“I try to be, angel, but I’m not perfect.”
“No, but you’re as close to it as I can imagine someone being. I’ve watched you the last couple of days. You’re good with both the kids, but you’re good with Rose and Thea, too. You treat them with respect, help them when they need it, and don’t piss off Bullet or Sniper with you helping them. You also just know when to stop and listen. You don’t see it, but a lot of people rely on you, and they like you. Then, last night with Macy and Archer, you were just as gentle and good as you were with Isla and Sawyer. You didn’t even get annoyed with Macy when she accidentally got too excited and sent her food flying at your face.”
“She just got excited. Besides, did you taste that steak that Rose and Taz grilled? Fucking good. I wasn’t going to waste it.”
Avery rolls her eyes. “Not the point.”
“I know, but Macy is six, and it’s not like she did it on purpose. She apologized all on her own, and I’m getting a new picture out of the deal. Win all around.”
“You really don’t get fazed by much, do you?”
I shake my head. “I learned a long time ago not to let the little things take up much space in my life. The uncomfortable shit, or the stuff that happens on accident. I focus on the things that matter to me. My family, my club, you, and the kids. Anything else, it’s inconsequential.” I press a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Though right now I’d put you above my family because they’re assholes that refuse to admit I’m the best of my siblings.”
Avery rolls her eyes but laughs. It’s a common joke in our family that between my siblings and me, we’re always playfully fighting to be our parents’ favorite. My sister called me last night to check in, and of course, she had to say she was pregnant with my new niece or nephew to edge me out of the top spot for having a woman in my life and two siblings to add to the mix.
“A new baby trumps a new girlfriend, big guy.” She laughs.
I scoff. “She probably did it on purpose to try and one-up me. She’s like that. She can sense these things.”
Avery rolls her eyes. “Sure, honey. Sure. Now, you need to go and deal with the condom, and I need a shower before I strip the sheets.” She gives my shoulder a push, and I reluctantly pull away, climbing out of bed before helping her up, and we both head into the shower.
I wonder if I’ll be lucky enough to convince her to give the shower another try.
Turns out not very because she shakes her head under the spray and states, “Nope. Twice last night and now this morning, my vagina needs a break.” Then she winks. “But we’ll try again tonight and see how I feel again.”
I can live with that. I kiss her quickly and finish helping her wash her hair before it’s my turn. When we finally climb out, Avery grabs a towel and hands it to me before grabbing one for herself. I notice that about her. She’ll give everyone else whatever they need first before herself. It’s another part of her I enjoy, but also want to ease her away from when it comes to me. I want to be the one to take care of her, spoil her.
We dry quietly, and I follow her out as she grabs some clothes from the closet where she’s moved her clothes. The kids were okay with her staying in my room while they’re here, so that was something. I like having her close and watching her get ready for the day. She’s fucking stunning.
“Why are you staring at me?” Avery asks, arching a brow at me as she slips on a pair of black underwear and reaches for her jeans.
“Because you’re fucking beautiful and I’m glad you’re mine,” I say simply. She blushes, charming me, and I move until I’m directly in front of her. “You really are the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, Avery Clarke. Not just physically, but everything about you. You’re smart, witty, funny, and have a heart of gold. There’s nothing about you that I don’t want to explore and see more of. The good, the bad, and the stuff that you’re too scared to share with anyone else. I want it all. I want you to be my person, and I want to be yours. I want the kind of love that my parents and Rose and Bullet have had. The kind that you work hard to make work and perfect for the two of us, no matter how tough times get.”
“Is that your way of saying that you’re falling for me?” she whispers, eyes searching mine.
If she expects that question to send me running, she’s going to have to try harder than that. “I’ve already fallen for you.” I cup her chin and press a kiss to her mouth. “I’m pretty sure I fell for you the moment that you appeared in front of me in that cell. You were my angel, and then I fell harder when you helped get me out of there. You never backed down. And now, seeing you around some of the most important people in my life and the way you fit so perfectly with them all, only tells me that I’ve made the right choice. You, Avery Clarke, might not be ready to feel the same things, and that’s okay. I can work hard to convince you to give me a shot, but that won’t change how I feel about you now.”
“I love you, too,” she whispers, her eyes going wet. “I don’t think I’m on the same timeline as you, but watching you with Sawyer and Isla, with Rose and Thea, with the kids, I can’t help it. I also love that you don’t break under pressure. I needsomeone in my life that can handle the hard shit, and you’ve definitely proven you can. I’m terrified because this has never happened to me before. I don’t let people in easily, and I don’t just let my emotions go, but with you, I feel safe.”
“You’re always safe with me, angel,” I whisper, elation filling me. “When you need somewhere to escape from all the hard stuff, I want to be your person. You and Isla and Sawyer. I love them too, because damn, they are good kids. They don’t back down from helping around here, they’re good with the kids. They just fit. We’ll get to the point where they’ll feel one hundred percent comfortable with me, but for now, I’m happy with where we are. Especially if it means you love me, and we have each other.”
“I’m good with that,” she smiles. She leans into me, meeting my mouth, as we sink into a simple kiss. There’s no inferno of passion this time, just a beautiful simplicity that settles something deep inside me. I’ve always been a tiny bit jealous of my brothers for finding their women and being so happy. It’s my turn now, and I think I got the best of them.
When we pull away, Avery smiles at me before turning to grab the rest of her clothes. “Speaking of Isla and Sawyer, we better get downstairs before they get wrapped up in whatever Taz is plotting.”
A loud pounding on the door stops me from answering. I quickly pull on my jeans and then head to the door. When I open it, I find Karissa and Glitch both standing there. They take in my bare chest and grin. “Well, if we knew we’d get some eye candy before breakfast, I’d have knocked earlier,” Glitch jokes with a wink. “But unlucky for you, big guy, I’m looking for your lady. We have some things to plot.”
I step back and see Avery approaching with a curious expression on her face. “What are we plotting?” she asks.
“Oh, now we can’t say that in front of the enemy,” Karissa admonishes with a grin up at me. “Serious war plans are going on.”
“War plans?” I repeat, interest instantly piqued.
“You want to know what’s going on, sexy, head on downstairs. We ladies have some planning to do.”
“Alright, what the hell is going on?” And how much bail fund money do I need to set aside, I silently wonder.
“The kids were bored, and Rose found some water guns,” Glitch says excitedly. “We’re doing a good old-fashioned water fight. Boys against girls, with preggo ladies having to sit this one out and judge. Oh, and no squirting the dogs. Syn made that rule.”
