him the chance to show him to you, you’d forgive him.”
“I have forgiven him. A long time ago. But I can’t let go of him. No matter how hard I try.”
“So maybe that should tell you something,” she said and shrugged. “Or keep dating Liam and see how that goes. Either way, I just want you to be happy, Kace. That’s all.”
“I know,” she moaned, dropping her head to the island. “I just want to be happy.”
“Then follow your heart,” she said just as the back door opened. Kacey didn’t have to turn to know it was Jordie. Plus, Lacey greeted him with a bright grin and said, “Hey, Jordie! Whoo-weee! Someone went and saw Billy Ray.”
Sitting up, Kacey turned in her seat, and it really took everything out of her not to turn into a puddle of goo before sliding off the chair and just dying. It was downright wrong for someone to be as fucking hot as Jordie Thomas was. Standing before her in a thin gray shirt and athletic shorts was the man she fell in love with so long ago. His beard was trimmed up to perfection, not too long or short, just perfect and shiny. His hair was in a badass Mohawk and he was simply beautiful. She’d always thought he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen—and she still thought that. But at that moment, she could see how much weight he had lost.
God, what happened to him?
Looking away to keep the tears at bay, she turned in her seat, biting her lip and wishing that things had played out so differently. That she was the one wearing a grin and running her fingers through his beard, holding their child while being indescribably happy. It was a dream, one that she had thought was within her grasp, but apparently, she hadn’t wished on the right star. Fucking Disney really set her up for failure.
Getting off her stool, she went into the living room where Karson and Mena were. He was just getting up as she entered, and she held her hands out.
“I was gonna put her to bed,” he informed her.
“I can,” she offered and Karson shrugged.
“I do need to take a leak,” he said before handing her Mena.
“Nice to know,” she muttered as she gathered Mena close and then headed down the hall to her room. Taking her to the changing table, she got her ready for bed in her “I Love My Auntie” onesie before laying her in her crib. Mena was wide awake and didn’t look like a kid who was ready for bed, but it was well past her bedtime.
Running her finger along the curve of the baby’s cheek, Kacey whispered, “I hope when you get older, you don’t have to deal with heartache. But I’m pretty sure you will, and let me tell you, it sucks. But you just come to Auntie Kacey, okay? We’ll watch Notting Hill and eat lots of ice cream together. No matter what, I promise I’ll always be there for you, Mena Jane. Always.”
Mena flung her limbs in agreement and Kacey smiled. “Well, at least I have a partner in crime. Now, you go to sleep. I’m gonna go watch Notting Hill and eat ice cream for the both of us since your mother won’t let me drink. You should talk that over with her. Auntie needs her booze.” Leaning over the crib, she kissed Mena’s forehead. “Love you, Mena Bena. You’re my favorite niece in the whole world.”
Mena just stared at her and Kacey felt a bit guilty for leaving her, but it wasn’t like Mena was very social. Putting on her mobile and her nightlight, she walked out of the room and cracked the door before heading to the kitchen. As she walked through the living room, she noticed that Karson and Lacey were outside on the patio with the fire going. Popping her head out, she said, “Mena is down, and I’m about to go to bed too.”
“Thanks, I’ll turn the baby monitor on. Night,” Lacey said, pulling it out of her pocket and doing as she said she was going to.
“Night,” she said before shutting the door and heading to the kitchen. Grabbing her pint of cookie dough, she headed back to her room. After turning on her TV and setting her ice cream on the bedside table, she changed into her PJs and went to the bathroom. It was steamy when she entered, and she assumed Jordie