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“Okay,” she agreed as she wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me tightly. “I wants to stay here. Can I play wiv the toys?” she asked as she looked from me to the guys.
“You can play with whatever you like, sweetie. All of these toys are for you. You want me to get something out for you?” Kai offered as he walked over to the shelves. Willow pointed up to a higher shelf on which sat a remote controlled jeep with a lion in the driver’s seat. Kai grabbed it and flicked the switch on the base, before setting it on the carpet. “Come see how it works,” he said as he beckoned her over.
I heard him patiently talking her through the controls as Hunter appeared at my side. He held a hand out to me and helped me to my feet, then without a word he pulled me into his arms.
“She’s going to be fine,” he told me, like he could read my worries. I nodded and pressed my face against his shoulder as I gave in to a moment of weakness. As soon as I realized what I was doing I stepped back and took a deep breath.. I refused to allow my daughter to see me falling apart again, and I needed to stop leaning on Hunter. It would only end in pain.
“That’s it. You got it now!” Kai announced happily.
“Look mommy!” Willow cried happily, and when I turned to see her, she had a huge smile on her face again as she drove the jeep all over her new room.
“I see, honey,” I smiled.
“Great driving, munchkin,” Hunter encouraged her.
“Keep going, Willow. We’ll be right through that door, okay?” Kai told her as he nodded to the connecting door. Willow nodded vigorously but she was focused on driving, her tongue stuck out as she worked the control.
CHAPTER 6
MADDIE
Kai opened the door and walked through, and Hunter, who still had his arm around me supportively, led me through too.
The room next door was even bigger and my eyes once again burned with tears as I looked around.
“You remembered,” I whispered tearfully as I looked to Kai.
“There’s not a damned thing about you I allowed to slip from my mind, sunshine,” he replied. “Those memories were the only thing that got me through, most of the time.”
A sob slipped from me as I moved out of Hunter’s hold and walked across the small space to Kai. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him hard as emotions overwhelmed me.
“I missed you so much,” I admitted tearfully as I took in every second of him holding me the way he was. He smelled so good.
“Not as much as we missed you. I’m so fucking happy you’re here,” he sighed. He kissed the top of my head as he clung to me.
We just stood holding each other for several minutes as I found some calm and managed to stop my tears. They were getting to me and I knew it. I had hugged both of them now when I was supposed to still be pissed with them. And I was. I was still so damn angry and bitter that they abandoned me, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t missed them more than words could say, and after all that I had been through, I just needed to be held and feel safe. I was weak and I knew it.
I stepped back and took a deep, calming breath as I looked around me at the room.
It was a large space, with three huge windows along the right hand wall. Light flooded in, only adding to the bright sunny feel of the room. Off in the corner sat a small lounge area with a sofa and two armchairs around a coffee table. A tall bookshelf stood off to the side, filled with books I was already anxious to study.
Ahead of me sat the biggest bed I had ever seen, flanked by two nightstands, and off to the left were two doors, one of which was slightly ajar and inside looked like a bathroom. It was an amazing space, but the reason I had gotten so emotional was the décor.
When we were kids, we used to dream about the home we would all have together one day. We never imagined it would be anything as grand as the one we stood in, but we always planned to live together when I turned eighteen. To cheer me up on bad days the guys used to have me describe to them the way I wanted our home to look. I had always told them about the same thing for my room. I wanted pale yellow walls, so it would always be sunny and bright. I wanted a white leather sleigh bed like one I saw in a magazine when I was cutting out images in art class. I had even taken the image to show the guys, I loved it that much. I wanted white furniture and bright floral fabrics. It was a dream that I never thought I’d truly get, but one that got me through some of my darkest days.
Now I stood in my dream, the bed before me exactly like the one from the magazine. It was covered with the softest looking white sheets and then piled high with pretty floral cushions. A cashmere throw in a lemon yellow lined the foot of the bed and all around me was the chic, traditional looking furniture I had always dreamed of.
“The bathroom is through that door,” Hunter said as he pointed to the ajar door. There’s a tub and a shower. We weren’t sure which Willow would favor. Next to it is a walk in closet.”
“Willow has a closet in her room too. I got you both some clothes, but I had no idea on sizes. The personal shopper helped me, but just let me know if they’re not right and we can order something else,” Kai explained. “I got some toiletries and shit too, but again it’s probably not what you actually use. We can take you shopping to get what you need as soon as you’re up to it.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I soothed him as I placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you so much. You didn’t need to do all of this. The rooms, the clothes, all the toys….you’ve done so much,” I squeaked as I became emotional again.Damn it, I needed to stop crying!
“It’s nothing,” Kai shrugged.
“We just want you both to be happy here,” Hunter added as he strode over and took my hand in his. He brought it up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “We never should have left you, Maddie. It was the dumbest thing we’ve ever done.”
“And we’ve done some really dumb shit,” Kai added, making me laugh a little through my tears.
