Page 125 of Take My Kiss
A door named Bodie.
Raven
Can we go back to you packing up and moving two hours away for a MAN?
I roll my eyes at her deflecting.
Delilah
Oh my God, if y’all get married, we’ll be cousins by marriage! Or something like that. Either way, we’ll officially be family!
I try not to squirm at the thought of getting married again, but if I were to do it, Colton’s the only one who’d make the risk worth it.
Amelia
Hell yeah! If Raven married Bodie, we could be a cousin trio…
Raven
Nice try.
After her abusive ex, I don’t blame her for being anti-relationship. But she’s so sweet and deserves someone who’lltreat her well, so I hope when the right person comes along, she can open her heart up and love again.
When the door squeaks, I lock my phone and beam at Sam and Lily, who walk inside.
“Good mornin’, my loves!” I hold out my arms for Lily to climb up next to me. “Did you get good sleep?”
“Mhm! Daddy’s makin’ cinnamon French toast,” she says, and my heart melts into a puddle at her calling him that.
“You want Colt to be your daddy, huh?” I rub the pad of my thumb over her soft cheek and try to tame her wild bedhead with my other hand.
“That’s what Sam calls him.”
He sits on the edge of the bed. “He said I could.”
“If it’s okay with him, then it’s fine with me.” I try to contain my overwhelming emotions, which threaten to spill over. “We’re gonna stay livin’ with him and Remy. What do you think ’bout that?”
“Yay!” she squeals, jumping. “Can we get a kitty?”
“A what?”
“She saw a cat video and now wants her own,” Sam explains.
“Oh…we’ll maybe. We’ll have to ask Colt if Remy is good with other pets.”
“I’ll ask him!” Sam’s out the door before I can stop him, with Lily quickly following.
And I know without a doubt, Colton will be more than happy to give them anything they want—and that’s how I know he’s perfect for all of us.
It’s not until after lunch that I finally gain the courage to call my mother. It’s been over a week since we last spoke, and I’d rather get this done and over with as soon as possible so I can move on with my life.
“Amelia?”
“Yeah. Hi, Mom.”
“I’m so glad you called. The doctors said there’s nothin’ more they can do for Dad except keep him comfortable, so hospice is set up at the house now. If you want to see him, you need to come soon.”
I was never close to my dad. He worked so much and never spent time with Samuel or me, so it’s hard to feel anything about his dying. He turned a blind eye when my mother treated me like shit, and the only time he ever showed me a glimpse of love was when I finally agreed to donate my kidney to her.
