AllFreeNovel
Share Us
bout Casey.” I pause and clear my throat. The mention of her name makes me feel like I’m suffocating, too many stressful memories rising to the surface, and my chest restricts. “Belle doesn’t normally talk about her mom.”
Mom shakes her head and walks over to me, pulling a piece of pink paper out of her handbag and handing it to me.
“You think this may have something to do with it?”
I unfold the paper. An invitation to the very first Tybee Tots Mother-Daughter Tea Party.
Well, fuck.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
JORDAN
“That don’t look like no Snickers bar,” Belle chides from behind me as I grab the protein bar for Madden from my desk drawer. Stubborn, stubborn man. What was he thinking trying to do a full workout and yoga on an empty stomach?
“These are healthy and full of protein, Belle. Snickers are full of sugar.”
“No suga,” she blanches, “no thank you.”
I swear, this kid is off the rails. Belle is always so happy and go with the flow; you never know what is going to come out of her mouth.
Wonder what kept Madden up all night? Yeah, yeah. I’m a nosey bitch; we have well established this by now. Belle’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
“Dowes any of ’dis has suga?” I look over to find her rummaging through my drawer of snacks.
Laughing, I pat her little head. “Nope, Belly, just healthy stuff here.”
She looks up at me with excited eyes and a huge smile. “You just called me Belly, like my daddy.”
I can’t help but smile. “I did,” I tell her. "We're friends, ain’t we?”
“Yep,” she states, popping her p. She motions for me to come closer as if she’s going to tell me a secret. I bend down and offer my ear to her. Putting her little hand up to hide her words, she whispers, “It’s otay if you likes me more than Kenny; gurl power and alls that.”
The laughter that bursts from my chest is loud, and I don’t care who hears me—this kid is great. I offer her a wink and a high five. “Let’s go find your daddy so he can eat. We don’t want him to be sick, right?” Belle nods in agreement and slips her chubby little hand in mine. We walk back to the yoga studio, but I wait outside the door as I overhear Madden and Maggie in what sounds like a heated discussion.
“Why wouldn’t Laney tell me about this?”
“I don’t know, son. I’m sure it was an oversight.”
“An oversight? Momma, you gotta be f—”
“Ah, ah, ah. You might be six-feet-three and two hundred plus pounds, and I know you’re upset. But you best remember it’s your momma you’re talkin’ to, Madden Alexander.”
What in the ever-lovin’ hell! I can imagine Maggie going toe-to-toe with Madden, her finger wagging in his face as she reprimands him. And that’s exactly what I see as Belle pulls away from me and bursts through the door. I try to grab her before she interrupts them, but her sassy mouth is flapping before I can stop her.
“Hey now, you two. Whys you arguing?” Belle’s demeanor has changed, and her sass has been replaced with… Why is she scared? She locks her arms around Madden’s knee, tears filling her hazel eyes.
The furious glare in Madden’s eyes is immediately replaced with grief as he scoops her up in his arms. Belle wraps her legs around her daddy’s hip, her chubby little arms around his neck, and her head rests upon his shoulder. His large hand cups the back of her head and he kisses her forehead, whispering something so low not even Belle can hear him. This little girl is home in her daddy’s arms. Not once does Madden look my way, and the moment is too private for me to intrude.
“I am so very sorry, y’all. I was trying to keep Belle out of the room until you had finished your conversation, but—”
Maggie turns on me, a sweet and warm smile on her face. “No need to apologize, child.” She looks down at my hand, the protein bar clutched tight in my grasp. “I assume you were bringing that to the lug who forgot to eat lunch?” She thrust her thumb over her shoulder toward Madden.
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod and step around her, offering the protein bar to Madden. His lip tips up in a small smile, and he mouths thank you.
“Jordan, would you mind to see me out?” Maggie asks.
“Of course, Mrs. Davenport.”
