Page 97 of Late Nights & Love Lines
“That’s part of being an artist—you never think your work is good,” Rowan says, then stands and walks around the sofa to face Seren. “How did it feel to do it?”
“Angry,” Seren mumbles.
My gaze ping-pongs between my two girls, but I stay where I am because this conversation was meant for Rowan. She might be the only one who can truly sympathize with my little girl.
“It’s very therapeutic. And lots of music can be angry, but still beautiful. Maybe tomorrow we can go together, and you canshow me what you’ve done? I—I might have some feelings to get out too.”
Her gaze snags on mine, and my heart beats to her tune.
“Really?” The hope in Seren’s voice cuts me to the quick. How many times has her mother let her down in her short life?
“Really,” Rowan laughs, and I swear the tension melts from her body. “It’s been a…day around here.”
At that moment, Tabby’s loud, rich laughter fills the air, and Beck walks in, holding a large bowl in one hand and an infant car seat in the other.
“What’s going on?” Seren asks, unease coating her words.
“Family dinner, kid,” Beck says, entering the fray. “Mind helping me with this?”
Seren takes the large bowl from him.
“What am I supposed to do now?” Seren’s gaze follows Beck as he rounds the sofa and removes the small child from the car seat.
“Well, apparently, it’s family dinner and girls’ night,” Rowan says in a light tone. “I have no idea what a girls’ night entails other than wine, but if your dad says it’s okay, you can come hang out with us in the kitchen with a soda if you don’t want to be on kid-duty out here.”
“Really? You’d…” She drops her chin and stares at the floor. “You’d let me hang out with you guys?”
“Sure,” Rowan says lightly. “Why not? You’re too old to play with the littles, unless you wanted to play with them, which is totally fine, but you’re old enough to be in on whatever Tabby has up her sleeve. With a house full of people, it can’t get too wild, and if it does, you’ll be my escape plan.” Her face glows with happiness.
“My mom never even let me be in the same room with her when she was with her friends.”
Rowan’s face falls to sadness in the blink of an eye. She may feel as though she’s not good with her emotions, but she takes on everyone else’s with the empathy of a survivor.
“I’m so sorry about that, Ser.” I say the words, but they slice open my mouth on their way out. “Your mother…” What do I say to her?Your mother’s a selfish assholedoesn’t seem appropriate.
“All adults are different,” Rowan cuts in. “But I think we can make up some new rules for a while, if that’s okay with you, because I’m most definitely a little different.”
The smile Rowan shares with Seren makes me want to drop to my knees and beg her to marry me right this second.
“Seb,” Rowan cuts an inquisitive stare my way. “Are you alright with Seren joining us in the kitchen?”
“I’m all for different.” My tone is rough, and I clear my throat before continuing. “I trust your judgment, Peach, always. And as much as I hate to admit it, you’re not my little baby anymore, Ser. If you want to sit in on girls’ night, that’s fine with me.”
My little girl’s face nearly splits in two. “Why do you call her Peach?”
My gaze floats between the two of them, and I shrug. “Because the very first time I saw Rowan, she was wearing aJames and the Giant PeachT-shirt.”
“I love that book,” Miles says, smiling up at me.
“And he declared that he was going to marry her right there at first sight,” Pappy supplies, drawing all eyes my way.
“That’s…sweet,” Seren says, then grabs Rowan’s hand and drags her toward the kitchen with Beck’s bowl tucked under her arm. Rowan glances over her shoulder at me, and all her unasked questions and fears flash across her face.
I wink at her just before Seren tugs her out of sight.
“She’s going to pull away,” Pappy says, bursting the lighthearted moment of a second ago. “It’s all she knows, Seb.One step forward, two steps back. All you can do is dance to her beat until all her old trauma is put to bed. You’re good for her, son. You all are, and I’ve never been more proud of you than I am right now.”
Jesus, Pappy. Way to make a grown man cry.
