Page 124 of Fighting Chance

Emmy loves her

LAYLA

well get ready

Momma Bear Carson is coming in hot

My mom doesn’t even wait for me to get out of the car. She’s got her arms loaded with bags full of clothes and toys and all but bursts through the front door like a hurricane.

“Did she even knock?” I mutter to myself.

My Mom, bless her heart, is very evidently excited. She’ll never say it because she’s happy I’m well and healthy, but I know it must be hard for her, to have gone from taking care of me every day to suddenly not. It’s not only been an adjustment for me but for my parents as well.

We’re all trying to find ournew normal.

I hurry after her and her loud boisterous voice I can already hear as she coos and awes over Emmy.

I find Kieran standing at the edge of his living room with his hands on his hips, his duffel bag beside him, and that black hat facing backwards on his head. His shoulders shake with silent laughter.

“They’re spoiling her rotten,” I say with a small chuckle, spotting Emmy surrounded by a circle of toys, Allie and my mom kneeling beside her as they go through each toy they got her.

“Yep. Spoiled is the right word.”

His voice is thick with emotion, his eyes holding such joy it makes me smile, too. “She deserves it.”

“That she does.” His eyes cut my way. “What are the chances they’ll even notice us leave?”

“Slim to none.”

Snorting out a laugh, Kieran waves as he picks up his duffel bag. “I’ll see you guys later tonight. Are you sure you’re okay staying here till late?”

Allie doesn’t even lift her head as she sends him off. “Yes honey, off you go. Slap that puck!”

Shaking his head, amused, he ambles over and bends to place a kiss on the top of Emmy’s head. “Have fun, sweet girl. I’ll blow you kisses on TV.” Turning to my mom, he gives her a one-armed hug. “Thanks for helping out, Charlotte.”

“It’s not help when I begged to come and see this little angel.”

“It’ll turn into her begging for you to come over if you keep spoiling her.”

The smile my mom sends Kieran’s way is the widest I’ve seen since I told her about my acceptance into the Berlin trial. “No such thing as too much love.” She rises, shooing Kieran out of his own home. “Now off you go and good luck tonight. Take care of my sweetheart afterward, please.”

“Mom,” I hiss under my breath.

“What? You’re an attractive young girl and there will be drunks at the bar. He needs to keep an eye out for you.”

“Don’t worry, Momma Bear Carson. Both my eyes arefirmlyon your daughter.”

Whacking Kieran’s chest, now I’m the one ushering him out. “Don’t encourage her!”

I place both my hands on his back and push. I know that if he truly put up a fuss I wouldn’t be able to move this giant man an inch but he grins at me over his shoulder, obliging me.

“Have fun, you two!” my mom says sweetly as she slams the door in our faces.

Kieran spins, invading my space as he wriggles his brows. “Whatever shall we do to have fun, Miss Carson?”

“No.”

Walking past him, I hear him huff behind me, his feet slapping the driveway to catch up. “What do you mean no? I’m plenty fun.”