I heard she had a black eye like I had and that she fell down the stairs…” His chin wobbles and he wipes his nose on his shirt. “She’s five, but she’s not clumsy. I don’t think she fell at all. Penn…I think she’s still in that house. Why would they leave her there when they know what’s happened with me?”

My whole body stiffens. “No. No way. That can’t be right.”

Fuck.

I pull out my phone and dial Mrs. Murphy’s number. It rings four times before she answers.

“Hello, Penn.”

“Why the hell is Winnie still in that house?” I bark.

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