Come Back for Me (Arrowood Brothers #1)(38)

“It has to be you. I even wrote a paper about you so that it was approved by Mrs. Flannigan, and she’s mean. She doesn’t like kids, but they let her be a teacher anyway.”

Oh, Jesus. “Right, but I’m not really sure people want to meet me.”

“You’re the coolest. My friends will love you!” Hadley’s little voice sounds very sure of herself there.

I need to get out of this—quick. “I am sure there are a million other things that are much cooler and better options.”

Her lip juts out into a pout.

“But you’re what I want to bring.”

I look over to Ellie for help, but she leans against the door opening with a knowing grin. There’s no way to say no to this kid. Especially not with the lip thing and the big eyes staring at me all innocently. Damn it.

“Ten minutes.”

Hadley leaps up and squeals. “You’re the best!”

No, she is, and I’m completely wrapped around her finger. If this kid is mine, I’m in even more trouble than I thought. There’s no way I’ll want to let her go. For each day I spend with her there are hundreds more I want to make up for. There are seven years I missed, and if she’s my daughter, I’m going to want to make sure there isn’t a single one added to it.

“I think you’re overestimating how much people will want to meet me.”

Hadley shrugs. “My best friend is the coolest. Everyone is going to be so jealous. Can you wear your uniform?”

Ellie laughs and then covers it with a cough. “That’s enough, Hadley. Connor is working hard, and we need to get your homework done.”

“First,” I say with a little too much enthusiasm, “I have something to show you.”

“You do?”

I nod at Hadley. “Yup. Let’s take a walk.”

“Can Mom come?”

“Of course, we can all go . . . if she wants.”

We both look back to Ellie, who shrugs and pushes toward us. “I think a little fresh air would be good for all of us.”

The three of us head out of the barn and start to head toward the tree, Hadley between us. I think about how we probably look right now. A family with a mother and father who adore the child between them. In many ways, that would be the picture’s story because I do adore Hadley and I care very much about Ellie. In some ways, I love her, which is crazy, but it’s there.

Ellie has been the woman I’ve felt passion, love, and longing for almost my entire adult life.

I know she isn’t ready for anything. Hell, she’s still married and about to deal with her husband’s trial, but . . . it’s as though time didn’t pass for me. She’s been mine this whole time, and now I have to wait until she’s ready for me—again.

“Meet you there!” Hadley runs off, leaving the two of us behind.

“So, how did fixing up the barn go?” Ellie asks after a few seconds, her hands clasped in front of her.

“I didn’t get much done, actually. I was working on something else . . .”

“Yeah?”

“Something for Hadley.”

Ellie’s eyes find mine and there is a sea’s worth of questions floating in them. “You didn’t have to . . .”

“I know. Look, I know we talked last night, but I want to know if she’s biologically mine. If she’s not, I will do my damnedest to respect that she is his, but I hope you understand that, regardless of the test results, it doesn’t change how much I like her. She’s a good kid, and she’s . . . well, she . . .”

“You care about her.”

I look up with a grin. “I do. And I care about her mother too.”

“We both kind of like you as well,” Ellie says with a smirk. “Just a little.”

“Also, you guys can stay with me until you feel safe to return.”

Ellie releases a breath through her nose as her fingers graze the top of the hay that’s growing in the field. “Hadley would stay here forever with you. I don’t know that she’ll ever feel safe at that house, and I can’t blame her, but . . . you don’t need two troublesome females around you.”

I don’t want to tell her that it’s exactly what I need, that them staying here has made being in this house easier. The memories aren’t so loud when they are around, and I much prefer seeing their faces than the ghost of my father when I enter the room.

Instead, I try to give her a part of that truth. “You’re not bothering me at all. And if Hadley . . .”

“Is yours,” she finishes.

“If it is the case, then I really am grateful for the time I have right now.”

Ellie’s fingers move to the side, brushing against mine. I don’t know if she did it on purpose, but I’m not one to let a moment pass me by. My hand slides into hers, and I hold on. She looks to me, and I watch her, waiting for a clue as to what she wants.

“And if she’s not?”

“Then I have a pretty cool best friend.”

Her smile makes my heart flip over in my chest. I want her to look at me like this each day. I want to be the man who makes my angel look like she could fly. Her wings may have been broken years ago, but I’m really good at restoring things.

Neither of us says a word as we near the tree, but Ellie pulls her hand back when we hear Hadley yell. “Whoa! This is the best thing in the world!”