Page 204 of Second Sets Omnibus

Happiness fills every molecule of my body. I’m floating above the damn clouds with a smile etched onto my face. A deep laugh vibrates through my chest when I throw Lyric’s squirming body over my shoulder, much to her protests. Her loud giggles fill the dusky air as she pounds a fist into my back, begging me to release her.

“Daddy!” Lyric laughs, hitting me a few times. “Put me down! I need to pick up my buckets!” she squeals again, stopping me in my tracks. “Pleaseeeee!” she begs again until I bring her face right in front of mine.

Her freckles pop over the bridge of her nose, dusting lightly over her sun-kissed cheeks. Her toothy grin lights up my damn life as she examines my face. No longer pouting over the dark bruises.

My blood may not run through her veins, but that’s the thing about family, isn’t it? You’re not always born together. You’re brought together by circumstances out of your control, crashing into each other much like the waves of the sea. Lyric crashed into our lives like a tiny hurricane. She’s shaking the foundation of everything we’ve known and believed, and I, for one, am ecstatic to have this little human in my life.

“Okay. But I’ll give you two seconds, and then we’ll race to the house. Your mom looks like she’s about to come and get you.” I raise a brow when Lyric wiggles out of my arms and dashes off to get her things. With another loud giggle, she races past me, clinging to her buckets.

River stands on her back porch, leaning against the railing and watching Lyric with a smile that lights up her face. A red towel sits snug around River’s body, warming her as the sun slowly sinks in the sky, turning it a bright hue of pink.

“Straight to the shower, you sand monster,” River says through a big grin, lightly smacking Lyric on the butt.

“But, Mommy! Daddy…” Lyric points to me with a pout, waving her arms all around. “Can he read to me tonight? I wants Daddy to read to me!” she says again, folding her hands together and silently begging her mom.

River looks at me with uncertainty but nods. “If that’s what Daddy wants to do.”

Butterflies burst in my stomach, and I nod before I can even think about another response. “Of course, I’ll read to you.”

One of the happiest memories is when my mom and dad would lay on either side of me and take turns reading lines from all my favorite books. Their voices changed with each new character, and they’d stay there until my eyes fluttered shut. I never thought I’d get to experience that warm feeling again. Only this time, I’ll be reading from the book and watching as she falls asleep with my heart in my throat.

“Now, off to the shower! Then we’ll have some sandwiches,” River says again, shooing Lyric toward the bathroom down the hall until she marches into the bathroom, slamming it shut. “And don’t slam the door,” River mutters too late.

“Little-Little Star.”

I swallow hard when she connects her gaze with mine. Reaching out, I bravely wrap my fingers around her wrist, holding her hostage. Please don’t walk away from me now. A familiar feeling bursts inside me as I look deep into her eyes. It’s something I haven’t felt since I walked away from her. Electricity bristles. My hair stands on end. And a deep, gut-wrenching ache forms, begging me never to let go of her.

“She’s amazing. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, but thank you for allowing me to be here now. I—” I roll my lips together as the heat behind my eyes intensifies. Guilt tears through me like it has since I found out the truth from Asher’s lips. We left because of what I saw. I sealed our separation with a picture, not bothering to ask questions or dig further.

River swallows hard, shaking off my grip. “Well, as long as you’re here now.”

Not fucking good enough.

“So, she’s always known about us?” I ask, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my swim shorts to keep from touching heragain—the only thing I want to do right now. Well, beyond a simple touch.

Licking her lips, River nods. “Eventually, Lyric would know where she came from and who her father was. In the beginning, I wasn’t positive about who she belonged to. Then she opened her eyes… And I… Couldn’t deny her the reality of our situation. So, I did the next best thing. I told her the truth. And wouldn’t you know it? She latched on.”

“She didn’t know about…what happened and why we were apart?”

“No. And she won’t either,” she says. “I will not break my daughter’s heart, nor will you. She’s—” She takes a deep breath, rubbing her temples. “Lyric is finally at peace. It’s like she needed to touch you all. Don’t ruin her peace.” Her eyes plead with me until I nod at her request.

“I’d never do that to her. It’s only been a short time, but I already love her,” I admit quietly as my cheeks heat.

“Come here,” River says, waving a hand for me to follow as the sound of water slapping into the tub suddenly turns off. “Here,” River says, taking a large photo album off a bookshelf and handing it to me.

My eyes bug out as I flip through the pictures. Page by page, River has organized everything into neat little sections. From her first birthday to her forth. And every holiday in between. Glorious snapshots of Lyric as a baby, learning to crawl and taking her first bites of ravioli. Her red-stained face smiles up at the camera from her highchair with the remnants of her meal squished before her. Mischief lives in those mismatched eyes—much like now.

Without the perseverance to hold them back any longer, I unleash my emotions. Tears stream down my cheeks. Embarrassing sobs choke my throat. Fuck. I’m a goddamn mess at the sight of my baby girl, who grew up without me. I cry fromthe anger of missing out, for walking away, and for everything in between. I let it out into the world, letting River see and feel how fucking sorry and fucked up I am over this.

“She was a good baby,” River murmurs, turning the page and running her manicured finger over a picture of Lyric’s toothless grin, staring up at the camera with cake all over her face. “That was her first birthday. It was our first month in this house.” Her eyes dart around the living room, stopping near the entrance of the open-concept kitchen.

“And I missed it all. Fuck,” I heave a breath, losing my grip as the photo album thunks to the ground. “River,” I breathe, turning to her as she tilts her head, not giving me an ounce of emotion.

She’s a goddamn wall of nothing, staring at me and refusing to open up. One day I’ll peel back those layers of forgiveness. But for now, I know I have my work cut out for me. We all do.

“I truly am sorry you missed it all, Cal. She would have loved for you to be here this whole time. But the important part is, you’re here now. Make the most of it while you can.”

I nod, wiping away the remnants of my emotions off my cheeks. “I will,” I proclaim, holding her gaze with mine. God, I could get lost in the depths of her eyes and swim in her damn soul. “For you, too,” I whisper, drifting a finger across her silken cheek.