Love Triangle Six Books of Torn Desire - Willow Winters Page 0,389

are so many kinds of love. I love your aunt Gigi, your auntie Molly, your uncle Noah. But I don’t love your uncle Noah the same way auntie Molly does.”

“Damn straight,” Molly mutters under her breath so only I can hear, and I’m thankful for the levity.

“So even though I love your daddy, it’s not the same.”

“Oh.” Charlotte’s shoulders fall at the news.

“But I promise you, both of you…” My eyes float to Alyssa, who stands behind her sister. “Nothing will change. There may just be an extra person at my side on occasion. It’ll be fun.” My voice brightens and I smile. “And you two will get to wear a pretty dress during the wedding as my flower girls.”

“Really?” Alyssa asks.

“Of course! There’s no one else I’d rather have.”

I raise myself to my feet, looking down at them. Their concerned expressions lifting at the thought of getting to play dress-up for a day, they return to their puzzle, both of them talking excitedly about what kind of dress they want to wear for the wedding.

Blowing out a breath, I look back at Molly and Noah.

“Wine?” He arches a brow.

“I could use some.”

“Red or white?”

“I’ll get it myself. You guys sit.” I turn away from them and head into the kitchen, pausing at the island.

My hands grip the counter, my arms supporting my weight as I exhale a long breath. I try to compose myself, to swallow the lump in my throat at how concerned Alyssa and Charlotte were that I’d no longer be a part of their lives. I don’t think that will be the case, but what if it is? What if Wes wants kids right away? How will I juggle that and starting a PhD program? What if Wes doesn’t want children at all? We’ve never discussed it. There’s so much I don’t know about him, about what he wants out of life. My world spins, the walls closing in on me as these questions fill me with unease. What have I gotten myself into?

“Want to talk about it?” Molly’s voice cuts through and I whip my head toward her.

“About what?” I ask in an even tone, pretending she hadn’t caught me on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

“I don’t know. Everything.” She leans against the counter, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “You didn’t return any of my phone calls or texts today.”

I avoid her eyes. “My schedule was filled with home visits. Within the span of eight hours, I had over ten kids to check in on. I barely had time to eat, let alone answer a text or phone call. Not to mention submitting a few of my guardian ad litem reports to the court.”

“That’s never stopped you before.” Molly steps toward me, her eyes seeming to analyze everything about me, from the way my gaze darts, to the way I chew on my bottom lip, to the way I try to shrink into my frame so I can disappear. I’m normally an open book with her…except when it comes to her brother. Some wounds are too painful and are better left scabbed over. “We used to talk all the time between home visits. That’s when I used to bounce story ideas off you.”

I spin from her, opening the refrigerator door and grabbing an uncorked bottle of chardonnay. “Well, you haven’t seemed to need me lately, have you?” My words come out harsher than I intended, but the events of the day have finally taken their toll on me—Drew’s reaction to my engagement, trying to convince a few of my kids that their foster parents won’t hurt them like their biological parents had, Alyssa’s and Charlotte’s line of questioning. I’ve reached my boiling point.

“Is that what this is about?”

I find a wine glass in the cabinet and pour a healthy portion. “What do you mean?” I face her.

“Your engagement.” She lowers her voice. “You have to admit it sort of came out of the blue. Are you only marrying Wes because I’m engaged, too?”

“Molly…” I roll my eyes. “No offense, but you two have been engaged for almost a year now and haven’t set a date.”

She rubs her stomach, grinning. “Well, my baby daddy knocked me up before we could get around to that. He must have some super swimmers because the month I stopped birth control…bam. Preggers.” All it takes is a wink to lighten the atmosphere between us. She’s always had an uncanny ability to do that. No matter how