Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“It is.”
“Then—”
“But aren’t you the one who was more or less warning me away from her before?”
Nicole smiles, making a gesture with her hand like she’s waving me off. “I wanted your eyes open, but I want Gabby to be happy. This will be complicated, that’s true.”
“It’s not for me.”
“It’s not?” she asks.
“Not at all. I love her.”
“Love who?” a voice calls from the door. Fuck.
I look at the back door that leads into the kitchen to see T and Lyla standing there. I ignore T’s question and go straight to a smiling Lyla. “Hey gorgeous. I’ve missed you.”
She hugs me tight before pulling back to look up at me. “We’ve all missed you. Dad complains daily. He wants you to come home and spend some time with him and Grace.”
“I don’t think your dad would like another man around when he’s with Grace,” I laugh.
“You know what I mean,” she giggles. “You need to come home. It’s where you belong.”
“It’s not anymore, Lyla. I’m happy. I’ll always come back for a visit though.”
“I want to hunt that bitch down and throat punch her for all the sisterhood,” she grumbles.
I laugh. “She’s not worth your time,” I tell her.
“You look happy,” T says, and I smile. The more settled he is with Lyla, the less his stutter is an issue. I’m fucking glad the two of them worked their shit out. They were made for one another. I smile as I think about the fact that Gabby and I were, too. We were both broken and feeling alone. We understand one another in ways no one else could probably grasp. Fuck, I’ve only been away from her for a few hours and I’m missing her.
“I am, T. Life is good.”
“So, who are you in love with? For a m-minute you had me w-worried you were going back to that b-b-bitch.”
I shake my head. Apparently, just the thought of Shelby upsets T. Fuck, I hope they manage to accept Gabby. It would suck losing T in my life. He had my back and took up for me when he didn’t have to. We fought a war together. My relationship with him is always going to be special—if he can at least manage to be civil around my woman.
“A story for later. Life is good.” He frowns. I can tell he wants to ask more questions, but thankfully Nicole distracts him, and he backs off.
I spend the next hour eating dinner and catching up with everyone. At the large table on the deck, I find myself sitting with Kayden and Chains on my left, and Nicole and Dragon on my right. It seems strategic. I’m not sure why it hits me, but the way Kayden keeps gripping my hand and smiling at me is telling me she may know what this meeting is about. It even feels like she’s supporting me. Then again, if I remember correctly, Kayden gave Nicole a bunch of stuff to bring to Gabby, so maybe she knows the whole story about Gabby’s pregnancy. If so, I’m hoping she doesn’t share. Jellybean is mine. I’d rather Dom and T not know the truth. They could use the information to hurt Gabby. I’d like to think they wouldn’t but fuck if I know for sure.
“Dad, y-y-you going to tell us what this is all a-a-about?”
“Chains?” Kayden whispers. “You got it, baby,” he says, standing up. “Little D. Why don’t you and Tam-Tam come with me? We’ll go play in the backyard on the swings?” he says. I look at Chains. He’s a tough-as-nails biker, covered in ink from head-to-toe. His blond hair is long and shaggy, and he’d be the last man you’d expect to be willing to babysit two little hellions, but he seems perfectly at ease. He comes around and slaps me on the back, in what by this time I’ve figured out is support. Yeah, he and Kayden know what’s going on. Damn.
“Good luck, brother,” he says. I nod, my throat tight. Kayden kisses her boy goodbye, and Lyla does the same with Tam-Tam. Kayden takes my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“How did you know?” I ask.
“Mom.”
I nod, because I figured that was it. “And you’re okay with it?”
“Are you happy?”
“More than I thought it possible to be,” I answer at once. Kayden smiles and fuck me if I don’t see tears shining in her eyes.
“And her?” she asks guardedly. I can see the mistrust there, but she’s fighting through it and suddenly, I’m realizing I sold Kayden’s worth short.
“She loves me. She’s trying to push me away, but that’s not really working out for her,” I murmur.
“My support is with King,” Kayden answers loudly. Then she takes the baby from Thea. “I’ll go help my man. Dom, T? Don’t be assholes. Family is all that is important in this world. Our whole lives, our parents have taught us that. Don’t forget that lesson.”