Page 182 of Composed
23 – Jimmy Eats World
Anothersobtearsthroughthe air.
Wood screeches across the floor when Saint kicks his chair back and jumps up. He rounds the table, stopping just by Hendrix's side, a shaking hand curling around her shoulder.
I lift Lyric from Hendrix’s lap, and hook her on my hip, spinning to face Noah. “Can you take the girls please?”
Noah nods and rushes across the floor.
Lyric puckers trembling lips. “But Uncle Coley—”
“I know, sweetheart. You’re very excited to spend time with Auntie Rixie,” I say, brushing a hand through her soft curls as Noah scoops up Melody. “But we need grown up talk right now. And you know what that means?”
She throws her head onto my chest and groans. “No little ears.”
“Exactly.” I kiss her forehead before passing her over to her mum. She clings tight to my white T-shirt. “And don’t you want to spend time with Mummy before she hits the road again. Pretty sure she’s been missing you lots.”
“Yeah, but we always see Mummy.”
Noah huffs a laugh as she grapples with a kid on each lap. “Charming as always, kid.”
I tip my head in thanks to her, and ease Lyric’s fingers away.
“Auntie Rixie isn’t going anywhere.”At least I really fucking hope not.“So, you’ll have all the time to come hang out with her, okay?”
“Tomorrow?” Melody slurs around the thumb in her mouth.
My chest expands.
“We’ll see.” I wink. “Now, shoo.”
“Call me later,” Noah tells Carter as she passes him.
His gaze never strays from Hendrix. “Will do.”
“Alright.” She slides the girls down to their feet when she crosses the threshold before turning to face us all. “If you need anything, you know where I’m at.”
Axel waves. “We’ve got this, you just go take care of our girls.”
“Always,” she says, pulling the door behind her.
It closes with a soft click, leaving us with only the crackling through the speakers, and Hendrix’s sharp, heaving breaths as company.
Nobody says anything.
Glass clinks as Theo starts gathering up the remnants of our dinner. She shuffles around the room, arms laden, face dipped as if she can’t bear to watch the fallout.
We knew there was a chance it wouldn’t go well, but I’m not sure any of us could have predicted this.
Carter bridges the distance between him and Hendrix and drops to his knees at the side of her chair. He grabs her hands.
A tear rolls over her lashes as she locks eyes with him. “They’re beautiful, Carter.”
My gut twists, my heart battering my ribs.
“They are.” A rare smile graces Carter’s face. “I’m sorry, Rix. I’ve been a real fucking prick since you got back and I get it if you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” she breathes, then a wet chuckle spills from her lips.
