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“Call me.”
Corey half snorted. “I can drive home safely without calling my brother.”
Ricky’s eyes narrowed. “I need to know Amelie’s good.”
Corey had no doubt she was. He’d chatted with Genevieve a few times during the evening. Sure, via text, but still. Amelie was fine. It didn’t help to dwell on the past. It was a mantra he told himself a lot, especially the days that were hard to get through. The days when he wanted to get high and lose himself, forget the pain, forget all the bad shit. Telling himself the past was in the past helped to keep him focused on the future.
So what was done was done. He’d decided to forgive Genevieve and move on. Not to mention, she’d proved herself worthy enough for his forgiveness. Like he told her, everyone made mistakes. If he was judged for his mistakes, he wouldn’t get anywhere in life.
“She’s good.”
“You shouldn’t trust that woman. It pisses me off you keep letting her in Amelie’s life.”
“Yeah, well, it’s my decision. She made a mistake. We all do, Ricky. Hell, you kicked me out of your life for three years based on a lie you believed. Maybe I shouldn’t forgive you either.”
A muscle jumped in Ricky’s cheek. “It’s not the same thing.”
“It is. You hurt me. You shoved me out of your life. I needed my brother and you weren’t there.”
Ricky sighed. “I’m sorry. You know I am. I’m trying to make it up to you.”
“I know.” Corey ran a tired hand through his hair. “And I forgive you. Like I’ve decided to forgive Genevieve. She’s trying to make it up, too. You see a woman that did something despicable. I see the woman behind the mask. I see the pain, the reason why she did what she did. I feel that pain. I’ve lived that pain. She’s not a bad person. She’s just lost at times.”
Ricky didn’t say anything, but he stepped closer and threw his arms around him. “You’ll never have to be lost or alone again. I swear.”
Corey patted him on the back, appreciating the words, but that didn’t mean they sunk in. He’d felt so lost and alone for the longest time, it’d take time to let that sink in.
He left through the front door with Ricky locking up behind him. He found Genevieve’s car right where she said it’d be with a parking ticket sticking under the windshield wiper. Shit. Here she thought she wouldn’t get one if he drove it home tonight. He’d pay it himself, considering it was his fault she got it. The drive home felt like it took forever because he was dead tired and starting to feel the effects from the long day.
When he got home, he breathed a sigh of relief eyeing Genevieve sleeping on the couch. Not that he doubted her or worried she’d run away with Amelie. But it was nice to see her there. In his domain. In his life.
He tucked the blanket farther up her body, tempted to lean over and kiss her, but resisted. It wouldn’t be right.
Amelie was sleeping soundly and looking like a burrito wrapped up in her blanket, snug as a bug. He tossed his clothes off and onto the floor and slid into bed. He was sleeping a minute later.
His eyes popped open at the sound. What the hell was that?
The sun pouring through his window said he’d slept longer than five minutes. It felt like he’d just gone to sleep. A glance at the clock on his nightstand told him he’d slept way longer than he realized.
9:07 AM.
Shit. Five solid hours of sleep, at least.
No sound came from the crib. His heart suddenly pounded. Amelie always woke up at seven. Always.
He scrambled out of bed, his heart dropping from his chest.
The crib was empty.
His daughter was gone.
Again.
And to think he had trusted her.
His phone wasn’t on his nightstand, but then he remembered it was still in his leather jacket pocket. The bedroom door swung open and slammed into the wall. He raced down the hallway and jerked to a stop when he saw Genevieve in the kitchen at the sink.
She turned his way, her eyes widening.
