And I couldn’t be prouder of my big brother.
“We want you to meet your niece,” he whispers, his eyes wet as he pulls back to look at me.
“I’d be honored.”
“Miss Salem Harmony Rhodes,”Arden says as she places the tiny pink bundle into my arms, and I can’t wipe the tears fast enough from my cheeks.
Harmony.
After Mom.
We lost her so young, and maybe if we’d been older things would have looked different, but to us she was perfect. Bright and beautiful with the biggest heart and smile. Dad always said Jude got his scowl and I got Mom’s light—the kind that follows a person wherever they go, banishing the darkness and drawing people to them.
I thought I was just bein’ friendly.
“Seemed like the right thing to do,” Jude murmurs and I nod, not trusting my voice as he stares at Arden now resting in the hospital bed. Arden must be exhausted, but as I look down at the sweet angel in my arms, I know with all my heart she was worth it.
“I’m proud of you,” I tell Jude, but he just shakes his head as he scrubs his hands over his face.
“I didn’t do anything; Arden did all the work.”
“You know what I mean,” I whisper, brushing my thumb along Salem’s cheek. “You didn’t shy away when Arden tried to run. You fought for her,”—meeting his gaze I nod toward his daughter—“for both of them.”
He’s quiet for a moment, sitting back in the hospital chair and crossing his feet at the ankles.
“Did somethin’ happen?” he asks quietly, and I huff in silent disbelief.Of course he would know something is wrong.
“Nothin’ that matters right now.”
“D.”
“Tanner stayed at the bar.”
I can hear his nails scratch along the stubble on his jaw as he works through that statement. “Forgot about that.”
“It’s fine.”
“I wasn’t thinkin’,” he admits, his tone filled with remorse, but I shake my head.
“You needed to focus on Arden. You did what you were supposed to.”
“I could have given you a heads-up.”
“The surprise was probably better. I didn’t have time to think what I wanted to say, just told him I was done goin’ after him.”
Jude lifts one eyebrow in question. “And?”
“And he saidhe’snot done.” Rolling my lips inward, I try like hell to cover my smile. It feelsgoodto be wanted, but just as quickly my smile falls. Because even though Tanner said he stillwantssomething to happen between us doesn’t mean he’ll follow through.
“You believe him?”
“I dunno,” I admit, rocking Salem a little when she starts to squirm, “but I drew my line and now I have to wait and see what happens.”
He looks like he wants to say something else, but he dips his head in solidarity, and for now, that’s enough.
8
TANNER
