I study Victoria’s face and I’m struck.
Once again, it’s not one I’ve seen, not an expression I know her to have.
She’s smiling and laughing and… free.
No hidden pain or callous facade.
It’s as if, with Zoey, she’s someone else.
Herself, maybe?
Suddenly Zoey’s head pops up and she stands, tugging on Victoria’s hand excitedly, but Victoria pushes up, a hand lifting to her throat as torment blankets her features, creating the same with mine.
She licks her lips before they begin to move, and seconds later Zoey is running this way.
I set my drink down, ready for her to come back to me, but she doesn’t so much as step onto the blanket.
“Um, I want to make a necklace. Can I?” she asks, a little confusion in her tone, as if she doesn’t understand her own question.
Can she make a necklace?
“Dandelions,” Raven says.
My eyes move to hers, only to jump to Royce when he speaks.
“They ain’t close, Cap.”
I canvas the area, spotting a small patch about a hundred feet away.
I swallow, my eyes moving to Victoria, who stays seated on the grass, waiting.
Maddoc, he frowns unsure, his hold on Raven tightening.
“Zoey,” I begin, sliding my gaze to hers, the heavy beat of my pulse ringing in my ears.
As if she can sense my denial, her shoulders fall, her head slightly tipping to the side.
It’s too fucking much.
I swallow. “Don’t run off, okay? Stay beside her, no matter what.”
She smiles, nods, and takes off.
Victoria stands before she meets her and the two race across the grass, both falling to their knees.
They waste no time and begin pulling the small weed-like flowers from the ground.
Without climbing to my feet, I reach across the blanket, grab the garbage bag and start filling it for something to focus on, trying for a deep inhale, but all it does is create more pressure.
This shit isn’t fucking easy.
Sharing Zoey, trying to trust Victoria, forgiving.
“You know...”
My head snaps toward Raven.
Slowly, her eyes peel from where I’m trying not to look.
She grips Maddoc’s shoulder, using it as leverage to push herself to her feet as she eyes me. “Victoria hates cinnamon rolls.”
My brows crash together, and I watch as she makes her way to the girls.
For almost an hour, my brothers and I sit in the same exact spot, not once removing our eyes from them, not a single word spoken.
Once each of them has a flower crown and necklace on, they head back and we snap out of it, hopping to our feet and quickly pack up our things.
“I say we play a game of hide and go seek before we go, loser cooks all week,” Royce suggests, clapping his hands and then Zoey is in his arms. “Zoey Bear will be my buddy. Not it!”
They run off, making us laugh.
Maddoc grips Raven’s hands, tugging her in with a hard jerk. “You wanna hide behind a tree with me, baby?” His intentions are clear in his growl.
Raven, though, she laughs and shoves him away. “And risk Zoey walking up on Uncle D giving D, I don’t think so.” She quickens her steps as she walks away to hide. “You’re it, Big Man. Let’s see if you can find me wherever I go.”
“I’ll find you across the fuckin’ world, Mama.”
Her steps falter a moment, and if I didn’t know Raven better, I’d swear she blushes, but she quickly turns away, disappearing into the brush around us.
I look over and Victoria shrugs, rushing off just the same.
“Should we say you lost? You’ll get the kitchen and be able to control the menu a whole week.” Maddoc laughs.
“Yeah, Royce didn’t think that through.” I chuckle.
“No cheating, asshole!”
“Oh, Uncle!”
“My bad!”
I shrug and take off to hide.
I head across the pond, ready to slip between the small bush and rocks when a wall catches my eye a few feet down.
I move straight for it.
I push a few branches to the side, stepping past the outer lined ferns, and there she is.
Eyes closed, back at the white petaled ivy, palms flat against it.
As soon as my feet crunch against the fallen leaves, her eyes pop open.
While she doesn’t move, a cutting laugh escapes. “The irony, right? I didn’t even notice it, slid behind a bush and here it was. Like fate. Like I needed a reminder of what I’d never forget.”
I can’t focus on what she’s saying, all I see is Victoria, buried in a bed of ivy, white flower tips framing her in, like a fucking gift for a god.
Before I can stop myself, I’m against her, the opening of her flannel between my knuckles. I drag my hand down until I can’t reach anymore, quickly moving my grip to her waist.
When I squeeze, her head falls farther into the pillow of leaves.
All the things I could give you, Beauty...
“Maybe it’s a good thing to be reminded.” My chest rises with a heavy inhale. “You can’t run from your past.”