“You stare at Angel with love and regret,” Ray says randomly, and I turn to face him. His eyes aren’t on me, but they aren’t really staring at anything else either. “I know that look. I lost about the same amount of time with Raya—for different reasons, obviously. But it was a huge piece of her life. If you spend all your time on regret, you waste your chance at happiness. That’s what I remind myself anytime I start thinking of all I’ve missed.”
I’m not into the deep-conversation stuff with people I’m not very well acquainted with. For some reason, though, Ray’s sincerity slices through me a little. Maybe I’m still weak from Allie breaking me.
“Also, don’t let Allie go. It’s clear to me that you two finally got together. Congratulations.”
He gives me a wink, and I suck in a confused breath. How the hell does he know?
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Mom about that. She’d probably hammer my balls—literally.”
He laughs while nodding. “Yes she would. Unless she knew how serious you are. Allie reminds me of my girl. Strong, forgiving, sweet, but also very fragile underneath all those layers. Be careful. And use heavy communication. She’s been hurt, so she’ll analyze everything you say.”
He claps me on the shoulder, and then his eyes move back to my mother. “I’m going to get back to her before she starts thinking Becks scared me off. She’s really not very nice.”
I laugh so hard that I actually lose my balance and stagger a little. “Sorry. Becks is definitely a bitch to anyone that Mom dates because she’s used to her usual type. She hates seeing Mom get hurt.”
He smiles just a little. “Then I guess I’ll have to charm her. Your mother means a lot to me. Just thought you should know that.”
That isn’t hard to figure out, but I don’t point out that fact. If it wasn’t for Raya, I wouldn’t trust him. But oddly enough, I’m actually glad my mother is with him.
“I should get Angel to the house.” A slow smile curls up on my lips. “Apparently we have a daddy-daughter date.”
Ray’s smile forms and he sighs while looking over at Raya. I never realized how damn good it could feel to be a dad.
***
WREN
Angel runs through Tag’s house the second we enter it. Apparently she has a dress here that she wants to wear. From what she’s told me, she and Carrie have gotten to spend nights in both homes—Uncle Paul’s and Tag’s.
And she’s enjoying having a big-ass family.
I smile when I see Rye sprawled out on the sofa, his eyes absently staring at the TV screen. Brin is lying on top of him, her head tucked into the crook of his neck, while his chin rests on her head—like it’s the most natural position in the world. Rye’s fingers are lazily strumming her back as she sleeps, her small body looking even smaller against his long frame.
A pang of envy strikes, and I really don’t like it. I’ve never been envious—not like this. I hate the damn feeling.
But Allie is still skittish around me, even though she tries not to be. Rye owns Brin just as much as she owns him.
“Hey,” he says, noticing me as I step in closer, and his eyes dart down to Brin who doesn’t even flinch. “She’s out cold. I’ve never seen her so exhausted, but she sucks at skiing almost as much as Raya.”
I laugh while taking a seat, waiting on Angel to get changed. Sighing, I pull out my phone when it starts vibrating, then quickly hit ignore when I see who is calling.
“You don’t look happy,” Rye points out.
“Damn reporters have been calling nonstop since Allie and Angel’s debut at the Christmas party. I’d managed to keep the entire situation quiet until then. Now they’re hounding me for a comment.”
His eyebrows cock up. “And you’re hiding? Not smart. You need to get out in front of it before they start hounding Allie.”
“They haven’t got her cell number, and she doesn’t have a landline. I should be covered there. And I will talk to them, but not yet. I need to figure out a way to talk without going into all the sordid details about why I’ve been absent for six years of my daughter’s life. It’s not like paparazzi are going to be camping in her yard. This isn’t Hollywood and I’m not exactly a movie star. It’s just the local gossip columnists, bloggers, and Sterling newspaper people. Don’t ask me what they’re really called besides annoying.”
He shakes his head, obviously disagreeing. “Dude, they hounded me about Brin, and I’m nowhere nearly as popular as you. I got out in front of it and brought her up in that article they did on my garage. You remember how they tore into Ash? And how they ripped into Raya that one time. I still don’t know why they let go of Raya so soon.”