Lucky Left Wing by M. J. Padgett

Author:M. J. Padgett [Padgett, M. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MJ Padgett Books LLC
Published: 2024-05-27T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Aiden

With nothing to do but think about Finchley, I found myself at Archer’s house just before lunch. When I first thought of dropping in on Cap, it seemed like a good idea, but now that Indy has gotten ahold of me…well, it’s still a good idea. I sit in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by pink taffeta and dolls while she puts the finishing touches on my hairstyle. I even let her have fun with her play eyeshadow kit and lip gloss.

“You don’t have to let her do that,” Archer says, sipping his coffee.

“Ah, there’s nothing wrong with a man getting in touch with his feminine side, pink glitter and all. It’s better than thinking about my past all day,” I admit. “Where’s Ronnie?”

“Working on the app. Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?” Archer leans forward and puts his mug on the dark wood coffee table, peering over it to see how much of a mess his little one has made.

“The sparkly makeup or my ex falling back into my life?”

He narrows his eyes and gives me the look that says he knows I know what he meant.

“I can’t say yet. Everything in me says to fight for her but what if she doesn’t want to be fought for? What if seeing what happens means nothing happens?” I close my eyes so Indy can add another layer of purple eyeshadow all the way up to my eyebrows. One little hand presses against my cheek, steadying herself while the other spreads the color higher and higher.

“Or wait and see might mean she’s entirely open to exploring what comes. It’s too soon to tell,” he says. “Everything you said happened is not only dramatic, but also reasonable, as crazy as that sounds. You wanted to protect her life, and you were still young. A kid, really.”

I chuckle. “We have kids the same age playing with us, Cap. Nah, it’s time to admit that back then, trying to be good enough for that woman’s family nearly ate me alive. Part of me worries that I left because it was easier.”

Archer scrubs his hands over his bearded face and groans. “I understand why you might feel that way, but I gotta say, Doyle, you didn’t act like you were afraid of anything when we started playing together. If you ditched Finchley because it was easier, it didn’t show.”

I sigh and lean back against the beige chair. Indy giggles and pushes her glasses up her nose. “I’m gonna make you the bewtifulest, Uncle Aiden!”

Wrapping my arms around the wee one, I squeeze tight. She’s been a light in a dark tunnel for me today with her little giggles and sweet smiles. Archer isn’t the only person who misses June. Maybe he doesn’t know it, but those of us who have been with him from the beginning of his career and attended their wedding, we miss her too. Still, I’m happy he found love again.

“Aiden, be honest with me. Is this hitting you harder than you’re admitting? Evander was right.

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