Chapter 8

The tiny giggle disappears as quickly as it came, and she throws her arms around Ronan’s neck and whispers something I can’t make out into his ear.

“You, too, kiddo,” he replies.

Emery sighs, lets go of her dad, and fixes him with a stern gaze. “Not one minute longer than two hours. Promise!”

“We’ll be here, honeybug. I give you my word.”

She twists in her seat and looks at me, her heart-shaped face so damned serious it breaks my heart. “You promise, too, Iggy!”

I grab her chin with my thumb and index finger. “I solemnly swear that we’ll be on time, Miss Emery.”

She nods, opens the door, and steps out of the car. I do the same, and slide into the passenger seat.

In silence, Ronan and I watch as Emery approaches her mom with reluctant steps. She lets herself be embraced, but her arms hang limply by her sides.