Lead Me Home (Fight for Me #3)(37)

Was that a tease?

Her attention darted to the man I could still feel from behind me as if he was offering up proof.

His presence overwhelming.

A rush of heat thrashing at my back.

No doubt, he was looking this way.

I cleared my throat. “We’ve just known each other a long, long time. That’s all.”

“I should probably head back to my momma’s.” She grabbed a wipe from the baby bag and began to wipe off Kyle’s face and hands.

“No, Mommy. I eat ice cweam.” He grinned a chocolate smile.

A soft jolt of affection escaped me. “Was it yummy?” I asked him.

“Yummy, yummy, to my tummy.”

“Do you have a happy tummy?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good, then my job is done here.”

“You just invited me over to fill my boy with sugar, huh? Seems to me like maybe you should have to watch him run wild for the rest of the day.”

I loved it when this side of Brenna came out. When she didn’t shrink behind her walls and the girl who wanted to be free peeked out from behind.

“I’ll gladly watch him. Any time.”

She sobered. “Thank you so much, Nikki. For everything.”

Standing, she picked up Kyle and settled him on her hip. I slid out of the booth.

“For being here for Kyle and me,” she mumbled as I stood with her.

“You’re welcome.”

I tickled Kyle’s neck, and he giggled, burying his face in the fall of her hair while still peeking out.

Affection swelled in my chest.

The little thing was so adorable.

So sweet and innocent that it expanded that place inside me that somehow kept feeling more and more hollow. I wanted to take him into my arms, feel his weight, breathe him in.

God.

What was wrong with me?

“See you soon, sweet thing,” I said, trying to keep my craziness in check.

He wrapped his little arms around his mom’s neck and grinned.

I shifted my attention to Brenna before leaning closer to her, my words a hushed whisper, “Remember . . . you are strong. You have control of your life. You have control of your body. You have the right.”

Her head bobbed along, her lips barely moving as she repeated the support group’s mantra.

I moved in and hugged her tight, my mouth at her ear. “Believe it.”

Stepping back, she swiped a tear from her cheek. “I do. Thank you.”

For a beat, she looked over my shoulder at the people I could feel staring at me. Giving me space while invading it all at the same time.

I could hear Frankie Leigh jabbering the way she loved to do, and Rex and Kale added little things in. But it was Ollie’s silence that was most notable.

“I’ll see you Tuesday night?” It was an affirmation and encouragement all in one.

She had to make the commitment even if Caleb was making it hard for her.

“I will . . . I promise.”

“Okay, then. I’ll see you Tuesday, but if you need anything in the meantime, you know to call me. Don’t hesitate.”

“I won’t.”

A desperate sort of a plea wound its way into my tone. “Please . . . Be careful.”

She blinked at me as if she were searching for the things I couldn’t say. “I will. I promise.”

For a moment, we both stared at each other before I gave her an encouraging nod toward the door. “I’ll see you soon.”

With a timid smile, she turned and made her way through the shop and out into the summer heat.

I just stood there, hoping beyond hope that she would stay strong as she ducked her head and headed down the sidewalk.

The whole time, I was contending with the shivers racing across my flesh.

The awareness that slipped and sped.

I ran my hands up my arms, trying to chase the overwhelming feeling away.

Pinning on a smile, I shifted around and headed in the direction of my friends.

Ollie had remained standing, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his massive chest, watching me as if I’d committed some sort of mortal sin.

I did my best to ignore it, the tumble of nerves that worked through my body just at the sight of him standing there.

So wickedly gorgeous.

Jeans and a fitted tee.

The man a wall of muscle.

I turned toward the table. “What are you guys doing here?”

Frankie Leigh squealed just as she was digging a big spoon into the ridiculous concoction she had in her sundae glass.

“We’re eatin’ ice cream!”

“Is that so?” A warm giggle slipped free.

Frankie started to ramble, staring up at me while she spooned ice cream into her mouth, “I’ve been missin’ you, Auntie Nik! Where you been? Workin’ at Pepper’s Pies? Did you know my mommy made a brand-new kind of pie? Blueberry. I helped. I think I wanna name it Blueberry Blast. Will you write it on the chalkboard for me?”

“Of course, I will,” I told her. “First thing Monday morning when I get back to work.”

She grinned. “Did you know my daddy’s going to build you a big, big house? Do you think it’s going to be bigger than ours? Because my new house is so big . . . so high. But it’s not a skyscraper. Nope. It’s just two stories, but I have two stairs, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. My momma used to live there with Gramma Corinne. Did you know that?”