Page 144 of Forever Wild
Jack grimaces like he’s reimagining the time she whacked him with it.
“I should get her to bed,” Piper stands and rubs at her side. She has the cutest baby bump. Being an aunt is awesome and I’m so glad I’ll be here to watch my nieces grow up.
I reluctantly hand over Charlotte and then stand. Mom does too.
“And I should get back home,” she says.
I move to hug her.
“I’m glad you came,” I say to her. “I guess I’ll see you in a month for Piper’s Sprinkle. Did you get the invite?”
My sister-in-law didn’t want a second baby shower, but we convinced her to host a small little gathering to celebrate my second niece.
“I did,” she says. I can already tell by her body language that she’s not coming, but then she confirms it. “It’s a long way to come for a shower and it’s not like it’s her first.”
“I know it’s a long way, but it’s important. You should be here. It’d mean a lot to Ty. He wants you to be here. We both do.”
She nods slowly. I don’t know if my words are making any impact or not, but I feel better having said them.
I find Tyler in the kitchen cleaning up.
“Hey.” He looks so domestic with a hand towel thrown over one shoulder.
“Are you disappointed I’m staying?” I ask. He’s seemed happy for me, but I need to know if he’s waiting for me to fail just like Mom. He’d be better at hiding it to spare my feelings.
“What?” He stops what he’s doing. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“I know how excited you were when I got the internship.”
“Because I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Everyone always told me I was good at art. It was easy and I enjoyed it more than math or science.”
“But you don’t love it?”
“No, I do. But I don’t want it to be my job.”
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“Where’s all this coming from?” he asks. “If I’ve ever given you the impression that I wasn’t proud of you, then I’m so sorry, Ev. I worry about you, but you’re my baby sister. I’m always going to worry about you.”
“You have your own family to worry about now. I’m okay. I’m all grown-up.”
One side of his mouth quirks up. “I guess sometimes I forget you aren’t seventeen anymore. You’ve turned out to be a pretty badass woman.”
My cheeks warm with the compliment. “Thanks to you.”
“Nah.” He shakes his head and then steps forward to hug me. “I can’t take any credit. You never really listened to me.”
A small laugh escapes. “I listened to you more than anyone else.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I like having you around. And free babysitting.” He grins wide.
Jack and I walk outside, hand in hand. I breathe in the cold air and feel a contentedness spread through me.
“Ready to go home?” Jack asks.
