Page 18 of Merry with a Brewmaster
“You’ve changed her life being here. And don’t tell me it’s just a job because we’re past that.”
My lips part at the compliment and his eyes drop to my mouth. Clearing my throat, I can feel my cheeks heat and have to look away for a minute before turning back to him. “Saige and I will distract her. We’ll make sure she has fun,” I rasp, trying to get us back on track.
“Vienna,” Wells says, taking a small step forward, his tongue peeking out to wet his lips.
“Don’t,” I whisper, “We’ve done so well and we have a routine and it’s working, Wells.”
Raking his hand through his hair, he spins in a circle as he blows out a heavy breath. “You’re right—I’m sorry.”
My smile is sad because I’m sorry too. “Haven needs stability, and we’ve finally managed to make this work and exist in the same space. We can’t screw that up, especially not now.”
“Thanks for being the adult tonight.” Wells flashes a wry grin as he hitches his thumb toward the stairs. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Not before I see you in my dreams.
8
VIENNA
“Can you believe it’sofficiallyOctober!” I squeal, earning a side-eye from Haven as she eats her bowl of cereal before school. No matter how hard I tried, I’d never been that kid growing up, choosing to stash a granola bar in my backpack that would get smushed and thrown away out of eyesight of my mother.
“Okay?” she says around a mouthful of Lucky Charms. In her defense, I’ve had two cups of coffee already so I might beslightlymore awake.
“It’s time for Halloween!” I do a little dance and it makes her lips twitch. “What do you want to be?”
“For what?”
“For Halloween—what do you want to be?”
She shrugs. “Daddy usually takes me to the store, and I pick one out.”
“What about decorations?” She stares at me. “Trick or treating?”
“Mom didn’t really like it.” There’s an extra dose of hurt at the mention of her mother. Wells had told her this morning thatwe had a new plan for the weekend, and despite our enthusiasm, she hadn’t been fooled.
It made me want to shake Kim and at the same time keep Haven as far from her as I can.
Pressing my lips into a line, I try a different tactic. “Would you liketo maybe pick a costume that’s a little more unique? I have my sewing machine, and even though I’m a little rusty, I bet we could make you something awesome”—I pause and wait for her to look at me—“but only if you want.”
“Really?” Her hazel eyes are bright as she stares at me.
“Definitely. So think about what you might want to be, and we’ll make a plan after school.” She wiggles in her seat and I chuckle. “And I’ll talk to your dad about decorations, but right now you need to hustle and finish your breakfast so we can get you there on time.”
Dutifully, Haven eats the last few bites before taking her bowl to the sink and running upstairs to brush her teeth. Her purple dress has silver stars all over it, and it looks so cute with her white sneakers that she somehow manages to keep clean despite being seven. This morning she asked me to give her two fishtail braids like I had mine yesterday, and I had to rein in my happy dance.
I’m not her mother, but I’ll be a damn good role model for this bright-eyed girl with a big heart and sensitive soul.
Plus, it had been better to focus on Haven over the last month than on my attraction to Wells. I wasn’t always successful, but I’m trying.
VIENNA: I offered to make Haven a Halloween costume
WELLS: You can do that?
VIENNA: It’s too early to be insulted so I’m taking it as a compliment
WELLS: It was definitely a compliment—I’ve only ever gone to the store and prayed they had something she liked
VIENNA: She told me
