Emotion burned, a flashfire through my veins, and I knew I was messed up.
Scarred with no hope of recovery.
I couldn’t even hold an infant without having a panic attack. Without wanting to hold on tighter while simultaneously wanting to jerk my arms away.
Eden returned, laughing under her breath. “Sorry about that, I needed to refill the ranch dip.”
She took her daughter back without the knowledge that in the one minute I’d been holding the child, I’d been scourged.
Because being here? In this town? In this place with this man?
It ripped off the scab of everything I’d fought for years to suppress.
It’d been the only way I could survive.
To refuse and forget.
But there was no forgetting when I stood under the force of Logan’s eyes.
Tessa suddenly grabbed me by the hand, yanking me out of the void of despair I was sinking into. “Come dance with me!”
A smile forced its way to my mouth when she shimmied in front of me like she was seducing me onto the makeshift dance floor.
She twirled me around and around until I felt dizzy.
I laughed. Awkward at first, but then hard and free. My breaths were harsh, but they finally filled my aching lungs.
Tessa leaned in closer. “There, that’s better.”
A frown pulled to my brow. “What?”
“That smile. That’s the one I was looking for.” Her response was soft, knowing, and I wondered how it was possible that these people I’d known a handful of hours knew me better than anyone knew me back home.
That they saw through the barriers.
The veil.
“Mad love.” She shouted that above the music as she twirled me again. Another roll of laughter erupted.
Logan was suddenly there, big and towering, his jaw hard and his eyes soft. He glanced at Tessa. “I think it’s time I cut in.”
She pouted and gathered me in an overbearing hug. “What? No way. I just got to meet my new BFF and I’m keeping her forever.”
“Tessa.” He gruffed it with a slough of affection.
She pouted harder, pushing out her lips in a ridiculous way, then she laughed and pushed me in his direction. “Okay, fine, since it’s your birthday. But I love her and she’s mine, and if you screw this up, I will kick your ass.”
Logan grunted.
I tried not to laugh.
Tried not to cry.
Tried not to get crushed by the care of this family.
Everyone had taken me under their wing. They’d shown me their love and protection as if I were one of them. The problem was they had no idea even if I wanted to stay, even if Logan wanted me to, I couldn’t.
Thirty days.