“If you want to talk, talk to me,” I whisper, leaning my face against his arm. His gaze finds mine, and I let out a sigh, getting lost in those green oceans.

For a second I think he might actually talk. He drops his glass with a heavy thunk against the bar and turns toward me. “I have a better idea.”

He buries his face in my neck, pulling my body against his. I want to argue with him but the combination of his soft lips and rough beard melts my body in his hands.

“Murph,” is all I manage in a hearty whisper.

Then, he bends at the waist, placing his shoulder against my waist and without warning, I’m being hoisted off the ground, my body hanging over his, and I let out a playful laugh as he turns and walks toward the bedroom.

This wasn’t exactly what I was talking about, and as much as I love every second of being in the bedroom with Murph, I know that it’s not solving any problems. It’s one big bandage over a gaping wound.

But then again, it feels so good.

Just before he reaches the hallway, he stops dead in his tracks and drops me to the floor.

“What are you doing?” a small voice asks full of curiosity.

Lucy stands there, her eyes sparkling up at Murph. It’s baffled me since they arrived at how much the tiny princess is drawn to this intimidating bear of a man. He could do no wrong in her eyes.

Ryder enters the room behind her and glares up at the two of us suspiciously. None of our sneaky bedroom behavior has gotten past him, and it’s obvious. “No roughhousing indoors,” he says, glaring at us.

Lucy lets out a giggle, and I actually see Murph crack a smile.

“What do you want, princess?” he says to the girl as he picks her up and carries her over to the kitchen.

“A snack,” she answers with a smile.

“A snack? Doesn’t your dad feed you?”

“Ha-ha,” Ryder chimes in sarcastically.

It feels a little like a private moment, this small disjointed family sitting together in the kitchen, but I can’t help but stop and stare. I’m on the outside looking in, but I know the door is open. If I wanted, I could have it.

But the cost is too high. If I attached myself to these people and Hugo found me...I couldn’t live with myself if he made everyone pay for my mistakes.

When the doorbell rings, each and every one of us freezes.

“I’ll get it,” Ryder says, walking toward the front of the house. My eyes don’t leave Murph. I know there's no one here to threaten me, but I can’t shake the feeling that the good things are about to come to an end.