Page 132 of Never After Us
That’s not exactly what I expected.Sounds a lot like me, what I would end up doing—without the animals—if I didn’t have the people who surrounded me and now Mara.“She might want to see him.”
“Do you want me to reach out?”
“I think we should wait until she’s ready.”I pause.“But yeah.Start looking into it.”
Eddie is silent for a second, then his tone shifts.“You okay?”
I want to say yes.I want to pretend I’ve got this under control.That I’m just helping.That it doesn’t feel like more.
But it is more.It’s her.
And suddenly, I’m the guy staying up making lists of what she might need next.Buying plane tickets for her mother.Planning trips to meet a father she never knew.Staying.Choosing her.Every single second I get.
“You’re too quiet,” he says, concerned.“Talk to me, big guy.”
“Just wondering if I’m going to need more ...for her,” I mutter, mostly to myself.
“Either one of you need anything, and you reach out to me,” he says.“I’m here for you, okay?”
“You don’t have to worry,” I say because he’s not responsible for me.
Eddie sighs.“I’ll be out this weekend, but if you need anything, call me.Or I’ll have the Wilders check in?—”
“I don’t need a fucking Wilder babysitter,” I snap, but my voice is soft.
“You sure?Because you’re talking like a man who’s about to sign up for forever.”
I glance toward the room where she’s sleeping.My chest tightens—something raw and hopeful and terrifying all at once.
“What ifIcall if I need anything?”I offer.“And you hold off on the Wilders?”
There’s a beat of silence.Then, Eddie says, “That ...I might take into consideration.”
A small smile tugs at my mouth.“Thanks for always being here,” I murmur, then end the call before either of us can make it more emotional than it already is.
The line disconnects just as the bedroom door creaks open.
Mila steps into the hallway, messy hair, sleepy eyes, a pink unicorn sock only halfway on.She blinks up at me, suspicious and wide awake in the way only kids can manage before seven a.m.
“You’re here early,” she says, narrowing her eyes.“Unless ...you never left.”
I clear my throat.“Morning, Mila.”
She crosses her arms.“Are you staying with us forever?”
My heart stumbles over the question.
I want to say yes.Fuck, do I want to say yes.
But the timing isn’t right.Not when Mara’s barely holding herself together.
So I crouch to her level, meeting her gaze.“Let’s make breakfast,” I say gently.“Then you can start interrogating me.”
She considers it.“After your coffee?”
“Exactly.After my coffee.”
“Fine,” she declares dramatically, spinning on her heel.“I’ll let your chakras adjust first.”
