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Bree took a few steps in Tommy’s direction before he noticed her. He wormed himself from Keenan’s hold and ran into Bree’s waiting arms.
Tommy snuggled into Bree’s chest and said, “I don’t wanna go.”
Bree lowered Tommy and got down on one knee in front of him.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I know it’s your first day today, and you’re probably scared. But you know me, Tommy, and I’m so happy to have you in my class.”
Tommy grabbed the end of his sleeve and wiped the snot from his upper lip. “I still don’t wanna go.”
“I know, Tommy. But we’re going to have so much fun, I promise.”
“Hi, Bree.”
Bree broke eye contact with Tommy to meet Keenan’s worried eyes.
“Hey, Keenan. How are you?”
“Long time no see, Squirt.” Keenan’s upper lip pulled because he knew how much she hated the nickname his cousins gave Bree.
“At school, my name is Bree.Miss Bree, for Tommy.”
She placed her hand on Tommy’s shoulder and winked at Tommy.
“MissBree?”
“Yes, Tommy. When we’re at school, I’m your teacher and every student calls me Miss Bree.”
Tommy scrunched his nose. “Dad and uncle Declan didn’t tell me.”
The mention of Declan left a searing pain in her heart. She’d ignored his calls and texts for two days. But after he kept calling her, she was afraid he would show up on her doorstep again. So she finally told him he needed to give her some space.
Declan’s audacity baffled her. After months of ignoring her, he finally took the effort to seek her out. And for a moment, she’d let her hopes run away with her, thinking he really missed them being anus.
But then it clicked. Declan had been going around town on dates, while she was at home nursing her broken heart.
It had been the final straw when she realized he only meant he missed her as a friend. Declan would never love her like she loved him.
Although she’d pined over him these last months, she now agreed that he did the right thing by keeping his distance. Because the moment she opened the door and gazed into his gray eyes again, her heart whispered,‘He’s here. He’s finally ready to love me back.’
All her hopes shattered for a second time, leaving her numb. The one man she thought would never hurt her, did exactly that.
“Tommy, I know you’ll have fun inMissBree’s class,” Keenan winked at Bree, “So, let’s get you inside. Uncle Aiden is waiting for me.”
“I want to go with you,” Tommy’s bottom lip trembled.
Keenan pulled Tommy in for a hug and tears filled the man’s eyes. Working at construction sites all day made Keenan a bulk of a man. Seeing him swallow back his emotions had Bree joining him as she swallowed a big lump in her throat.
Keenan wasn’t just another parent bringing their child for their first day at school. Keenan and Tommy felt like family. As a kid, Bree had spent more time with the Mills brothers and cousins than she did at home.
Seeing Keenan on the brink of crying had Bree almost joining father and son with her own waterworks. Bree swallowed again and stepped over to Tommy.
She ruffled his blonde hair and leaned in. “Can I tell you a secret, Tommy?”
Tommy stopped sobbing for a moment and tilted his head so he could nod.
“You’ll not like school all the time. Sometimes, school’s stupid. And that’s okay.”
“Bree.” Keenan arched one brow.
