Page 30 of Reconcile
She still has a hint of a giggle in her voice as she speaks excitedly to her mom, and it makes me happy. I hate that I can’t tell Audrey who I am, but I’m grateful to get to know her. I can’t explain it, but there’s a pull toward her.
I feel a connection to her even though we’ve just met, and I have no idea how to explain it.
“I do.” Piper is tense as hell as she looks around at the vast expanse of the main floor of my home. It was decorated by Linc’s sister, Lola, his wife, Penelope, and Viv, who are all interior decorators.
I gave them free reign because what the fuck do I care about throw pillows and color schemes?
I do like the direction they went though. Sort of beach house/classy with black and white furniture.
“I’ll show you guys around, if you’d like.” I’m mostly focusing on Audrey because I know she’s my only hope for an ally between the two of them.
She nods her head excitedly, and I walk them through the living room and into the kitchen, which, admittedly, doesn’t get used. But I let them know it’s theirs to use anytime. After that, I show them the basement that’s equipped with a home theater, a game room, and a gym.
Audrey’s eyes are wide as she takes it all in, her little features stuck in shock. “This is in your house?” She stares at the large screen in the movie room.
I nod and kneel down so I’m eye level with her. “Everything here is yours. Anytime you want to watch a movie, we can. Anything you want.”
Piper clears her throat and places a hand on her shoulder. “Not anything. And not anytime.”
“Most of the time,” I say with a wink, and Audrey giggles before I stand up to see a pissed-off Piper.
“What happened to not spoiling her?”
“I can’t help that the home came with all this.”
She rolls her eyes, and I continue the tour. On the main floor, I point to the master bedroom and bath but don’t bother including it in the tour before we go up the stairs. My heart is racing as we approach the first bedroom.
I’m nervous again.
Me.
Sawyer Ross.
I try to shake that feeling off and push the door open, relishing the look of surprise on Audrey’s face as she walks inside. “Whoa! Is this my room?”
I nod. “Yeah. Is it okay?”
She looks around, spinning in a circle. “Yes! It’s amazing!”
I let out a relieved breath, and she continues to look around the room that’s been decorated especially for her in unicorn and rainbow shit. I didn’t get to see much of her the other day, but I did notice the unicorn backpack by the door and took a gamble.
“You did this?” Piper eyes me suspiciously as Audrey sits down on the pink twin bed with her name spelled out on a cloud on the wall behind her.
“I had help. Linc’s wife, sister, and Vivienne are all interior decorators.”
Her lips are pursed, but I can tell she’s trying like hell not to smile. “She loves rainbows.”
I smile too. “I’m glad.”
“You didn’t have to do this.”
I turn my head in her direction, keeping my voice low as I say, “She’s my kid, Piper. I wanted to do this and so much more.”
“Don’t.” She turns to look at me head-on, and I see the emotions on her face—fear and anger.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “I know. Can’t spoil her.”
“You found a loophole, it seems.” Her hand sweeps the air, gesturing toward the heavily decorated room full of toys. And if she looks in the closet, she’ll find a bunch of new clothes.
