It was obviously something we needed, and I’m thankful I’m allowed to have this type of relationship with her.
All the way around, I’m a very lucky girl.
Pulling onto the gravel road leading to the clubhouse, I immediately see my husband doing something to his bike. He and Walker are talking very closely, and given the way Walker is watching with rapt attention, it’s a teaching moment.
They wave at me as I’m parking. Before I can even open the door, Walker’s run over.
“Dad said you might need help bringing the pizza in.”
I stopped and got dinner since it was my first day back to work. There’s enough here for us and Caelin, since he’s the only one at the clubhouse tonight.
“It’s in the backseat.” I point on the passenger side, in the back. “There’s two pizzas and some cheese bread.”
“Cheese bread for me?” He grins.
“Of course, who else would they be for?”
The smile he gives melts my heart. We’re still trying to figure out where our relationship is, and that smile? Gives me hope.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
I wanna reach over and ruffle the hair falling onto his forehead, but he’s too old for that now. He goes around the back and grabs the food. “I’ll take this inside.”
“Thank you!”
Getting out, I glance over to where Dalton stands, his hands on his hips, looking at me. It’s obvious he’s been to work today. The once-white shirt he wears with the arms cut-off is now more gray than anything. His jeans, they’re dirty too, a reminder my man works with his hands and isn’t afraid to pitch in anytime he’s needed.
“Hey, babe.” He grins, watching as I walk over.
His hands on his hips pulls the shirt taut against his stomach, still-flat, even though we’ve aged a few years from the first time we got together. “Hey, hot stuff.” I grin back at him.
“What? You like the dirty, blue-collar look?”
When I get within arm’s reach, I lean in, kissing him on the lips. He doesn’t reach out to touch me, probably because he doesn’t want to get my clothes dirty. “Umm yeah.” I wrap an arm around his neck. “It seriously does it for me.”
“Good to know.” He takes his turn, leaning in to drop a kiss on my neck.
“Mom, Dad! Can we eat?”
The two of us laugh as Walker’s voice interrupts us. “He’s a growing boy,” Dalton groans in his throat.
“He’s growing up way too fast,” I agree as I watch him pick up his tools and then grab my pinky with his.
“Pretty sure this finger is the only one not covered in grease,” he says by way of explanation.
“Doesn’t matter to me.” I shrug. “I don’t care if you’re covered in grease or not. My favorite place to be is with you.”
He stops, turning to stare at me. “There was a time when you didn’t even want me around.”
I knew this would have to come up one day, and thankfully I’m prepared. “It wasn’t you, D. It was me. I know it sounds like a line, but it’s the truth. Now my head’s on straight, I want you around all the time, any way I can have you.”
He pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly around the waist, forgetting about how dirty his hands are. “I love you, babe. I’m willing to take you however I can get you, but hearing you finally say you want me around all the time? I don’t…” He stops, swallowing deeply and when he speaks again it comes out all scratchy. “I don’t have words. I didn’t think you’d ever want me around after you kicked me out.”
This is what I did, but now I know only I can make it better.
“I’m sorry.” I work my fingers against the tendons in his neck, massaging the tightness. “My words don’t mean a lot because I’ve said things I haven’t stuck to. This time though, this time I’ll show you. I promise I’m not the same person I was a few months ago.”
His dark eyes search mine. I’m unsure what he’s looking for, but when a smile tugs at the edges of his lips, I know he’s found it.
“Neither am I, maybe that’s the best thing for both of us. C’mon, let’s go inside so the kid can eat.”
“Which one?” I smirk. “Caelin or Walker.”
“Babe, I hate to remind you Caelin’s not a kid anymore. All of us are gonna have to get used to that shit.”
Chapter Thirty
Dalton
We’ve settled into a routine, one I’m familiar with, and approve of. Every morning, I wake up to my wife in bed with me, my kid in the next room. She and I share the bathroom space as we get ready for the day.
Something we’ve never done before, and I’m trying to figure out why we haven’t. Maybe because we used to be so focused on leaving the house with enough time to get where we were supposed to be.
Now, the one hurrying is Walker, but only when he wants to. Someone takes him to school every morning and picks him up in the afternoon. Try as I might, I can’t remember another time when we’ve been so settled.
I’m doing my best not to think the other shoe will drop, but at the same time, I’m aware things can’t always be perfect.
Which is why I’m not surprised when I walk into the common area of the clubhouse to see Drew and Caelin sitting together. “What happened?”
“Someone broke into Wet Wanda’s last night and stole the cash deposit to be made this morning.”
Now this, this makes no sense. “Why didn’t they take it to the night drop?”
“According to Rooster, they had an issue at close. Dude that we know came in and made a ruckus about his girl up on the pole.”
I’m trying to think of who would be causing issues, and out of the
