Page 149 of Beautiful Trauma

“In the end, he can help you carry your baggage, and you can help him.”

“I want that more than anything.”

“He wants that more than anything as well.”

“God, I love him so much. I know it’s stupid considering we barely know each other.”

Maeve shook her head. “I experienced the same thing with Rafe. And we had to go through hell together just like you and Kellan are. But you know what?”

“What?”

“The love that is tested and survives is so much sweeter and stronger.”

Unable to speak, I merely nodded. Placing her hand on my shoulder, Maeve said, “Can I hug you?”

“Of course.”

She smiled. “I just wanted to check because I know there was a while where I didn’t want anyone to touch me.”

“No. I’d like that a lot.”

When Maeve pulled me into her arms, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer. Guttural sobs echoed through me. All the while, Maeve ran comforting circles with her hand over my back.

After I finally got a hold of myself, I jerked away. A flush of embarrassment warmed my cheeks. “Don’t do that,” Maeve said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for your emotions. Feel each and every one of them. The sooner you free yourself of them, the better you will feel.”

“Maeve?” a deep voice called.

She groaned. “Rafe’s found me.”

As I glanced over her shoulder, a handsome man came striding towards us with a baby boy in his arms. “He can run a criminal empire, but when it comes to finding shit for our boys, he’s clueless,” she muttered.

I stifled a laugh as Rafe appeared at her side. “Amore mio, where are the wipes? Matteo’s got a shitbomb, and I can’t change him because I can’t find the wipes.”

Maeve winked at me before taking the baby from Rafe. “Has your clueless papa lost the wipes, or are they in the side pocket of your diaper bag?”

At Rafe’s wince, I knew he hadn’t looked there. “Is that where you keep them?” he asked in a defeated voice.

“Yes, my love.” Motioning to me, she said, “This is Mila, Kellan’s girlfriend.”

Rafe extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

As I shook his hand, I replied, “Same to you.”

With a welcoming smile, he said, “As soon as the two of you are recuperated, we would love for you both to come stay with us in New York.”

“I’d like that a lot. I’ve never been.”

“Then it’s a date,” Maeve said.

“I look forward to it.”

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to change this stinky monkey.”

As I stared at the dark-haired little boy, it was clear he was Maeve’s spitting image. “He’s gorgeous.”