Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,36
me in. “I was going to bring her to your place tonight, but you're probably right. It's better you talk to her here than with Topher there being an asshole.”
The instant reflex to defend my fiancé simmers under the surface but I swallow it down. Now's not the time. The only thing I need to focus on right now is Brenna.
We walk through the house and out to the patio. She's sitting at the table playing her iPad when she looks up and sees me. I expect a hug, or at least a smile—something that tells me she's happy to see me—and my heart drops when she does nothing but look away.
“Hey, Bren,” I say softly, pulling out the seat next to her. “Have you had a good time with C—your dad?”
She nods but says nothing. The awkward tension between us pulls at me and makes me wish I could rewind and take it all back. Tell her the truth when Colby wanted to, because he was right. If we had, there wouldn't be an issue.
“B,” Colby says sternly. “Put the iPad down and talk to your mom.”
Giving him a sad smile, she does as he says, and I mouth a silent thank you his way. She turns toward me, and I slide off the seat to drop down in front of her. I take her hands in mine and press a kiss to one of them.
“I am so sorry, baby girl. I swear I was going to tell you, I just wanted to keep you safe.”
Her brows furrow. “Why would you need to keep me safe from Colby?”
I know I can't tell her the truth about how he left. She's too young for that. So, I go with something safer.
“Because he just came back into our lives,” I explain. “I wanted to make sure he was good enough for you, because you deserve all the best things, and I never want to see you get hurt.”
She looks away and down at her lap. “But you lied to me.”
I exhale slowly. “I know, and I'm sorry. Sometimes parents lie in order to protect their kids, and it's easy to forget how smart you are. I promise I will never lie to you again.”
It may be an empty promise, knowing there are things I still can't tell her. Like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or when Topher and I argue. But I will make it a point to tell her the truth more when it comes to things that matter, like her dad.
She squeezes my hand just as a tear escapes and slides down her cheek. “Can I see Stinky-Pants more?”
“Stink—”
“Whenever you want, B,” Colby interrupts me.
Nodding, she lunges forward and wraps her arms around me, and it's like coming up for fresh air. My lungs fill and the weight lifts and it finally feels like I can breathe again. I hold my daughter close for the first time in two days, and it's everything.
She doesn't hate me.
We sit for a bit and talk about all the things she's done over the last couple of days, including when Brenna made Colby learn how to do French braids because she loved them so much after a girl named Tessa did them. The mention of another woman strikes a nerve, and I hope Colby wasn't stupid enough to have one of his many hook ups around our daughter, but I tuck it away. Right now, I have Brenna back, and that's all that matters.
“Hey, B,” Colby says. “Why don't you go get changed out of your pajamas and we'll go for ice cream? I just want to talk to your mom a minute.”
She nods excitedly and gives me another hug before running inside. The October air might be chilly, but that's not why I shiver. Being alone with Colby, especially after everything that's happened, makes me nervous.
He leans forward on the table and gives me his no-bullshit look. “You and I need to come to a common ground. Now that she knows I'm her dad, there can't be any more arguing. Not where she's concerned.”
Honestly, I'm glad he said something, because I agree. “You're right. I was wrong to keep her away from you those few days. Being without her has been excruciating.”
A dimpled grin stretches across his face. “She's an incredible little girl.”
“She is.” We sit in silence for a couple minutes before I finally break it. “So, how about a fresh start? I'll agree to leave the past in the past