Page 118 of Between the Lines

I nod, biting my bottom lip.

“No jewelry, got it,” I joke to ease the tension even though my heart is aching in the cavity of my chest, the way it’s ached since I let her walk out of my life. “Do you think you can get Fia to come here tomorrow night, alone?”

Halle furrows her brow.

“She puts Daisy to bed at—”

I cut her off. “I know, that’s why I need you. I’ll pay you whatever you want to stay at Fia’s house and babysit.”

Halle shifts her weight, taking her good old time considering my offer.

“Okay,” she finally says. “I can try, but you know Fia, she’s going to be skeptical and have a million questions.”

I nod, understanding that’s entirely true. I have no idea if this is going to work, but I have to try. I can’t let her just slip from my life like the last month meant nothing to me.

“Thank you,” I reply shakily.

“Shit, you really are messed up over her, aren’t you?”

I exhale, somewhere between a sob and a laugh. “You have no fucking clue.”

47

Fia

Iclose the book and turn on the sound machine, with Daisy fast asleep in my arms. I don’t normally let her fall asleep against me in the rocker, but right now—even after making up with Penny—she feels like the only constant in my life.

I run my finger gently over the slope of her button nose, always amazed at how perfect she is. Then my heart twinges with worry about the shift in routine, people gone from her life too suddenly . . . but she’s too young to remember Caden.

The longer I sit here, the less will power I will have to get up, so I stand and place Daisy in her crib.

My phone buzzes as I click her bedroom door shut behind me.

Halle: I’m at your front door—I didn’t want to knock.

My pulse picks up as I skip down the steps, eyes glued to the front door, worst-case scenarios circling my mind.

When I fling the door open, Halle’s standing there in lounge clothes, her purple backpack hanging off her shoulder.

“What’s going on, are you okay?” I open the door wide, gesturing for her to step into the foyer. I flip on the light to see her better.

“I’m fine, I’m good.” She smiles but it’s forced.

“You’re freaking me out. What are you doing here? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but . . .”

She sets down her backpack. “I’m here because I need you to go to Good Grinds.”

For a moment I wonder if I’m dreaming, but she continues to stare at me, waiting for a reaction.

I rub my forehead, like that will help me decipher this odd series of events.

It doesn’t.

“Okay, I’m going to need some explanation . . . I’m way too tired to understand.”

She rests her hands on her hips. “I suck at this.”

“At what?” I step forward. “Halle, are you in danger?” I whisper.