“It’s early,” she murmurs, sliding off the counter. “Where are we going?”
Chuckling, I move to the fridge and pull out a water for each of us, passing her one. “Check the clock, darlin’. You napped all day.”
Georgia’s eyes gape and she nearly spits her water out. “How the hell did I sleep so long?”
I lean against the counter and stare at her, gratitude and something deeper washing through me. “You took the night shift with Aurora, and that girl, sweet and perfect as she is, is a handful. Somehow, you still managed to clean every inch of the house. Did laundry, for fuck’s sake.”
Her cheeks turn bright red, and she shrugs like it’s not a big deal. Like she didn’t get my life back together in a single night. Like she didn’t save me from a ledge it only took a few days to dangle me on.
No fuckin’ idea how single parents do it. After all my friends and family disappeared—already adjusted to the excitement of having a cute new family member, I scrambled to pick up the pieces. Thank fuck I slept while my mom was here, but after…
I fell apart.
“Thank you,” I murmur, shaking my head. “Appreciate the hell out of you for showing up.”
She nods, bare foot scuffing the ground. “Thank you for calling.”
I seriously fucked up.
Closing the distance between us, I brush her hair back. “Won’t hesitate next time.”
If I have it my way, there won’t be a next time. She’ll just be here. Always.
“So, where are we going?”
Smiling, stomach swooping with excitement, I tell her the truth. “It’s a surprise.”
One I’m hoping proves how much she means to me in a way her sweet, terrified mind can't argue with.
Chapter Thirty Five
Where the Sky Falls
“Are you sure she’s okay?” I murmur, narrowed eyes flicking over my shoulder in the direction of Honey Bea. “She’s only been with you for a few days. Maybe we shouldn’t leave her yet.”
Kade reaches over the truck’s shifter and grips my hand, squeezing it gently. “Mom has her.”
I bite my lip to stifle a gasp.
Him referring to Bea asMominstead ofmy mom, shouldn't have the effect on me it does. Shouldn’t mean a damn thing, but, God, every time he says something like that, all easily and plainly like it'snormal,I swear, it rewrites my DNA.
The fingers of my free hand tangle in the thick gray crewneck sweatshirt I borrowed from him. Paired with my leggings and some thick country-and-mud-approved boots, I feel overdressed for spring, but with the sun going down and the weather so unpredictable, especially not knowing what our plans are, I guess it's for the best.
After he told me tonight was a surprise, he sent me off to his room to change into warm clothes—and to borrow whatever I needed—while he disappeared to get Aurora settled for the evening with his mom, who’s back from Rydell now.
I tried to argue that we really shouldn’t be leaving her so soon, and though I could tell he was reluctant, especially as we were finally loaded up in his truck and driving away, but he said this can’t wait—whatever that means.
Turning back to face the windshield, I take in the dark landscape stretching for miles on every side of us. “Are we still on the farm?”
He nods, flicking on his high beams. “Yeah, we’re not leaving—just driving a couple miles west.”
“How big is Honey Bea?”
“Bit over ten thousand acres.”
I gape. “That’s huge.”
Kade chuckles, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. “Prefer you said that while staring at my cock, but I’ll take it.”
