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“She’s seven years old. Worries more about the girls in her class liking her hair every day than her schoolwork, and yet she’s smarter than me and you put together.She’s the shit with numbers.”
I chuckle, but something in my chest catches; I fist my hands at the slight whimpering sound that leaves me. Scarlet just watches on, allowing me the time to process.
“I called you selfish… that day on the terrace.” She wipes her face clean of her tears, pulling herself together. “I knew I didn’t mean it the moment the words left my mouth. I was hurt—a little shocked to see you. I said anything I could in that moment to make it not hurt me, and likely hurt you in the process. I’m sorry for that.”
I go to speak, but she stops me.
“You’re going to need some time.” She looks toward my body. “And so am I. I know this is hard to process, and I know you’ll need my understanding, too. I have a therapist that I see, she stays and chats to Ave after my sessions sometimes.” She shakes her head. “Nothing too heavy, but I’ve found it hard to help her understand her emotions surrounding you throughout the years. She knows this will take a while to figure out.”
My breathing goes shallow as a hole opens up in my chest and then seemingly fills itself back in again. “Ave?”
Scarlet’s mouth slackens as she stands to her full height. “I’m sorry. I was going to wait.”
“Why would you wait to tell me her name?”
“Because I didn’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.”
I frown, not understanding.
“Her name… her name is Waverley.”
SIX
Scarlet
Iknew it hurt him. The moment her name was in the air between us, I saw it destroy him and make him within the blink of an eye. Knew that the knowledge of having his daughter’s name tattooed on his body whilst he had no idea she existed hurt more than any love ever would.
Somewhere deep inside of me, I long to shut off all emotions linked to him. To cut all ties between my head and my heart where he’s concerned.
Only I don’t look at Lance and see a patient, or even a man. I look at him and see the love I lost.
“He keeps asking if you’re in.”
I don’t look at Mia as she walks into our small office and settles in the chair beside me. She pulls out her lunch, and I decide that I can’t ignore her completely. “Who?”
I feel her eyes on me and take a hefty bite of my wrap.
“You don’t want to know how he’s doing?”
I drop the food into the foil on my lap and face her, swallowing my mouthful. “How is he doing?”
“He might need an operation.”
My brow flickers.
“They think they’ll need to pin his leg after all.”
“What?” I mutter, sitting up a little straighter in the seat.
“Your brother was here before. He said he had to get back, and you were busy.”
Between Mason, Nina, and Elliot, someone has been to see Lance every day. I’ve not been in since I told him about Ave, and I don’t plan to go in for a while.
He needs time to process everything, and so do I.
“When will they operate if they do?”
“By the end of the week.”
