Page 56 of Against The Tide

“Yeah, I did.”

Rowan opens his mouth to reply, but Spencer gets there first. “They’re a big responsibility. Look at Mitchell with Aaron and Aarabelle—it’s not easy having to father another man’s child. Especially if the first thing you do is beat the crap out of him.”

“If you were in my shoes and Avery was Olivia, what would you do?”

“I will beat the shit out of any asshole that lays a bad finger on my girls, and I won’t stop until they’re begging me for a grave,” Spencer answers without a second of thought.

“Well, they’re my girls.” The words leave me in an unexpected breath. So easy. Free. So very true.

“Okay, well, just remember who’s ordained.” Rowan slaps my back while Spencer groans, “Jesus, slow the fuck down, man.”

“I was checking how serious he was. My brother would’ve shot out of here.” He smirks at me, sobering at my scowl. “Don’t look at me like I fucked with your great titty porn stash.”

“Joy, here it goes, and I’m out, ladies and gentlemen.” Spencer bats his hand in our direction as he joins the commotion at the mouth of the shark tunnel.

“Why do you bring that shit up every time?”

“Because you scarred me.”

“Blonde, silicone tits, Botox addiction…” I mirror his words from earlier.

“You’re sick,” he spits at me. “Pam was a natural goddess back then. Anyway, you’re just doing that thing where you try to flip things so you feel better about yourself.”

“It’s called projecting, dumbass, and that’s not what I’m doing at all.”

“Whatever, four eyes.”

“Mom must’ve dropped you on your head or something.” I walk away as he pulls a fucking stupid crybaby face.

What an ass!

“Doc?” Iris sits up when I close the book.

We started The Little Prince last weekend, and she’s asked me to read to her every night since. It’s become a kind of ritual—I read her a chapter, and then I manage to steal a kiss from Avery before heading home.

“I can’t read you another chapter, otherwise we’ll both be in trouble with your mommy.”

There’s no argument from her today. She cuddles her Care Bear and rag doll tighter. They both look as though they’ve seen better days, especially the pink bear.

“Do you love my mommy?” she asks me plain and simple without a single flutter of her lashes.

“There’s no one in the whole universe I like more than your mom.”

“Like the prince loves his rose?”

“Yeah, champ, like the prince treasures his rose.”

“So, if you love my mom and we’re staying, does that mean you love me too?” Iris doesn’t give me a chance to answer before she adds, “It’s okay if you only like me.”

“Hey.” I manage to get her to look back up at me, but she won’t meet my eyes. “Look at me.”

I wait for her to do it before I sit forward in the wicker seat by the side of the bed. There’s a sadness in her eyes that I’ve never seen before. A needy dejection that has me pulling her onto my lap and holding her to my chest.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure,” she tells me even though I know she’s as bad as Scarlett for sharing things.

“I can’t love your mommy without loving you. You want to know why?”