Page 55 of Broken Blood Ties

Her eyelids are squeezed shut, and her cheeks are puffed out to the side with the oversized bite she shoved in. But it’s the closed-mouth grin spanning ear to ear that prompts me to send the photo.

Admittedly, I don’t think. At this moment, I want to share my daughter’s blissful enjoyment of her cannoli with none other than Summer Smith. Perhaps it’s because she’s her teacher, or that she loves this particular dessert. Maybe its’s because I know she’d appreciate the adorable picture.

Either way, I have her number. It feels natural to share the photo.

I swallow the lump in my throat when I realize IwantSummer to get a glimpse into our lives, more than she already does. Maybe show her the fun moments she may not believe exist.

Immediately, I squash the idea, mentally laughing at myself for imagining I could share a single sliver of my life with her. Embarrassed, I tuck my phone back away and find Allie staring at me. I reach for something, anything to keep me from showing my vulnerable side.

“How about the yacht tomorrow?” I ask Aoife as she finishes her dessert.

“Really?” She squeals again.

“Aye. Decided to take the weekend off.”

Allie raises her eyebrows, her surprise mutating into a smile in my direction.

After the tour with Riku, I had Joe take me off the list for tomorrow night. I don’t want to fight. Not tomorrow night. I hate that I gave in to his demands, and I don’t want to see these thrown fights.

It can’t be a permanent thing, but this one weekend—it’s mine.

Aoife jumps up and rushes toward me, arms wide and ready to wrap around my legs. But I duck down, scoop her up into my arms, and chase those sweet giggles with more tickles.

“When can we leave? Can I bring Mr. Cuddles?” she asks through her out-of-breath laughs.

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll have Allie get ye packed to stay the night on the boat with me. How does that sound?”

Aoife skips in circles around my office. “That sounds great!”

“But,” I say. “That means ye need to head to bed and get some rest.”

“Okay.” She moves her circle runs to around Allie. It wasn’t the best idea to feed her sugar right before bed, but I shrug it off.

“Come on, Aoife. Let’s head up for a shower,” Allie holds out her hand, and for a moment the picture morphs. There stands Summer, her hand outstretched as she reaches for Aoife to help her up to bed, and I shake my head. What is wrong with me? Summer has too much life ahead of her for me to even consider wanting her.

Even so, something drives me to know. To want. To seek.

I dip my hand into my pocket, caressing the slick outer glass of my phone as Aoife takes Allie’s hand and they leave the room.

I sigh, pulling it out, then flip it over in my hand.

Opening the message thread, I stare at the photo of Aoife I sent to Summer and the blank space underneath it.

No response.

I’m not sure why, but I cling to the phone. Almost as if willing her to message me back.

When she doesn’t, I set it down. Five minutes later I pick it back up, too distracted to work. There’s still no message, so I stalk to the bar cart I keep in my office and pour a generous glass of whiskey. Gripping the glass, I toss it back, consumed with frustration.

I shouldn’t fixate on Summer. On something I can never have. But I move back to my phone to see if she responded anyway.

She didn’t.

Chapter18

Summer

Iroll over on the lumpy motel bed and blink. The red blocky letters against the black background of the clock scream at me as they blink 7:00 a.m. in time with the blaring alarm.