Page 91 of Owned By The Cowboy

“I don’t,” Nia says.

“Nia…”

“He cheated on you, Mom. Why would I want to see him?”

“Because he loves you.”

“If he loved us, he wouldn’t have hurt you.”

Fuck.

“Look,” I say, “I know this is complicated. But whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. All of us.”

“What if he tries to make us go back with him?” Nia asks.

“That’s not gonna happen,” I say firmly.

“How do you know?”

“Because your mom won’t let it happen. And neither will I.”

“You’d fight for us?” Annalise asks.

“Damn right I would.”

“Even though we’re not really your kids?” Jaylen asks.

“Youarereally my kids. Maybe not biologically, but in every way that counts.”

“Really?” he insists.

“Really.” I hold his searching gaze steadily.

“So if Dad tries to take us away, you’ll stop him?”

“I’ll do everything I can to stop him.”

They seem satisfied with that, and breakfast moves on to more normal stuff. Annalise wants pancakes, Nia complains about having to get dressed, and Jaylen asks if he can borrow my truck when he gets his license.

But I can see Reggie’s still worried. Still thinking about worst-case scenarios and all the ways things could go wrong.

After the kids leave for school, I find her in the laundry room, folding clothes with more force than necessary.

“You know I meant what I said, right?” I tell her.

“About what?”

“About fighting for them. For all of you.”

“I know.”

“Do you? Because you still look like you’re planning to run.”

She stops folding and looks at me. “I’m not planning to run.”

“Good. Because we’re stronger together than apart.”

“Are we?”