Chapter 3 #2
But my entire family was now here, and I was just taking it all in, knowing that days like this were rare.
“The kids are upstairs, right?” James asked from across the table, and I nodded, doing my best not to pay attention to the person at my right. In fact, I had done my best not to think about that person all night.
James was one of the quieter Cages of the family. I was grateful that everyone else seemed to be in their own little bubbles, speaking amongst themselves, so he could get a word in.
However, a little part of me was annoyed about his guest.
The guest that sat right next to me.
“I was surprised I hadn’t seen the twins,” Carson drawled beside me, and I stiffened.
Why the hell had James invited Carson to our family dinner? It made no sense. Only spouses and significant others came to dinners like this. Not friends or associates.
Then I looked between Carson and James, and something clicked. Oh. Maybe they were significant others, and I was just behind on the times. For some reason, that let me relax slightly, and my shoulders eased.
“They had a long day. They will probably be up before the others though, and they’ll be little terrors. But that’s why I love them.” I smiled at Carson then, grateful that I had figured it out.
There was no need to be nervous around this man now, or the fact that he had seen me at my weakest, because he and James had to be together. And that meant I was happy and didn’t need to worry about a thing.
Carson gave me an odd look, but then I turned to Dorian and Harper, who had asked me a question about an upcoming birthday, since Harper was a baker, and I immediately forgot all about the man at my side.
Or at least I tried.
Sometimes, it was hard to get every single one of my family names and connections correct, but in the end, we were all family.
Ford had his wife and husband near him, Phoebe had her husband, and all of the kids were upstairs, sleeping since it was a little late.
When dinner was over, we broke apart in our natural groups, some of us bouncing from one to another, and it just felt right.
A large family dinner that had nothing to do with the holiday, and everything to do with the fact that we just wanted to be together.
Some days, when the screaming in my soul was far too loud for me to take a breath, I knew that I needed these moments.
Then as I looked at the couples, and the way they leaned into one another with such trust, my chest tightened. I ran my hand over my heart absently and squeezed Flynn’s hand before walking away to stand out on one of the many balconies of Aston and Blakely’s home.
Though it was summer, the air was cool tonight, and I put my hands on the stone railing, before sucking in a deep breath. I closed my eyes and counted to five.
“Do I want to know what’s wrong?” that deep voice asked, and I stiffened, annoyed that he would follow me out here. Especially since James was still inside speaking with Hudson and Scarlett.
“I’m just taking in some air before I check on the girls,” I said stiffly.
“I see. You know what’s funny?” he asked.
I didn’t turn to look at him, though his cedar scent swirled around me, soaking into my skin.
Did he bathe in the stuff or was it just his natural scent?
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“There were at least fifteen conversations going on at once, and I did my best to keep up with every single one of them, and I know you did the same, and yet, I think you only said maybe six sentences the entire time.”
I turned to him then, just a tilt of my head, and studied the strong lines of his face.
He had dark reddish-blonde hair that looked even darker underneath the moonlight, and he’d shaved his beard since I had last seen him.
But I had a feeling it grew quickly, because you could already see the stubble beneath.
Beneath the moonlight, however, those piercing green eyes were just as bright as ever.
His strong jaw was squared off with high cheekbones, and that rugged look that should scare me, honestly, just confused me.
His nose had a bump in it, as if it had been broken a time or two, and I realized then he had tiny silver hoops in his ears.
The CEO and owner of a major corporation, that worked in billion-dollar businesses with the Cages, had silver hoops in his ears.
Interesting.
“Is there a reason you were studying how many words I said during dinner? Is there a quota?”
“I was just wondering. You don’t need to get worried about it.”
“Maybe I do.” I paused. “Did Isabella ask you to watch me like she’s been asking everyone else?
If so, you should just tell her I’m fine.
I don’t need her to measure my words like she’s measuring my food intake and physical therapy.
” The words came out much more clipped than I had intended, but there was no taking them back.
He tilted his head and studied my face. “Such a large family, and so many eyes on you. They must be worried about you after everything that happened. But no, Isabella didn’t ask me to watch you. I couldn’t help but want to.”
I froze, staring at him. “You shouldn’t say things like that. Especially since you’re here with James. It’s rude.”
He blinked a few moments, perplexed, before he threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep laugh, one that made my fingers curl around the stone and my cheeks heat. “I’m not here with James, Princess. Although your brother is attractive, he’s not my type.”
He gave me a pointed look that told me exactly who his type was, and I took an involuntary step back.
“Well. I didn’t realize we were bringing business associates to family dinners then.”
“I was at the office and Blakely invited me. I was going to wave it off, but I was hungry and she said it would be catered by your brother’s restaurant.
And since I love Theo’s food, I went with it.
I’m not here to check on you. I promise you, Princess.
I already told you what I wanted to do to make things better, but as that’s a felony, I won’t offer it again. ”
Why did him offering to make my ex-husband go away permanently turn me on slightly?
No, that was just those conflicted feelings that told me I needed a nap. Or a large drink.
Or to dance again.
As if on cue, my knee buckled, and my femur felt as if it was on fire. A squeak escaped me, and then Carson was there, holding my elbow to keep me on my feet.
“Sophia?”
“I’m fine. Please just go.”
He studied my face, the warring of emotions carved into his eyes worried me, and yet I couldn’t let go. I didn’t want him to let go.
“Not until you’re settled. You don’t have to be whole. You don’t have to be okay, Sophia. I’m not going to let you fall out here on the terrace.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, and I had to wonder exactly who this man was.
“Carson—”
“Mommy?”
I whirled, ignoring all pain because of that little voice, to see Violet and Hazel standing in the doorway, hands clasped, looking at me oddly. It was Hazel who had spoken, and then I was moving towards her, away from Carson and his hold.
“Girls, you’re not supposed to be on the terrace alone.” Images of countless accidents filled my brain, and my mouth went dry.
“Their toes haven’t touched the tile,” Carson corrected, and while he was right, I still turned to scowl at him.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Woods.”
He raised a brow at that but didn’t move away.
I reached down to pick up my daughters, but my legs were too shaky, and tears threatened again. I should be able to hold my daughters without pain, without falling, and I would. I just needed a deep breath.
“We missed you,” Violet whispered, and this time a single tear did fall.
Before I could say anything, Carson was kneeling beside me, arm outstretched.
“How about I help your mom here and take one of you? I’m Carson, your mom’s friend.”
I nearly snorted at that, but I didn’t want my girls to just walk away with a stranger, and frankly, I wasn’t sure I could even stand up with the girls in my arms at the moment. I had never hated my injury more than in this moment.
“Uncle Flynn’s friend,” Hazel added and beamed.
That made Carson grin, and I just shook my head, a smile threatening. He picked up Hazel without a second thought and stood, his hand on my elbow at the same time. That let me lean on him as I lifted Violet and set her on my good hip, then kissed her forehead.
“Thank you, Mr. Woods.”
“Carson. I’m Carson.”
“Thank you, Mr. Carson,” I rasped.
Violet buried herself into my neck, as Hazel spoke a mile a minute to Carson as if they were old friends, and he listened intently. I stood there, confused as to how I had gotten in this place, in this moment, but I couldn’t move, not without Carson doing it first.
And once again, I was out of my element, and a new kind of pain settled in.