29. Felix

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

felix

“Do you ever worry about Maggie coming back?” I trail my finger over the lines of Henry’s bare stomach, still curled up to him in his bed this morning, asking him the question I’ve been worried about.

He stiffens like I thought he might, but he answers, “I don’t think she will. The last time she left, it felt more permanent. Like she knew I wouldn’t forgive her for leaving Hazel.”

I understand that. How could he ever forgive her for that?

“What if she came back sober?” I ask, my own insecurities surfacing, I suppose. I’m in love with this man and his daughter. I can’t imagine them not being in my life, but what if she comes back, and he wants to try it with her again? She is Hazel’s mother. She always will be.

“It wouldn’t matter. She left. Over and over again. She left me, and then she left Hazel. She doesn’t want to be a mother.”

I curl up to his side, my voice shaking. “People change.”

He strokes his hand over my hair, and I let my eyes drift closed. “I love you, Felix. No matter what happens. I love you. And Maggie . . .” He pauses for a moment, and I wonder if he’s going to finish that thought. “I cared about her. I thought I loved her, but she never really loved me. And she never loved Hazel the way she deserved.” He uses his hand to lift my chin to force me to look up at him. “You love us both so damn hard for no reason at all, other than you just do.”

“I love you both for many reasons,” I correct with a smile.

He kisses my temple, and I rest my head on his chest again. “Have you told your family about me? About Hazel?”

I smile. “Of course, I have. They can’t wait to meet you both.”

I swear I feel him smiling, even though I can’t see his face. “I’d like that. To meet the people who made the best person I’ll ever meet.”

I scoff, my insecurity bubbling up. “Yeah. Wait until you meet them. No one is better. My mom is a goddamn surgeon, for crying out loud.”

“Don’t do that.” I look up at Henry, whose tone isn’t angry, but it’s firm. “Don’t downplay your own goodness just because they have exceptional careers. You do too. You help. You help everyone you meet, and you don’t want anything in return. Not accolades. Not money. Nothing. You don’t know how extremely rare that is.”

I settle into him again, knowing he means that. “Maybe I’ll invite them to her party.”

His hand smooths over my back. “That would be great.”

I smile against his skin and press a kiss over his heart, wishing I had a little time this morning to explore more of his warm skin. But right on time, my girl sits up in her crib, looking over at us expectantly.

I grin and hop out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweats and picking her up, kissing the top of her head. I want so badly to ask Henry to move in with me. Where Hazel can have her own room—so maybe we can fool around in a bed instead of the couch and shower—but also so we can have this together.

A home together.

My cat. Our girl. In one place.

But I hold back, just letting this be. I’m talking to Hazel about the day, holding her in my arms when I see Henry is still in bed under the covers, and he’s watching us with so much love in his eyes, my breathing nearly stops for a second.

“Maggie never looked at her like that. Not once, and it killed me. I didn’t understand. But I see you with her, and I know instantly how much you love her.”

I look into Hazel’s eyes as she reaches out for my nose and squeezes, making me laugh. I bring her to the bed to sit with her daddy. “I do.”

“I never question it. Not with you. I did all the time with her. It was a constant worry. I couldn’t even leave Hazel alone with her because I knew I couldn’t trust her. With you, I don’t have any fear, which in itself, should scare me.”

“You don’t have to be afraid with me,” I say honestly. I’ll never hurt them.

“I know,” he says easily. He leans in and kisses my lips softly and then smiles down at Hazel. “I’m going to go shower.”

He says this happily, taking his time climbing out of bed, and I can feel the trust he has in me. I know he means it. He’s not going to rush through his shower. He’s going to take a little time for himself.

“Think of me,” I joke as he closes the door with a laugh, and I get Hazel dressed and fed.

And when he comes back out, fully dressed and relaxed, I kiss him and hand our girl off to him to get ready for the day.

It’s domestic and probably boring to most people, but it’s the most beautiful thing in the world to me.

He trusts me.

And that’s all I need.