I cursed under my breath when she jumped on me. “Down girl,” I muttered.
“You’re a good girl,” Willa said, crouching to scratch her ears and keep her from knocking me down. “You need to be gentle with your dad, though. He protected me today and got hurt.”
Nickel whined, barely containing herself as I crossed the room and slumped to a seat at the kitchen table.
“I didn’t do all that much,” I murmured. “I’m sorry, Willa…I amreallynot a fighter.”
She snorted. “Figured as much. But honestly, I don’t want a fighter. You’re a much better lover.”
I laughed out loud at that, which made my ribs hurt, which made me stop laughing.
Nickel came toward me, but Willa was faster.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Is there anything I can get you?—”
“I’m just being a baby,” I laughed, shaking my head. That hurt, too. I close my eyes. “Think I just…really need to go to bed? At least for a bit.”
Willa nodded. “I’ve got you.”
Once again, she helped me up, keeping a hand on me while I hobbled down the hall. She helped me get undressed, too—pulled my shirt off with a bit of difficulty, then my jeans. When I was down to my boxers, I basically dropped into bed and then she was getting undressed too—down to just her tshirt and underwear, crawling in under the blankets.
Nickel, satisfied that we weren’t going to start playing that weird game where we kicked her out of the bedroom, hopped on the bed too and rested her head on Willa’s hip, staring across at me with what I had to assume was either concern or irritation.
“You protected me today,” Willa whispered. “That means a lot.”
“I lost my shit,” I replied. “Couldn’t stand them putting their hands on you.”
“They could’ve killed you.”
“But they didn’t.”
“But they could have.” She paused. “And it would have been my fault.”
"It wasn't your fault," I said. "Don't do that."
"Forrest—"
"Willa." I turned my head to look at her. Even that was slow going. "They chose to come to that gate. They chose to put their hands on you. None of that is on you."
She was quiet for a moment.
"I keep thinking about what would have happened if Gage hadn't come," she said.
"He did come."
"But if he hadn't?—"
"He did." I found her hand under the blankets. "That's the thing about this family. They show up. Every time."
She laced her fingers through mine.
Nickel shifted on her hip and sighed.
Then I said: “This day should’ve been about you. Not about them.”
“Well…it kind of ended up being about me.”
“Not like that.” I squeezed her hand. “You thought you couldn’t have babies…and youcan, Willa. I’ve seen you with Haven and Millie’s kids, I could see how much you wanted it. And you’re pregnant. And it’s ours, not his.”
