Page 11 of Fighting Chance

Thank God Emmy doesn’t have my eyes. It’s hard enough as it is looking in the mirror and seeing my mother.

“My life will never be the same again,” I admit quietly, so quietly I’m afraid Grayson didn’t hear me and I’ll have to say it again. To say that is selfish, I know, considering Emmy was found sitting beside her dead mother and here I am worried that my life has irrevocably changed. Hers did that day too.

But Grayson just nods. “It’s realistic and true and I’m sorry that it happened this way without any time for you to prepare.”

I shrug despite the heaviness of the topic. “I have to be honest, though, I have a feeling I won’t mind. It’s just…”

“Scary,” he offers for me.

I dip my chin. “Extremely.”

Bella picks Emmy up and as they head our way, I quickly turn to Grayson and I swear to him and myself, “I will give her the life I never got, and I’ll do everything in my power to make it a good one.”

He searches my eyes before giving me that famous Crawford dimpled smile. “I never doubted for a second that you wouldn’t.”

Bella’s slightly out of breath as she ambles up the deck stairs with Emmy on her hip. It’s the first time since the foster home that Emmy has been able to assess me from afar and she does just that.

She’s got extremely inquisitive eyes.

We have more in common than just our looks and genetics, and it fucking crushes my heart and soul to know that we relate to instantly assessing those around us for danger. I hold my hands out for her before I can even think, the move coming as natural as breathing, and Emmy topples forward until I catch her, something in my chest settling as she lays her cheek against my shoulder, her arms wrapping around me.

“First order of business is food,” Bella announces, already making her way through the back deck doors with Bambi hot on her heels. Grayson and I stand, trailing behind her into the kitchen as she calls over her shoulder, “Then we need to figure out who’s going to watch her while you work.”

A frown settles deep into my face, the groove between my brows forming. “I don’t trust anyone to do that.”

Bella stops searching the pantry to turn to me with wide eyes. “We would use a reputable agency?—”

“No way in fucking hell am I going to let a stranger take care of my child.” The fierceness of my words has my gaze sliding to the small bundle in my arms.

Shit, I should probably stop cussing around her, right?

Grayson shares a look with Bella and I can tell they’re having an entire conversation without me.

“I don’t care if I sound crazy, I’m not doing it. You don’t knowwho you’re hiring and Emmy has suffered enough. I’m not putting her at risk.”

Not after what I went through.

“It’s okay, I probably would feel the same way,” Bella assures me. “I’m sorry I suggested it.”

Now I feel like a dick for snapping.

My shoulders slump as I take a seat at one of the bar stools, waving off Bella’s apology. “No, don’t be sorry, I’m just?—”

“Protective,” she offers with a kind smile. “It’s a good look, Ashford. Suits you.”

I can’t help it, my cheeks flame as I mutter out a thanks.

“Making my teammate blush, Blaze?” Grayson drawls.

She rolls her eyes, swatting away his hand as he wraps her in a hug.

As they whisper back and forth, I wave my free arm in the air. “Hello, world just exploded, I have a child on my hip. Unless you want to make your own can we get back to what matters?”

Grayson snorts into the crook of Bella’s neck as she scoffs out a laugh. He doesn’t take his hands off her as he leans against the kitchen bench, taking her with him. “What about my mom? Would you trust her?”

“Of course, with my life and Emmy’s, but she has work and our schedule is all over the place. I don’t want to ask her to uproot her life and move here. That’s not fair.”

He frowns. “Shit, you’re right.”