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Marc, JJ, and Jude kneel beside me while Tate hovers by the TV with a pale, shocked expression. The boy may know more about her past, but he doesn't know who she is now. We do. Not with so many words or a story to tell. No. We know Rylee, my copper-haired beauty, by the twinkle in her gaze when she fights a laugh. We see the wonderful mother she is to Layla in everything she would give to her daughter. Sure, we don't know her through words, but weseeher. We crumble with her when sorrow flickers across her bright features and leaves exhaustion in its wake. I see the guilt that eats away at her when nobody is watching.
Rylee is not her past. She’s the mom crying in my arms who would do anything to keep her daughter safe and happy. Rylee is a woman who survived unspeakable things and still smiles every single day.
"Shh, baby girl. Show us what hurts," Jude murmurs, petting her head once again. She settles against me and lifts her tear-streaked cheeks from my shoulder.
Sniffling, Rylee doesn't lift her gaze from her hands. "It's not something you can see," she whispers. "Mason, he-he broke my wrist a few years ago."
Silence descends for a beat. "It still hurts you, sweetheart?" Marcus sounds like he's trying really damn hard to hold his emotions in check.
Her hesitant nod breaks my fucking heart. The wrist in question twitches between us. I realize just as the other three do. Rylee's hand twitches whenever she's overwhelmed, sad, or feeling anything negative or threatening. This is why.
"Let me see it." Jackson tries to smooth out his demand with a soft tone. Surprisingly, Rylee doesn't even bat an eye at his bossiness. Instead, she offers him her right arm as her bottom lip trembles.
Sometimes I forget how young Rylee really is. She's always so strong and put-together. Not right now, though.
Beauty's vulnerable side makes my soul crack.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
JUDE
"Nugget?" I tap my knuckles on Layla's door quietly so as not to startle her. Soft shuffling on the other side reaches my ears.
A head of white curls pops out of the doorframe, making me smile. "Jude! Want to see my room?" Before I can utter a word, she grips my pointer and middle finger in her small hand. "Look! Oh, my bed is my most favorite!"
Jackson's properties are always very basic colors, and the tenants aren't allowed to paint the white walls. But I admit, Layla really has made this room her own.
Nugget's bedspread is definitely the highlight of her space, though. On a white background spans a bright pink daisy across most of the bed.
Wait.
Whipping my phone out, I snap a picture and send it off to Gabby with a wink emoji. One thing I will never tell the guys is that Gabs and I have our own little book club.
Sunshine: Omg. WHAT!? I NEED THAT NOW! Steal it, Jude. I don't care that it belongs to a child. When she's older, I will tell her all about my favorite author.
Sunshine: UGH. The grovel. Let's do a reread!
Sunshine: You best not fuck it up with my girl like those guys did.
Sunshine: #whychoose bitch
Sunshine: Did you stash it in the Jeep yet?
Snorting at the abundance of texts blowing up my phone, I shove it into my back pocket. I know what to buy Gabby for Christmas.
"I love your room! Where did you get your bedspread?"I will take notes if I must.
She scrunches her nose up and tilts her head. "It was Mommy's. She said it reminded her of a book she read."
No fucking way. Why does this make me so ridiculously giddy?
Another thought barrels into me, making me curse.Is Rylee on board with a why choose lifestyle? Because that would be fucking perfect.
"No bad words in my room!" Layla huffs and pokes my leg. I must have cursed under my breath without realizing it.
Without a second thought, I scoop her up in my arms and spin her around, careful of anything that might be in the way. "Sorry, Nug." I prop her on my hip and make my way to the door. "Want to come hang out with us?"
"Yes, please!" She clutches onto me tighter, making my heart squeeze. I hesitate at the top of the stairs at the realization that could bring me to my knees.
