Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars #4) - A.L. Jackson Page 0,33

even closer, locking her tiny arms around my neck. “Don’t drop me, Uncle!”

A light chuckle rumbled out, and I kept swaying her, hugging her tight. “Never.”

“And stop with all the teases.”

“Never.”

I could feel her grin pressed to the side of my face. “Okay, fines. I like your teases alright.”

Amor. Amor. Amor.

Love, love, love.

Rhys’ mama said this house was built on it.

That it was the foundation of a family.

And without it, everything would collapse.

My heart clutched in old agony, and I squeezed Daisy just a little tighter.

Royce strolled in holding Amelia. At the sound of his footsteps, Daisy pulled back. “Ooh…look it! My baby cousin is here!” she squealed. “She’s soooos the cutest!”

She wiggled, and I set her down so she could go scamperin’ that way.

Emily beamed at her little family. She lifted the carafe in her husband’s direction with that adoring expression on her face. “Coffee?”

“Please,” Royce grumbled, shifting down onto a knee so Daisy could ooh and aah over the tiny infant.

“Ah, I see how it is, Em-Girl. Offer him coffee but ignore little ol’ me,” I taunted.

Emily rolled her eyes.

Some might not know the difference, but I knew it was filled with affection. “Um…if you wanna start gettin’ up for three a.m. feedings, I’ll be happy to pour you a cup of coffee in the mornin’, too.”

My hands shot up in surrender. “Hey now, let’s not get crazy.”

Her eyes rolled again, and she was shaking her head, looking at me the way she did. The girl one of my oldest friends. Family. Her joy mine because it was the only thing that mattered.

Truth was, I’d step in for every feeding if that’s what she needed of me.

Royce’s cell rang from his pocket, and he seemed to waver, unsure, like he was contemplating juggling our poor little Amelia.

“Here,” I said as I ambled that way.

It was almost a scowl scrawled across his brow when I offered assistance, but he straightened and passed her over. “Careful.”

“I’ve got her.”

All chubby, pinked cheeks and pursed, adorable lips.

She weighed next to nothing.

I held her against my chest, bouncing her soft.

Yeah.

Definitely ooh-worthy.

“Hey there, gorgeous girl,” I murmured when she made a tiny, squeaking cry. “Look at that, another one that’s gonna be breakin’ all the hearts.”

Daisy grinned up at me. “I don’t think so, Uncle Rhys’ Pieces. I heard my mommy tellin’ my daddy you is the one who is nothin’ but a heartbreaker.”

I forced a smile.

Heartbreaker.

Heartbroken.

Same dif, right?

“She did, did she?”

“Yup…and she said you is a catch.” Daisy’s dark eyes lit, and her voice switched to a squeal. “Hey, do you wanna play catch with me on the beach? I brought some balls with me! And we can go swimmin’! Can we go swimmin’?”

She tugged at my pant leg when she asked it, and light laughter tumbled out. That smile didn’t feel so forced as I looked down on the little girl that turned me to mush. “Sounds like a good plan to me, Daisy Mae. Right after practice, yeah?”

Only, I could feel that smile slippin’ when Royce answered the phone, his casual, “Hey, Mag Pie, what’s up?” shifting to alarm when he stopped talking to hear whatever his sister was saying.

I couldn’t make it out.

Didn’t need to in order to feel it.

To get dragged right into the undertow of worry.

The current this raging toil I could feel crashing against my feet.

Had no idea what was up, but I was ready to go flyin’ out the door.

“What? Are you okay?… Fuck… Are you sure?”

His eyes were wild as he glanced at Emily who’d stepped away from the counter in concern.

“Okay. I’ll be there in a second,” he said before he dropped his phone to his side. Man looked like he was about to crack. Was it fucked up it felt like he was gonna take me right along with him, too? “Maggie tripped on her run. I have to go pick her up.”

I was already moving before he finished talking, handing Amelia off to Emily. Without missing a beat, she accepted her, bouncing her as she rushed to ask, “Is she hurt?”

Royce roughed an agitated hand over the top of his head. “Hurt enough that she called…so knowing my sister, I’m going to say, yeah.” He started for the door before he whirled around. “Shit. Our rental isn’t being delivered until eleven.”

I was already halfway to the door, dragging the keys to my baby from my pocket. “I’ve got you covered.”

Dude actually tried to snag the keys from my hand. Like I was