Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,40
between us. Don't get me wrong, we get along perfectly well for Brenna's sake, but when she's not around, Saige goes quiet. It's not the kind of silence that makes me think she's mad at me. More of one that shows she's lost in thought. I tried to ask about it once, but she brushed me off and acted like nothing was wrong.
Everyone on the team knows about Brenna. They were all more than shocked to find out I have a daughter, but we've made it a point not to let it get out to the media. They're vultures, and if they find out, I have no doubt they'll follow Saige and Brenna around incessantly. I'll do whatever it takes to protect them, even if it means not being able to tell the world Brenna is mine.
EVERYONE GOES HOME AROUND ten, except for Asher, Tessa, and Saige. Brenna is half asleep on the couch with her head in my lap when Saige stands up.
“It's time to go, Bren.”
B whines subtly and covers her head with the blanket I draped over her a little while ago. I chuckle and run my fingers through her hair.
“Why don't you just let her sleep here?” I suggest. “I'll drop her off in the morning.”
She looks hesitant for some reason, but ultimately agrees. She kisses Brenna's forehead and waves goodbye to the rest of us before heading out.
“You two seem to be getting along,” Asher points out.
I smile, because it's true. “Anything for this little munchkin.”
Tessa watches with a loving grin on her face while cuddled into Asher's side. “The dad life looks good on you, Colbs.”
Chuckling, I pull up my shirt and pat my stomach. “Next I'll have to work on getting my dad bod.”
“Oh, I'm sure the ladies would love that.”
I think back to that girl at the party the other night. She was no different than all the others I've let myself get lost in for a night, but something felt off this time. Like it was wrong. Like I should've been somewhere else.
“I'm not sure there will be any more ladies,” I tell her honestly.
Asher practically chokes on his beer. “Was this shit laced or something? I must be hallucinating. I just heard you insinuate there won't be any more random hookups.”
Rolling my eyes at his dramatics, I snicker. “Because there won't be. At least I don't think so.” I look down at Brenna, who's now sound asleep. “I have more important things in my life now.”
With B out cold, the three of us hang out and watch funny videos on YouTube. It may be childish, but that's what's best about these two. They don't care. As long as it makes us laugh, that's all that matters.
A trailer of Topher's new movie comes onto the screen and I roll my eyes. “Douchebag.”
Tessa snorts. “Not fond of the ex's current beau?”
“I met him way before he started dating her, so don't get any ideas in that pretty little head of yours.” I take a minute to think of how I can put this without being rude. Nope, not possible. “He's just a piece of shit with anger issues. I don't know what Saige sees in him.”
Asher laughs while Tess looks deep in thought. She takes out her phone and starts typing, but doesn't say anything until a few minutes later.
“You, uh,” she starts, seeming to grasp at words. “You don't think he's abusing Saige, do you?”
“Like, beating her?”
She nods, and I get an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It's not something I ever considered, but I also never had a reason to.
“Not that I know of,” I answer honestly. “Why?”
She exhales slowly. “When she got here today, she dropped her keys, and when she went to pick them up I noticed a huge bruise on her side. And she's skittish when anyone goes near her. I asked Sav, since she has experience with that stuff, and she said it sounds sketchy.”
My body goes cold at the thought of him laying a hand on her. A man hitting any woman would piss me off, but with the mother of my child? Absolute fury.
“The bruise is from the monster.”
We all stare in surprise at my daughter, who pulls the blanket up higher and closes her eyes again. “What monster?”
She yawns. “Mommy protects me from the monsters. She had to fight one, and it gave her a bruise.”
Everything in me tenses, and my eyes immediately lock with Asher's. I can't move. If I move, I'm