tears glimmering in her eyes. When our gazes clash, heat rises to her cheeks, and she shifts, avoiding my gaze.
“Breakfast is ready. I made enough for everyone. If you’re hungry.”
Luna hops to her feet, taking my hand in hers. “C’mon! Mommy makes the best breakfast!”
I indulge her in a smile and let her drag me into the kitchen. Luna takes the seat next to me at the table just as Selene slides our plates in front of us. Luna wasn’t kidding when she said Selene makes a good breakfast. She went all out. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, and homemade waffles.
Throughout breakfast, our daughter chats our ears off, talking about everything and anything. I soak it all in, never wanting her to stop. A few times, I catch Selene watching me, and whenever she realizes she’s caught, she quickly looks down and continues pushing the food around on her plate, not eating.
At moments like these, it’s hard to ignore how stunning Selene is. How human she is. I’m still incredibly angry with her, but every time I see the look of guilt or torture on her face, I want to take it away.
Today, her eyes look a little more honey than they do their normal hazel blend of colors. When the sunlight seeping in through the kitchen windows catches her eyes, I can clearly see the hints of honey mixed with a blend of other colors. Her eyes are a melt of autumn tones and winter frost. She’s a goddess on earth, a blooming flower amongst the leaves.
After breakfast, I spend more time with Luna. She shows me her favorite toys, her favorite channels on YouTube, and proceeds to tell me every story under the sun. When it starts getting late, I regretfully tell her I have to get to work.
“Aw, man!” Her disappointment resembles my own. I wish I could stay all day, but I do still have a company to run, and I need to have a conversation with her mother in private. Luna looks up at me, her big bright eyes filled with hope. “Are you coming back tomorrow?”
I drop down to my haunches before her. Taking her hand in mine, I squeeze gently. “I’ll be back every single day.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Catching me off guard, Luna throws herself into my arms and hugs me. Her little arms wind around my neck and squeeze.
“Bye, Daddy,” she whispers in that sweet voice.
The word strikes me right in the fucking chest, reaching places I never knew existed. It takes everything in me to keep my emotions in check as my entire world tilts on its axis.
“Bye, baby,” I whisper back. I have no intention of letting her go. I want to soak in every second I can. I’ll never be able to make up for those lost years, but I want to hang on to my little girl while she’s still little for as long as I possibly can.
When I glance up, fire and ice engulf my heart when I spot Selene staring at us. Regret and torment are in her eyes, but it doesn’t even come close to what I feel gripping my chest.
“Luna, start cleaning up your toys while I talk to your dad really quick, okay?”
My little girl groans but still does as she’s told, leaving me with her mother. I push up to my full height, squaring my shoulders.
“I think today went well.”
Even though I want to say something I know will hurt her feelings, I nod. Instead, I say, “I have this weekend off. I’m thinking about taking Luna over to my parents’ place. Maybe out to the movies or something.”
Selene rubs her lips together. “She’d like that.”
Tense silence resumes between us. She shifts, her mouth opening like she wants to say more, but the words never come. I’m not sure what she could say at this point that could make anything about this situation better. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take that as my cue to leave.
“I’ll be in touch.”
Her crestfallen face is the last thing I see before I turn on my heels, heading back toward my truck.
The next day, after I got back from dropping of a contract for a new project a few towns over, I head over to Selene’s place. I’m surprised when Gavin answers the door instead of her.
“End, how are you?” he asks.
I slip my hands into my pockets, lifting a shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. “I’ve been better.”
An unexplainable sadness takes over his face. He glances