Page 53 of Fighting Chance
She throws her arms around me and squeezes. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for what feels like an eternity!”
Her joy is infectious, her energy lighting up the entire room.
“I know, I can’t believe we haven’t yet!”
Cindy pulls back, her eyes roving over me. My brain is instantly waiting for a comment about how I don’t look like I have a disease, but to my surprise, she whistles.
“God damn, Layla, this sweater suits you so well!”
My shoulders loosen, the breath I was holding escaping me in a rush. Flicking my gaze down to the sage green sweater I’m about to say thank you but she’s already moving on, her smile stretching further as she drops to her knees.
Bella wasn’t wrong, she bounces from topic to topic like a gorgeous blonde hurricane.
Emmy’s grip on my jeans tighten as she nestles her head further into my calves.
Cindy rummages in her bag. “A little birdie told me that Bambi is your best friend,” she whispers.
I feel Emmy’s head nod up and down along the back of my leg.
Cindy gives her a knowing smile as she leans forward. “Then this is most certainly for you.” She pulls out a plush teddy bear—a golden retriever.
Emmy’s hands disappear from my legs. Bella and I grin, watching Emmy take it gently from Cindy’s outstretched palm, her eyes round with awe. She wraps her arms around the teddy bear and cradles it to her chest like it’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Something tells me she’s never going to let go of that,” Bella says.
Chapter 11
Layla
KIERAN
please tell me my child is still alive
LAYLA
*photo attachment*
Emmy is very much alive and well
good luck tonight!
KIERAN
don’t need luck when you’re as good as me ;)
LAYLA
andddd there he is, the cockiest man to ever live
KIERAN
never left baby
Cindy’s gasp is so loud that Bella rushes back into the living room, a brownie hanging out of her mouth. Cindy’s hand flies to her chest as if I physically wounded her. “You didnotjust say that.”
Wincing, I pop a grape in my mouth. “Sorry.”
“What the hell is going on?”
