“Yes we are,” I vow, pulling her close one last time, then I force myself from the truck before I convince myself to stay with her. “Now go.”
She hesitates just a second longer, then climbs over the stick shift and drops into my seat. Our eyes lock—something raw and unspoken passes between us. Words neither of us are ready to say sit on my tongue like a loaded gun.
Instead, I rough out, “Go, Georgia.”
That lower lip of hers is locked between her teeth, but she nods. And then she’s gone, wheels spinning through gravel and smoke, racing toward safety, toward our girl.
Leaving me behind and taking my heart with her.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Giddy fuckin’ up, Cooper Cunts
Ipractically fall from the truck, slamming the door behind me and stumbling toward the farmhouse. My legs are shaking, lungs tight and brittle, and it feels like every nerve in my body is short-circuiting with panic. Bea’s outside with the twins, her arms wrapped around Aurora like a shield.
Colby is sobbing, shoulders hunched, her dark brown curls bouncing as she paces in tiny, frantic circles. Clementine standsbeside her mom, pale and wide-eyed behind thick glasses, her hoodie pulled up tight like it might protect her from the sight of fire licking the sky.
But Bea… Bea is still. Too still. Stoic, almost.
Her arms are soft as she bounces Aurora gently, whispering something too low for me to hear, but her eyes are locked on the flames, a storm of worry behind them that she clearly doesn’t want her daughters to see.
I see it, though.
Ifeelit.
Don’t even realize I’m running until Colby throws herself into my arms with a wild sob. “It’s bad, Georgia,” she cries, fists clinging to my jacket. “The barn—there was so much smoke. I thought it was the house. I thought—I thought—”
“I know,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her and pulling Clem in too, surprised by the fierceness of my protectiveness for these sweet girls. “It’s okay. You’re safe. We’ve got you.”
Clementine presses her face into my side, whispering, “Kade’ll fix it. He always does.”
And that’s like a sucker punch to my damn gut.
But I nod, because how can I not? “He fixes everything for me too. He’s areallygood fixer.”
Bea lets out a breath of relief and crosses the short distance to us, giving me a one-armed hug that speaks volumes. It’s tight and full of unspoken things she probably won’t let out in front of the girls.
“Glad you made it home okay,” she says, kissing my cheek. “Hope you had a wonderful date, before… all this.”
“I’m so sorry, Bea,” I choke out, hugging her back just as tightly, careful not to hurt Aurora. “Kade said the equipment barn is completely gone. I can’t even imagine.”
She pulls back, eyes flicking to her daughters. A forced smile curves her lips like muscle memory. “It’s not the first fire we’ve had here, and it won’t be the last.”
Before I can reply, she passes me Aurora, her expression gentling. “Missed her, no doubt.”
“Hard not to,” I admit, scooping her up without hesitation, cuddling her close to my chest.
Aurora blinks up at me with those huge brown eyes and lets out a quiet sniffle before digging her fingers into my hair. My throat constricts, emotions overwhelming me.
“Kade is coming,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her curls. “Our guy will be back soon.”
And like she was waiting for me to say just that, her eyes flutter closed and she nuzzles into my neck, breath warming my skin.
Something inside me settles, then shifts.
I did miss her. More than I probably should. More than is probably safe.
But it’s too late for my heart where this family is concerned.
