“That’s such bullshit!”
“I know. I’m so sorry,” he said. “I wanted to protect you from that, but I needed to tell you everything. When I asked if she was safe the other day, that was why. Also, and at the risk of being a complete snitch and totally uncool, I saw her here yesterday during school hours.”
“Here? She skipped school?” I asked, incredulously.
“Apparently. I mean, maybe it wasn’t her, but she was a spitting image of you and her friend called her Maggie, so…” He shrugged.
“Dammit,” I said, shaking my head, tears filling my eyes. I’d tried so hard with her, and yet I knew things were slipping since I’d left Derek. She was mad about it, hating having to be shuffled off between the two of us like a piece of property. And I’d retreated into myself instead of rallying around her.
“Hey, skipping school isn’t a big deal. If it helps, they weren’t drinking or smoking pot or anything like that. They were just blowing off a little steam and having fun.”
“Thanks for telling me,” I said, grateful that I finally knew the truth about everything. “And I should tell you something, too. I cut my family out of my life years ago. I’m so sorry my father threatened you and killed Sera’s dog. I can’t believe that, Blade. I am so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault and you have nothing at all to apologize for. I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger. Hell, I’m sorry I didn’t come kidnap you like I dreamed of.”
“That would have been fun,” I said, a smile stretching across my face.
“Yeah, it would have,” he whispered, smiling down at me. He bent his head, kissing me gently. “Are you okay with me being an outlaw biker?”
I laughed, nodding. “It sounds kind of bad-ass, to tell you the truth.”
“It is,” he chuckled. “I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Rose,” he said, growing serious. “I’m never going to let you go again.”
“Blade, there’s so much to talk about, I —.”
“—Rose, once more, I’m never going to let you go again. We can talk till the cows come home, but that’s not changing. Unless you tell me to leave. I’ll listen to you. I’ll fucking hate it. But I’ll leave. But under no other circumstances. Nothing is going to keep me away from you, not if you still want me.”
I smiled up at him, my heart swelling with love for this man. He’d grown so much. He’d lived a whole other life without me. And yet, he was here again with an offer I’d only thought would come true in my wildest dreams.
“I still want you,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him.
“Good. It’s settled then,” he said.
“What’s settled?”
“You’re my girl,” he said, making it all sound so simple. But after everything he’d just told me, I knew it would be a good, long while before our lives were simple again.
“Hey look!” He gestured to the live oak stretching its long twisted limbs overhead, a long silvery drape of moss floating down towards us.
My eyes lit up when I realized where we were.
“It’s our tree!” I cried out.
“Our kissing tree,” he said, his lips falling on mine.
He kissed me so gently, a silent promise of a million future kisses.
Chapter 39
MAGGIE
Not being at home was my favorite thing. I was so happy to have good friends where I could crash at their house for days at a time with their parents being cool about it. Things hadn’t been good at my house for a long time. Sure, I loved Clem and my mom, but it was like there was always a constant fight going on and I hated it.
Mom was controlling and Dad was the exact opposite. It was clear he didn’t really want anything to do with me, he was just forced to hang out with me because of a stupid court order or he’d go to jail or have to pay a fine or something.
I told myself I’d never put my own kids through this kind of drama.
If I ever had kids, that is. I’m a long way from that.
I haven’t even had sex yet.
But all of that was about to change. I wasn’t about to go into adulthood without experiencing all that being an adult was about, so I’d finally decided that Finn and I would go all the way on my birthday.
I was determined to figure out a way to get out of hanging out with my dad that day. I hadn’t gotten out of it just yet, but I would. And, if my plan to get out of it didn’t work, I’d just wait until he drank himself to sleep and then sneak out to go to the cemetery with my friends.
So, I braced myself as I drove back up our driveway to get some fresh clothes, knowing that most likely I’d end up fighting with my mom again. I was surprised to see an old beat up motorcycle in the driveway as I walked up to the front porch.
I was even more surprised to hear a long peal of my mother’s laughter floating out of the house. When it was followed by a low unfamiliar chuckle, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. I opened the door and was shocked to see a very large, very tattooed man standing in our living room. When he turned my way, I recognized him as the man I’d seen at the cemetery with my friends.
“Maggie! You’re home!” Mom called out, a strange smile on her face.
“Uh, yeah, I needed to get some fresh clothes,” I said, eyeing the guy.
“You’ve been gone all weekend, you should spend the night here tonight.”
“Mom, I —.”
“—I want you to meet someone,” she interrupted.
He smiled at me, his eyes kind and familiar. I felt like I’d seen him somewhere else, not at the cemetery, but somewhere else before that, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“This is Blade. He’s an old
