Amelia kept looking over at Wes just hoping heâd open those lips and speak to her. âJust one wordâŠâ She silently begged. He hardly spoke, she knew that but he had such a sexy voice. He was so hard to have a conversation with. Couldnât he grant her that? They had been silent in the car so long, maybe that had been why she had been trying to get him to speak with her.
âI could probably flash him now and he still wouldnât say anything to me.â She thought, glancing away. She would probably have to throw herself at him if she wanted him. She had seen him with plenty of women, so what was so different about her? She was hot. She couldnât help but doubt that a little as she looked out the window again, just needing somewhere else to look less he see the desperate look in her eyes. She wouldnât show him how much she wanted him. She wasnât that desperate.
After all, she had a boyfriend who she loved. Things were a little too perfect with him though. She knew Jacob was itching to propose to her. Was that why she was running away? She didnât deserve someone so sweet as him. No matter how much she told him, he didnât listen. Running a hand through her dark curls, she tried not to think about either of them as they finally pulled up to the house. She looked down after speaking to Ty in the backseat.
She unplugged her phone from the car charger and looked at maps screen. Yup, they were there. She rolled her eyes at Wesâ words. âShe didnât leave us for this. She used to live with her dad. This is her boyfriendâs house.â She shook her head.
Lia hadnât noticed D, Bonnie, or the social worker walk outside until the car got eerily still and quiet. She glanced up and her heart squeezed. Babydoll didnât explain everything about why Bonnie went into foster care. All she knew was it was bad. The only sound came from the car as they watched was as she shifted so her feet were back on the floorboard.
Soon as the car left with her god daughter, D seemed to notice them. She gave her a weak smile from the car. She could only imagine was what going through her friendâs mind. She slid her cell phone into her pocket and turned to Ty and Wes.
âNeither of you will ask about Bonnie. Got it?â She let her eyes bore into Ty then Wes, almost daring them to defy her. She would protect D from even the inquisition of their friends.
And then just like that, Lia was out of the car and running over to her friend. She threw her arms around Dâs shoulders, squealing. How long had it been since she touched her best friend and gave her a hug?
âI didnât tell Ty to come I promise.â She promised her.
âWes drove me.â D was so much taller than Lia so she had to stand on the tips of her toes to really hug her. Lia lost her balance and sent them both to the ground; she took most of the blunt force of the ground.
Even though it hurt a little, Lia erupted into a fit of giggles, letting her friend go. She wasnât known for her elegance. She looked at her friend, still laughing. This had happened to them countless time throughout their friendship. It almost felt like no time had passed since the last time they spent any time together. She smiled at her friend.
âGod, Iâve missed you, Babydoll.â Tyreese could not take his eyes off Babydoll or her daughter as they stepped outside with some person. It was like all the air was sucked from his lungs. She didnât have any siblings that he knew of so this couldnât be a niece. Did she have a child? Had Amelia known all this time and never bothered to tell him? Maybe she had said something when he was asleep or maybe she didnât know either? He couldnât tear his eyes away to even check Liaâs face for some answer.
Was he even still breathing? Suddenly Lia was looking at him intensely as she spoke. The girl and that woman had gone, leaving Dahlia standing there and staring at their car.
âNeither of you will ask about Bonnie. Got it?â She hissed at them. He nodded mutely but then she was gone. He watched as she took off and the two friends embraced, tumbling to the ground.
So Amelia had known about the girl, what had her name been?
âBonnie.â It was a beautiful name. He almost wished that woman would come back so he could meet this little version of his ex. How old was she? He wanted to know everything but he had just promised Lia⊠Heâd bring it up at some other time.
âDid you know she was a mother?â Ty asked Wes. He slowly took his eyes off Babydoll for the first time. He stared at Wes, his brow pulled together in a frown. His palms were sweaty. He tried wiping them off on his dark blue scrub to no avail. He knew they couldnât stay in there forever but could he face her when he looked like this? Compared to her, he looked very shabby. His scrubs were a little wrinkled from the ride. He ran a self-conscious hand over his hair. What would she think when she saw him?
Finally, Ty mustered up the courage he still had and pushed open the back door and climbed out. He pushed up the sleeves of the white long sleeve shirt that he wore under the top scrub. The white shirt clung to the muscles of his arms. Even though the scrubs were loose, sheâd be able to see how well defined his muscles were under them. He shut the door and made his way over to the two girls on the ground.
He couldnât help but smile. Had D and Lia not grown and developed so much since their days at school, he could almost imagine they were back there. He reached out his hand to D where she laid with Lia.
âHey.â His voice was smooth and friendly. He was glad to hear it didnât shake with the nerves that he felt.
Ty chuckled, spotting the dog in her arms. When she took his hand, he pulled her to her feet without breaking a sweat. He gave the toy dogâs nose a flick.
âI canât believe you kept that.â He let go of her hand slowly, bringing the other to the back of his head to rub his neck.
His brown eyes took in her body with closer inspection before coming to rest on her face. Smiling at her, he spoke again.
âYou look even better than I remember.â He told her, opening his arms hesitantly and offering a hug. Would she accept one from him? He wouldnât force one on her.