Burn For You (Boys of the South) Read Online Free PDF Page B

you,” I blurt, but she’s already ended the call. It doesn’t matter. Words without action are no more than puffs of hot air in the freezing cold.
    I get Mia and myself fed and dressed, and out the door in record time. Luckily, the hospital is only ten minutes away and Mia sucked down a bottle like it was her last meal. Everything is going perfectly.
    “Ready to see Mommy?” I ask Mia as I get her out of the truck. She gives me a smile, and I kiss her forehead. I swear I’m the luckiest man on earth. Mia and I have officially bonded. Paisley not only loves and needs me, but wants to get help.
    I shouldn’t smile, especially in light of what has transpired, but I’m too fucking happy. It won’t be easy. Being with Paisley has never been easy, but we weathered the storm.
    The doors to the front entrance of the hospital open with a quiet whoosh. I check in at the desk, and then head to Paisley’s room, adjusting Mia’s diaper bag on my shoulder. It’s black with pink flowers, not exactly manly, but I don’t give a damn. Besides, the flowers are pretty. Women can’t be the only ones who enjoy aesthetically pleasing patterns, right?
    Walking into Paisley’s room reminds me of the day our daughter was born. My stomach roils a little. It was also the day she told me Mia wasn’t my daughter, at least, might not be my daughter.
    I clear my head of those melancholy thoughts. Today isn’t going to be like that. We’re already headed in the right direction.
    Paisley’s face lights up when she sees us. IVs are hooked into her left arm, but she reaches for Mia anyway. Mia starts to wiggle and babble about her momma.
    “Has she eaten?” Paisley says, burying her face into our daughter’s hair.
    “She had a bottle, but I brought the rest of her breakfast with me.” I reach into the diaper bag and start pulling out supplies.
    “It would have been nice if you’d done that before the two of you got here,” she snaps.
    Patience , I remind myself. She’s most likely embarrassed and angry, and is taking it out on me, because I’ve always allowed her to do it. “Mia was anxious to see you,” I softly.
    “She feels a little warm.” Paisley presses a kiss to Mia’s forehead and then glares at me. “Tell me you didn’t bring her to a fucking hospital with a fever.”
    What the hell? “She had a fever and a cough last night, but—”
    Paisley’s expression turns murderous. “You didn’t bother to call me?”
    This time, I glare at her. “Check your damn phone. I called you multiple times.”
    “Blame the mother. Isn’t that always a man’s prerogative? While we’re stuck, y’all just go out—”
    “Hold up.” I take a sustaining breath. “I didn’t come here to fight, but you are really out of line. I’m not blaming you for anything. You are the one with all the accusations, not me. I call you when Mia gets sick, or does something new, because I want a relationship with you. I want us to both be there for Mia. It’s not just about us anymore.”
    Her expression eases a little. “You’re right about that. It’s not about just us. It’s about me, you, Mia, and Austin.”
    Not that asshole again. He never does anything with Mia, at least not to my knowledge. “He’s not here.”
    “Who do you think brought me here?”
    “The same guy who gave you the pills,” I snap.
    Mia lays her head down on Paisley, then grabs a hunk of hair and pulls.  Paisley winces. “Careful, baby girl, Mommy likes not having bald spots.” She gently unwraps her hair from Mia’s hand, and then kisses the center of her palm. “Ready for some breakfast?”
    This is why I can’t stay completely mad at Paisley. She’s a good mom, even as fucked up as she is. She loves Mia, and Mia loves her.
    Silently, I unpack all the breakfast items I brought and help snap a bib around Mia’s neck. Immediately, she starts grabbing handfuls of Cheerios and shoving them in her mouth.
    “Hungry little thing,” I say