“It’s probably Gage. He wanted to stop by today—”
Before I can get my sentence out fully, Rune is bounding toward the door. “I’ll get it! Uncle Gage!”
I make a mental note to talk with Rune about opening the door, that it should always be an adult, just in case, but I’m right behind him, so I let him do it this time.
Rune stops in his tracks, his decision to throw himself at Gage changing suddenly. “You’re not Uncle Gage.”
“Hi. Huh. Do I have the wrong—”
I come around to see who it is, and my heart drops in my chest. Fuck.
“Natasha.”
“Natasha?” Leo whips her head around and practically runs toward the door, tucking Rune behind her. Lioness mama is out onthe prowl. I think I would rather have the morning mommy monster back.
“What the hell is she doing at your door, Everett?” Shit. I’m Everett again.
“I-I don’t know,” I stutter out, because I actually have no fucking clue. I was pretty clear when I spoke to her last time.
“What am I doing here? Really, Leora, you think after you left him, he wouldn’t move on? Who do you think has been warming his bed for the last eight years?”
“Six,” I correct but realize when I look at Leo that it really doesn’t fucking matter.
Her eyes are glassy, her teeth are clenched, and she is holding her breath. Fuck. “Leo. Breathe, baby. I can explain. I promise.”
I reach toward her like I’m trying to catch a wild animal, and honestly, I just might be.
“Rune. Go get your shoes on.”
“What? Why? I want to stay with Daddy.” He tries to come toward me, but Leo grabs him around the shoulders.
No.
No.
No.
She can’t keep him from me. She is going to run.
“Leo. Pleas–”
“Daddy?” Nat’s voice interrupts my attempts to calm Leo.
“Yeah, he’s my daddy. And this is my mommy.” Rune’s so fucking innocent, it hurts.
I take a deep breath. I need to get control of this situation immediately. I treat this exactly how it feels, like a level-one trauma rolling through my ER doors.
“Natasha, go outside and wait in your car. I will be there in a minute. Rune and Leo, go into the living room. We need to talk.”
“I’m not leaving. If Rune is your son, what I have to say concerns him and Leo.”
We all look at her a little confused now.
Leo still has her arms wrapped protectively around Rune, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around her, hold her to me so she can’t flee.
Leo finally breaks the silence, her tone vicious when she says, “What the fuck are you talking about?” Nowhere in her posture or eyes is my sweet Leo. This woman in front of me was birthed from the trauma she experienced because of my mother and from raising Rune on her own. This woman is fierce, strong, vicious, and I fucking love it.
“Rune is going to have a sibling.” Nat’s words draw my attention back to her, her hands lying over her flat stomach.
