The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0427

I wanted to say no with every fiber of my being. But when I look at Elva, I noticed she was watching me with doe eyes, taking in my every expression Did she actually want to call Bridget Auntie? Was she simply reading my negative energy, and that was what had been making her uncomfortable?

I tried to remember Elva’s face as she had interacted with Bridget and Nicholas. She had been having fun. Was it genuine? It could have been.

Maybe I was the stick in the mud here. My distrust of Bridget was

hindering my daughter and dictating the people she could grow closer to.

Bridget had given me no real reasons to distrust her. A handful of

confusing things mixed with more feelings than facts. Maybe I was simply being jealous.

If Elva likes Bridget, and Bridget has shown only kindness to Elva, maybe I was the asshole here.

Nicholas began to walk closer. He was in earshot now.

He trusted Bridget with his life with Elva’s life. Since I trusted him, that should make her trustworthy by proxy.

At the end of the day, this was just a title. A nickname. It wasn’t christening Bridget as Elva’s actual aunt. It wasn’t even saying they had to spend all that much more time together.

Again, I looked down to Elva. “Elva, you should do whatever you are comfortable with, okay? If you want to call Bridget Auntie, it’s up to you.”

I loved my daughter with an undying ferocity, but even I did not know the innermost workings of her heart. If she liked Bridget enough to want her to be Auntie, I wouldn’t stand in the way of that. Though I would be watching

hawk–like from a near distance.

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be protective. Especially with all the dangers we’ve faced, and with all the dangers still out there,

closely. She continued to watch me long after I’d finished speaking. I

cotton candy.” Wouldn’t you

to Bridget instead. Then she

want to think about it,” Elva

all of us. I nearly laughed. Susie did, though she hid it behind her hand. She wasn’t really a part of the conversation, so she easily passed it off

of her face. She clearly hadn’t been expecting that. As a celebrity, she was likely used to being admired and adored. Who knew the last time someone had actually turned down one

little girl with the entirety of my heart, but every day I

make Auntie Bridget sad, do you?” Bridget said. She wore an over–exaggerated frown that rankled all of my nerves at once. Was she trying to manipulate my daughter? “It would

placing my hand on Elva’s shoulder, tugged her

decision,” I

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it was up to her, Piper,” Bridget said, cutting me

said. “And she said she needs time to think about it. She should have that, without outside influence.”

different expressions, like she couldn’t quite decide which

there was no denying that. But maybe she lost herself somewhere on the way. Did she even recognize her own true feelings anymore?

landed on her usual bright smile, just in time for Nicholas to

going on?” he asked, likely noticing the tension.

turned into me, half–hiding in

me Auntie,” Bridget said to him. “I almost have her!”

to think about it,” I said, filling in that key

Bridget, he said, “Elva isn’t obligated to you, or to anyone, Bridget, except her mother.

“I suppose I did get carried away there.” She laughed as she looked to me. “I’m sorry for my overstep, Piper.” And then to Elva. “I’m sorry to have

didn’t say anything.

for me.

official? Although whether official or not, the term seemed to fit. Bridget had more or less taken over the