Written with Regret (The Regret Duet #1)(63)

Concern crinkled his eyes. “Everything—” He paused and traced my arm down to where my hand was linked with Hadley’s. “Okay?”

Hadley tried to pull her hand away and I told myself to let her. The last thing we needed were rumors about us being in a relationship adding fuel to the already burning gossip train.

Yet I didn’t let go.

I forced a smile when Rosalee’s gaze swung our way, though her eyes weren’t for me.

“Hadley!”

“Hey, pretty girl.”

Ian’s concern transformed into a disapproving scowl as he set Rosalee on her feet.

She ran straight to Hadley. “You brought your camera.”

Hadley started to squat, tugging on the arm in my grasp before shooting me a pointed glare. It was only then that I managed to convince my stubborn brain to release her hand.

“I did,” she breathed. “I was hoping your dad would let me take pictures of you getting your award tonight.”

Two sets of matching green eyes expectantly peered up at me. The beauty of seeing them together momentarily rendered me speechless.

I’d seen the two of them huddled over my dining room table numerous times over the last few months, but this time, it was different. Okay, maybe it wasn’t different. But my undiagnosed stroke that made me a dripping sap made it feel different

We were out in public. The three of us. Together. At something so normal as my baby girl’s end-of-the-year awards ceremony.

Rosalee was smiling.

Hadley was smiling.

And if it weren’t for the steam still working its way out of my system thanks to Busybody Marilyn, I would have been smiling too.

It all just felt so comfortable, right down to holding her hand.

God, what was happening?

“Yeah. Sure. Pictures would be great.”

Rosalee squealed with delight, throwing her arms around her mother’s neck.

Shit. Her mother.

Sooner rather than later, I was going to have to tell her who Hadley truly was. Luckily, school was about to be dismissed for the summer, so I figured I might be able to hold the rumors at bay for a little while. Hadley still had three months left of the supervised visitation she’d agreed to, but she’d made it known she wasn’t going anywhere.

And, as fucked up as it was, I liked that idea too.

A woman’s voice came over the sound system. “Attention, parents. If we can have everyone please take their seats. All of your precious little ones should meet with their teachers in the back of the auditorium. Don’t worry. We’ll bring them back shortly.” She giggled, and while it wasn’t quite as nasally as Marilyn’s, it was up there. Not at all like Hadley’s smooth and…

Fuck. Me.

“Kiss!” Rosalee declared and pulled at the sleeve of my suit coat.

I bent down and she pecked my cheek. “I’ll see you in a few when you’re a star, baby.”

“Don’t forget the little people!” Hadley called after her as she jogged to the line of children forming at the back of the auditorium.

Hadley watched her, pride beaming on her face—something that was usually my job.

And, this time, I couldn’t even be mad about it.

I loved that she looked at my baby girl like that.

I loved that she’d never been late to see her.

I loved that she cared enough to come to a damn preschool with her camera in hand, ready to take a dozen pictures like a doting parent.

None of that made up for the four years she’d been gone, but it was a start.

Maybe it was time I started letting those four years go too.

“Caven, can I get a word?” Ian snapped.

I arched an eyebrow. “Any word or are you looking for one in particular?”

He lowered his voice to a hiss. “Specifically, one that means what the fucking fuck are you doing?”

I did not have the energy to answer that question—and sure as shit not with Ian. It was no secret that he was not Hadley’s biggest fan, and while talking to him and allowing him to be the voice of reason would have been the right thing to do, blissful ignorance was my choice for the evening.

I gave his chest a shove, forcing him into the row of seats ahead of me. “Come on. We should sit before someone takes our seats.”

“Please tell me you’re not sleeping with her.”

Despite the negative answer, the her in question was entirely too close for this conversation. I glanced over my shoulder and found Hadley still smiling and watching Rosalee’s class file out of the room. “Mind your own damn business.”

His jaw became hard. “Say that to me again. Go ahead. Tell me your life and that little girl aren’t my business, because for the last fifteen years, it sure as hell has been.”

I stepped close enough so no one could hear our conversation in the quickly quieting room. “What is your problem?”

He laughed sans all humor. “Let me ask you this question? How’d it work out last time you slept with her?”

“Well, I lost a computer but got Rosalee, so…”

“Hey, Caven,” Hadley called, and I spun to face her the way Rosalee did when she was sneaking cookies from the pantry.

“Yeah?”

She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “I think I’m going to stand in the back so I can get a better shot of her on the stage. Can you keep an eye on my camera bag?”