LAUREN'S POV

“Bye, honey, mommy loves you.” My voice softened as I leaned slightly forward, waving at Aria through the tinted glass of the car window. Her tiny hand pressed against the glass in response, and my chest warmed with both love and a sharp pang of longing. No matter how many times I said those words, it never felt enough. I wanted her to feel them deep in her bones, to know that no matter what happened in this chaotic life of mine, she was always the center of my world.

The ...