Page 143 of The Way We Win

“Who are you?” she demands.

“I’m ahh…” Danielle’s eyes flicker to mine briefly. “I’m a friend of your dad’s.”

“I know all my daddy’s friends.”

“Okay…” Danielle nods. “You’re very pretty.”

Kimmie’s eyes narrow, and she’s a handful. She’s also smart as a whip. “Thank you.”

Allie walks up at this point, reaching for Kimmie’s hand. “Come on, baby.” My wife’s voice is a soothing balm to my insides. “We can talk about it, okay?”

Kimmie’s little lips pout, and she shakes her head. “It’s not okay, Miss Allie.”

“I know,” Allie concedes. “I’m going to miss him, too.”

“Is this the new wife?” Danielle smiles, holding out her hand.

“Yes, I am.” Allie lifts her chin, looking straight into my ex’s eyes and ignoring her hand.

“Congratulations. You’ve got a good man here.”

I’m not sure where this is coming from, but Allie’s tone is sharp.

“Yes, I do. He’s thebestman. He’s an incredible dad, and… well, he’s pretty incredible ineveryway, if you know what I mean.”

Danielle’s brows rise, and I can’t help a smug grin.

“Speaking ofeveryway…” She turns to me, lowering her voice. “I ah, I wanted to apologize. I said some things when we were together, and well… I’m sorry. I was harsh and ignorant, and I guess… I’m just saying, I’m more open now.”

My eyes narrow. “That door is closed.”

She blinks up at me as if she’ll say more, but Allie steps between us, adding, “And locked. Now you’d better get going.”

Danielle exhales a laugh, looking down. “Well, anyway, I apologize.” Looking over at my daughter, she smiles. “Kimmie, good luck with Austin, and Jack, I’ll be seeing you.”

“No, you won’t.” Allie takes a step closer. “You’re all done here, understand?”

Reaching out, I catch my feisty wife’s wrist. “Have a nice life, Danielle. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

She lifts her chin. “You, too.”

“I have.” My tone is final.

She holds up both hands. “Okay, then. That’s all I wanted to say.”

She nods at my siblings, who are all giving varying degrees of death glares. Turning on her booted heel, she struts to the doors and out of our lives forever.

“Damn, Allie!” Raven cries when the doors close. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

Allie holds my arm, grinning at her friends. Kimmie is still at her side pouting, and Dylan holds out a hand.

“Come here, KJ.” Kimmie marches over to my sister, who puts a hand on her waist. “Daddy and Miss Allie need a little not-so-quiet time tonight…” I cut her a look, and she continues, grinning up at me from where she’s nursing her baby boy. “You’re going to stay with Uncle Logan and me, and we’re going to talk about this Austin situation, okay?”

Kimmie nods forcefully, and Allie mouths aThank youto her. Dylan waves her away, mouthing backI got this.Considering my little sister has been Kimmie’s backup mom since I came back to Newhope carrying a six-month-old, I trust her.

I pull Allie to my chest. “Is it honeymoon time yet?”

Her lips press into a smile, and she tilts her head. “We’ve got to cut the cake.”

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