Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Vi cut her off with, “Nope. You’ve never been shy before. Just take your clothes and go. I don’t have all day to deal with this idiot’s nonsense.”
“Love you, too,” Zeke groaned.
As soon as Cherry slipped out the door, Vi stepped inside the room, slamming the door shut.
He grimaced and rubbed at his temple. “Why you gotta do that?”
One side of her mouth pulled up in an evil grin. “Do what?”
“Slam the fuckin’ door.”
“To punish you for being stupid.” She bent over, bravely picked up something off the floor, and when she straightened, she threw his jeans over his lap.
“What time is it?”
“Time for you to sober up and get your shit together. No reason to get trashed in the middle of the day. Unless…” Her brown eyes narrowed on him. “Did Kyra talk to you yet?”
He sat up more slowly this time so everything didn’t spin, including his stomach. “Whatdya think?”
“And?”
He scraped a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes. “And what?”
“Where do you go from here?”
“Don’t fuckin’ know, Vi.”
“Thought she talked to you.”
“Yeah, Vi, she did. Thanks to you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Someone woke up on the bitchy side of the bed this mornin’.”
She went to sit on the edge of the bed but stopped short, made a face, and planted her hands on her hips instead. That was probably a safer choice. His sheets most likely had more mysterious DNA than a crime scene.
Vi asked, “What details did you work out?”
“Not much. She told me Ledger’s mine.”
“Did she ask you for financial help?”
“Nope.”
“Did she ask you to be involved in Ledger’s life?”
“Nope.”
“Did you offer?”
He hesitated.
“Did. You. Offer?” she asked more loudly than necessary.
She was a fucking sadist.
He thought back to what they actually discussed. It was all a little fuzzy. “She said somethin’ ‘bout takin’ it slow.”
“What do you mean slow?”
“She don’t want me tellin’ my own fuckin’ son that he’s my own fuckin’ son.”
“What?”
He groaned. “Don’t need to fuckin’ screech, Vi. Jesus.”
“You mean never or just for now?”
“Never fuckin’ screech.”
“Not that, dummy. About taking it slow!”
She needed to stop yelling so his pickled brain didn’t explode. “For now. ’Til we get to know each other and ’til I prove myself.”
She blinked. “Well then, you’re screwed. Especially if she wants you to prove you’ll be a responsible father.”
“Thanks for the fuckin’ vote of confidence. Supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side. But I’m also on Ledger’s side. She’s doing the right thing by protecting her son from an idiot.”
He blew out a breath. “He’s my son, too. Just ‘cause I’m an idiot don’t negate the fact he’s got my goddamn blood runnin’ through his veins.”
Her eyes bugged out. “Did you just use the word negate?”
He squinted up at her. “I use it wrong?”
“No, you used it right. That’s why I’m a bit shocked.”
“Guess I ain’t such an idiot.”
“Don’t worry. One big word doesn’t negate the fact you’re still an idiot.”
He groaned. This time not from his pounding head. “How the fuck am I gonna tell my parents?”
“You just open your fucking trap and tell them. You’ve never had a problem running your mouth before.”
“Gonna be pissed and thrilled at the same time.”
“Add in a sprinkle of disappointment. In both you and the lost time they could’ve been spending with Ledger.”
“That shit ain’t my fault.”
Her head tipped to the side. “You sure about that?”
He sighed. “Not sure I should tell ‘em now, anyway. Ky wants me to take it slow, but no fuckin’ way my parents ain’t gonna demand to meet him if I tell them.”
“Damn. That’s true. But if you keep it from them and they find out later that you did…”
“Between a rock and a hard place, cuz.”
“Nothing new. Zeke,”—her tone became way too serious—“do you truly want Ledger in your life? Do you want to be responsible for someone other than yourself? Side note: you’re not really good at being responsible for yourself. You really need to think this through before you enter this kid’s life and fuck it up. Or decide being a father isn’t for you and leave him in the dust.”
His cousin was always his voice of reason. When she wasn’t busting his balls.
He flopped back onto the bed and flung an arm over his eyes.
Did he?
Yeah, he did. Especially since Kyra came along with him.
“Hey,” Vi said softly at the same time she nudged the mattress. “Like I already mentioned, you’ve got a whole army behind you. That boy will want for nothing. The same as us growing up a part of this club, he’ll be protected and loved. So will Kyra. Not to mention, when you fuck up, there will be plenty of others to step in. And, cuz…”
His arm dropped to his side.
“It’s guaranteed you’ll fuck up. No parent is perfect. You just have a steeper hill to climb.”