Page 52 of Fractured Grief
“Nothing is going to happen.” I kissed his forehead.
A sad smile lifted his cheek before he spoke. “One of the things Lexi and I talked about loving the most are Hazel’s eyes. Once we knew they weren’t going to change and would stay their beautiful blue, we laughed that they matched mine. I have Sectoral Heterochromia, which is why part of my right eye is a different color. Lexi and I joked that God had performed a miracle, adding the missing drop of blue from my eye and giving it to Hazel, so we’d have one miraculous similarity. Her blue eyes had been a huge surprise. She’d started with the dark blue eyes all babies have, but they became paler as she’d gotten older. We always expected her eyes to change as Lexi’s eyes had been green, and all her family’s eyes were green or hazel, no blue in the known lineage. I loved that we shared this small similarity. It was our coincidental miracle.” His eyes shone with all the love in the world for the little girl in his arms.
“Thank you for telling me. You’re an amazing father, friend, and person. I’m falling for you, Indy.”
His gaze finally met mine. “Really?”
“Of course.” I pressed our lips together, needing to feel him and help him understand how much he’d come to mean to me. I was falling in love with him.
We kept the kiss chaste with Hazel asleep on Indy’s chest. I pulled back, taking a moment to breathe him in. This incredible man. He’d been through so much, but there was so much more to learn. I couldn’t wait. Every new thing I learned just made me fall for him even more. I was a goner, and I hoped I never stopped falling.
Chapter 26
Indy
Icouldn’t believe I’d told him.
I’d never spoken those words out loud. I wished she were biologically mine, but that was not possible. I loved her more than life itself, and I wished more than anything that Lex was here with us. To be in her life, watch Haze grow, and meet Seb. She would’ve loved Seb. She would have been so happy for me.
I nuzzled my nose into Hazel’s curls, needing to immerse myself in her scent. She was my world. All I’d done since I knew of her existence had been to plan and provide for her and Lex. We’d been a team.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Seb’s hand ran along my cheek where silent tears fell.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” I whispered.
“I won’t,” he paused, his gaze assessing. “Blood isn’t everything, you know that, right?”
I glanced at him from under my lashes.How did this mountain of a man worm his way into my heart?He’d broken down walls I didn’t even know I had. He made me feel confident and free in a way I’d never felt.
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Seb... foreverything,” I swallow around the emotion clogging my throat.
“I’m happy to be able to help. I like taking care of you,” his green eyes blazed with sincerity.
We sat in silence while the drip did its work. Seb kept holding my hand.
By the time Doc came in to unhook the IV, I was already feeling so much better.
He gave me a script for oral antibiotics and was going through my aftercare instructions when Lyric burst into the room with Seb’s Mom close behind.
“Oh, Indy, you poor dear,” she came bustling over to me, placing her hand on my forehead.
“Ma, leave him be. Doc’s got it under control,” Seb stammered.
“You know she can’t help but mother,” Lyric said, sending me a commiserating smile. “There’s no stopping her.”
“Behave, you two. You’re not too old or big for me to discipline,” she spoke so seriously; it was kind of impressive.
Lyric held up his hands in surrender. “I know, Ma, but maybe Indy isn’t used to such smothering.” The mischievous smirk he sent my way let me know he was teasing.
Although he wasn’t wrong, my mom was nothing like Seb’s.
She was a slight woman compared to her sons. Slim, with tanned skin and a mess of brunette curls in a bun on top of her head. She wore a colorful sundress, with leggings and a matching cardigan. She always looked so put together, and today was no exception.
“Hello again, Mrs. Papadakis,” I said by way of greeting, getting a little overwhelmed by all the attention.
“None of that Mrs. stuff. You can call me Kat or Ma. I look forward to getting to know you outside of your PT role now that my Seb is so smitten with you.”
“Ma!” The blush that bloomed over Seb’s face was so cute.
