Page 64 of Because You Loved Me

Skyler runs to her. “Violet. I missed you so much.” She bursts into tears.

Violet pats Skyler’s cheek. “Sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m healing. The doctors say I can probably be back with you in a month.”

Kiki comforts Skyler, and I step forward to take Violet’s hand. “Don’t push yourself. You’re welcome to come back anytime, but I want you to rest and heal.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m fine. The doctors are just being cautious. I got the help I needed right away. It could have been much worse.” She looks at Kiki. “Thank you, darlin’.”

Kiki smooths down Skyler’s hair. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

We stay and chat with Violet for a few more minutes before she starts to look tired. “We’d better go,” I say, taking Skyler’s hand.

“Thank you for visiting me.” Violet pulls her sheet up. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Bye,” Skyler says as we leave.

“Take care,” I say.

We get in the car and Skyler claps her hands. “Time to swim now, right?”

“Yes. We can swim now.” I pull out of the hospital parking lot.

We get home and put on our swimsuits. Skyler drags us down the hill in the back yard. We walk across the sand toward the shoreline. A wave gathers in the distance. Our feet make impressions in the wet sand. Skyler squeals as the water hits her legs.

“Daddy, carry me deeper.” Skyler lifts up her arms to me, and I pick her up. She throws her arms around my neck and clings to me.

Kiki and I walk to where the water is chest deep. Skyler giggles as the waves come and lift us up in the water. Her giggles make Kiki and I laugh.

Kiki grins at me. “That’s adorable.”

The way her eyes crinkle when she laughs, and her cute smile, makes me want to tell her she’s adorable too, but I don’t. I keep that thought to myself.

I try to think of something to distract me. “How did the quilting go yesterday?”

“It went well. We should be able to finish everything this Thursday.”

“You’re going back?” I’d gotten used to our evenings together. Yesterday she stayed at Ellie’s until late so we didn’t get to talk, and it made me grumpy.

“You should come with me and help.” She grins at me, and I can’t quite tell if she’s joking or not.

“I think I’d do more harm than good.” The words slip out of my mouth, and I instantly regret them. I want to spend more time with Kiki. Why did I shoot it down?

“Aw, come on. It’s just making little stitches. It’s not hard. I could show you how to do it.” She touches my arm, and I freeze. She’s barely touched me since the kiss. My brain tries to come up with a verbal response, which is really hard to do as my heart is beating so fast.

“Okay. I’ll help.”

Kiki runs her hand down my arm and tingles erupt over my skin. My heart soars. I feel like a new person. Like I just ran a marathon, but it felt great doing it. The last time I felt this way I was falling in love. The thought startles me and I jerk back. My chest constricts and a lump forms in my throat.

I can’t fall in love with Kiki. She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship. If I allow myself to fall for her, I’ll just end up with my heart dashed to a thousand pieces.

CHAPTER 27

KIKI EMMERSON

Tobias and I get Skyler ready for bed and let her pick out a book for story time. “I want Daddy to read to me tonight,” she pronounces.

Tobias glances at me, like he’s afraid it would hurt my feelings. “Me?”

Skyler cocks her head to the side, then states, “I want both of you to read to me.”

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