Page 40

“You’re so weird.”

“I’m gonna fight him,” I tell her.

Her mouth cracks with the smallest smile. “I’ll hold your earrings.”

Laughing like children, we turn into the park, and my heart flips.

I spot them immediately.

Rosie’s in the swing, kicking her legs like she’s trying to fly. Wes is behind her, giving her little pushes with a relaxed look on his face I’ve never seen before.

Rosie spots me before he does. She bounces like she’s trying to escape and lets out an ear-piercing shriek to prove it.

Curious as to what all the fuss is about, Wes turns, and the surprise in his eyes quickly melts back into that easy smile.

“Hey,” he calls, a warm note in his voice.

“Hey, yourself.” I jog closer. “Didn’t expect to see you two here.”

He nods toward Rosie, who’s bouncing impatiently in the swing. “Someone had too much energy this morning. We needed a change of scenery, but you scared me off all soft play areas.”

Thank God for that.

Rosie babbles when she reaches for me, demanding immediate attention. I lift her from the swing and into my arms, where she instantly covers me in sticky toddler kisses and gibberish words that make no sense and perfect sense all at once.

“She missed you,” Wes says softly.

I press my cheek against Rosie’s curls before realizing I haven’t introduced Tess. “Wes, this is my sister. Tess, this is Wes.”

“Hi,” she says, voice barely audible.

He offers her a gentle nod. “Nice to meet you.”

She ducks her head shyly.

Oh my God, is she blushing?

My poor little sister.

I know first-hand that his stare isn’t an easy one to stand under.

Rosie squirms in my arms, reaching toward Tess with determined little fingers. Tess hesitates, glancing at me.

“You can hold her. She only bites sometimes.”

Tess laughs, but when she carefully takes Rosie from me, something in her expression softens. Then Rosie snuggles into her shoulder, and Tess completely melts.

Wes’s gaze shifts back to me. “She’s going to lose it again when you leave.”

“She does that?”

“She’s started waiting.”

“Waiting?”

“Yeah, she sits at the front door after you leave. I think she waits for you to come back.”

A lump swells in my throat. “Don’t tell me that.”