A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

Even in the moonlight, I can see her unshed tears. She’s the most genuinely sweet person I think I’ve ever met. My own foster parents kicked me out when I came home pregnant. If not for the government grants, rooming with Bella, and small scholarships I had, I would have never gotten through college. They didn’t want to be grandparents, so Bella and I have been all Angel has ever had.

“I’d really like for her to have a grandmother.” It seems ridiculous to say that to a woman who doesn’t look like a grandmother.

Her whole body visibly relaxes, and she surprises me with a strong embrace. Wren smiles before stepping off to the side, moving toward the house to help with the rearranging.

“We all make mistakes, Allie. If you can ever find a way to forgive him, I hope you do,” she whispers against my ear.

Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for the road ahead. I’m starting to wonder if I didn’t accidentally forgive him already.

Chapter 8

WREN

“The new furniture looks great, but tell your mom to do this before we move the crap in next time,” Rye says while clapping me on the back.

Angel is at my side, nodding her approval. “Do you like your bed?” I ask her, smiling when she looks up at me with wide eyes.

“Yep. Your friend says he sucks at girly stuff.” She tugs me down by my sleeve, and I lean over for her to loudly whisper, “He didn’t say stuff, though.”

My eyes turn toward Rye whose eyes widen. “Forgot about her being six,” he says with a shrug.

I glare at him before heading into the bedroom, ignoring Rye as he playfully scolds Angel for selling him out. Dane Sterling is finishing up the last of it. This bed was a bitch that brought all three of us to our knees. The pizza is probably cold by now, but I wanted the moving done before everyone started leaving. No way was I staying and trying to do it by myself, because Allie makes me nervous as hell.

I’ve done good to avoid her for most of the day. Hearing her laugh made me smile. Angel said she never laughs like that, which is a little sad. I didn’t want to ruin it by showing my face too much. Luckily, Angel spent most of the day with me, and it was so much better than the awkward time we’ve spent at my house.

She was relaxed and at ease with me. A huge leap from our usual encounters.

But Allie… I’ve been staring. It’s impossible not to. When she smiles at me and talks to me like she doesn’t want to see me burning at a stake, she’s so amazing. She’s beautiful on the surface, but when she gives me a peek at what’s underneath… I can’t believe I’d just walk out on her. I must have been too drunk to even know my damn name that night.

“So, just for the record,” Dane says, moving away from the ladder he has just secured very tightly to the bed, “you’re so helping me at every family function on yours and Rain’s side from now on.”

I laugh while nodding. “Deal. Consider me your bitch for a while. Thanks for coming.”

He claps the side of my shoulder with his hand. “Come on, bitch boy. Let’s start with beer and pizza for the slaves.”

I chuckle while heading out, giving one last look at the princess room that has been thoroughly upgraded, thanks to my mother’s inability to pass up anything with sparkly shit. The greatest thing about today was all the pictures Angel gave me of her growing up. She promised me her mother had doubles. She only gave me the pictures that were hers to keep.

I’m debating whether or not I should tell Allie. This is something Angel wanted me to have, and she might get pissed if Allie doesn’t wholly agree. But then again, Allie has acted completely different with me all day. In fact, every time I’ve been brave enough to face her, she seems to be in a good mood and sincerely happy to talk to me. She’s even acted like I wasn’t the asshole who treated her like shit all those years ago.

I trip over my own feet when I see Ray Drivel sitting next to my mother on some of the new patio furniture Mom bought for Allie. How did that fucking conman sneak in without me knowing?

“Did you know about this?” Kade Colton drawls, amused as he leans against the side of the house and gestures toward the man who is kissing my mother’s hand.

I turn my glare on him. “I found out when he walked out in my mother’s robe the other morning.”

“Oh no,” Raya groans from behind me while coming to bury her head against my arm. “Her robe? Why didn’t you tell me?”