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“Nope. Not when serious means you pushing me away.”
“I’m not pushing you away.”
“What do you call it then?”
“I call it what it is. We’re friends. Nothing more.”
“Darling,” he begins but is cut off by a wail from Robin.
I jump to my feet. “I’ve got her. You finish your dinner.”
I pick Robin up and hurry out of the living room down the hallway to the nursery. I’m running away, but I don’t care how I look like a scaredy cat.
I thought I could handle a serious conversation with Elder. I was wrong. I can’t. He pokes holes in my ‘friends only’ theory without even trying. I’m starting to worry there’s a reason it’s easy to poke holes in my theory.
It’s because you’re falling for him,Rebel Harmony says.
I am not falling for Elder. I can’t. He can be as sweet and kind and loving as he wants to, I— Shit. I’m falling for Elder. This needs to stop. I don’t deserve him. Not after what I did to my family. It’s better I push him away.
Chapter 29
If you see Eden make sure to tell her I had nothing to do with the plants that got run over. ~ Text from Miller to the Bragg brothers
The phone rings as I’m walking into the house with my hands loaded down with groceries.
“I got it,” Elder says as he rushes past me.
I scowl at him. This is my house. My telephone. But try telling Elder anything of the sort. Since the picnic last week, he hasn’t let up one bit. His new nickname should be ‘full-court press’. My adorable goofball is nowhere to be seen.
I shake my head. Where did the ‘my’ come from? Elder isn’tmyanything.
“It’s for you,” he says as he takes the bags from me before handing me the phone.
I push thoughts of Elder away. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Bragg? This is Mr. Craven, your attorney.”
As if I can forget the name of my attorney.
“Do you have news?”
Elder pauses with unloading the groceries to come stand next to me.
“I do.”
My knees wobble. This is it. This is the moment I learn whether Robin is mine. Elder guides me toward the couch where I collapse. He sits next to me and holds my hand.
“Is it good news?” I ask Mr. Craven.
“It is.” He clears his throat. “Mr. Zimmerman’s blood test came back positive for cocaine and alcohol.”
What a douchebag. Showing up at a custody hearing for his daughter stoned off his face.
“What does this mean with regard to custody of Robin?”
“The judge has dismissed his petition for custody.”
My whole body tingles with excitement. “She has?”
