Page 116 of Where Broken Wings Fly

All I can do is stare at them both.

“Say something,” Killian urges.

Zach studies my face. “I think she checked out.”

“We’ve officially broken her brain.”

“You’re the one that ordered the fucking bow!” Zach accuses.

“It was your idea,” he hits back. “I warned you it was too much.”

Tuning their usual bickering out, I stare up at the cabin in awe. It feels like the ground has given out beneath me. I’ve never owned a house before, or even lived alone.

A grumbling engine pulls up on the grass verge, and Ryder waves at me from behind the wheel of the restored VW beetle he’s been working relentlessly on.

“The party has arrived,” he shouts.

Arianna leaps out of the passenger seat in a blur of hyperactive energy, but she still obediently waits for Ryder to take her hand, so they walk over together. She’s attached herself to him in particular, loving his playful energy.

“Mummy! Mummy!”

I catch her easily, propping her on my hip. “Hey, baby.”

“Micah said there’s a present here for me.”

Right on time, the door to the studio over the road slams shut. Micah appears, jogging across the grass. He’s back in his messy clothes, his light brown hair sticking up in all directions and streaks of dried clay flaked on his cheeks.

When he spots us outside the cabin, a tentative smile spreads across on his lips, causing his pierced nose to curl up in a satisfied grin. Smiling transforms his entire appearance, brightening his usually sullen aura.

“Am I too late?” he greets, tucking an arm around my waist. “Sorry, angel. Time ran away with me after my phone appointment with Doctor Holmes.”

“You’re right on time.”

“Oh, good. I was worried.”

Micah pecks a gentle kiss against my cheek. Between all of the touching, I’m feeling hot and bothered. After coming out of the hospital, it was clear that something had changed. They’re all touchy feely now, even in front of each other.

It freaked me out at first, but when it became clear that all they wanted was to make me feel at home in their cabin, I soon got used to being the centre of their attention. Just don’t ask me what this all means. That I don’t know.

“Are we all here now?” Zach squeals. “I’m so fucking excited.”

“Language,” Killian scolds him. “There are little ears present.”

Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he pulls out a set of keys on another neatly tied velvet bow. Killian hands them to me with a pleased smirk contorting his lips.

“Here you go.”

Arianna watches me take them. “What’s that?”

Taking her from me, Killian lifts her up into the air before swinging her around until she’s squealing. “You like living here, peanut? In Briar Valley?”

“Of course!” She smiles wanly.

“Would you like a princess’s castle all for yourself?”

Her mouth falls open and her brilliant blue eyes widen with even more excitement. The way that Killian beams down at her takes my breath away. His inner grumpy asshole is nowhere in sight around my little girl.

“This is your new home, Ari.”

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