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“I had him followed. Just so I always knew where he was or if he tried to come back here,” he explained.
When I thought that I might be upset by Dominic’s actions, I realized that I was actually grateful for them.
“I never wanted to be caught off-guard. If Trevor planned on coming back to Hopetown, I wanted to be ready for him.”
“I can’t believe he’s dead.”
I felt nothing. I’d expected to feel at least some measure of relief, but he didn’t have that kind of hold over me anymore. I’d stopped fearing him a long time ago. Because I had Dominic. The man who would never let anything happen to me or his daughter.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I leaned over, pressing my mouth to his, my tongue moving inside slowly, before pulling away. “I’m perfect. You?”
“Ready to celebrate,” he said before hopping down and helping me to my feet. “This is a great day.”
He was so elated with the news, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him at all.
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
“You know I’d never let anything happen to my girls.”
“I know.”
When we started walking down the stairs and toward the backyard, I remembered that someone was still missing.
“Where the heck is Michael?” I stopped moving. “If he doesn’t show up, Willow might never forgive him.”
Dominic grinned. “Oh, he’s coming. He just had to stop and pick something up first.”
“What are you guys up to?” I shook my head because whenever Dominic wanted to do something too over the top for our little girl, he just told Michael to do it instead. He thought it would keep him out of trouble that way.
“Nothing.” He kissed my lips before we walked out the sliding back door and rejoined the party.
I watched as he sprinted back toward the bounce house, anxious to get back in.
“Everything okay?” Kristina sidled up next to me while her boyfriend was still being held hostage by my daughter.
“Trevor’s dead,” I said, and her mouth dropped open.
“Hall-e-freaking-lujah!” she shouted, thrusting a fist in the air, and everyone looked at us.
Avoiding their questioning glances, I glanced around the yard instead and saw Michael walking in, his right arm holding some sort of rope behind him.
“I’m going to kill them both,” I growled, and Kristina whipped her head around before she bent in half and started laughing hysterically. “I’m going to kill you too,” I said, mentally adding her name to the growing list in my head.
“A pony? He got her a freaking pony?!” she said through her laughter, and my eyes found Dominic’s instantly.
He simply offered me a nonchalant shrug, as if he’d had no knowledge of what Michael had done. As if this whole thing hadn’t been his idea in the first place, when I knew that it definitely was. I bet if I checked our credit card statement, I’d see the purchase on there, paid for in full by him.
“The best uncle in the world is here,” Michael shouted into the crowd before I heard Willow’s muffled scream.
“Is that for me?” She came bounding out of the bounce house, sprinting toward Michael before she thought better of it and slowed to a walk. “I don’t want to scare her. Oh, she’s so pretty. Is she a girl? Is she for me, Uncle Michael?” Her head swung around, searching for her dad. “Daddy, is she mine?”
“Don’t ask your dad. Ask me. The best uncle in the whole world. I’m the one who brought her. Me. Your favorite uncle. The best guy on the planet. Hello!”
Michael was ridiculous, and even when I wanted to smack him, I still wanted to hug him. He was that lovable. Willow jumped into his arms before saying something in his ear that none of us could hear, but Michael started cracking up. He whispered back, and the look on Willow’s face told me everything I needed to know.
