“Whoa,” I give her the stink-eye. “Teen parents sitting right here...just saying.” I laugh as I motion between Willa and me.
Phoebe’s used to my brand of humor and rolls her eyes. “It’s not age that’s my issue. It’s the fact that my mom is having a baby in five months. We are not raising our kid right alongside Mom and Sam.”
If anything, Ty looks even more excited now. “Phee, you’re a genius. That’s perfect. Rose and Baby Wiz and our kid—”
“You can’t call my little brother or sister Baby Wiz!”
“What else am I supposed to call the kid? They won’t even find out if it's a boy or a girl. I have no choice.”
Rose is paying no attention to the adults in the room and is instead stealing eggs off of her mom’s plate. “Are you still hungry, Rosebud?” I ask, handing her off to Willa. My daughter sits contentedly in her mama’s lap, her sticky little fingers twisting in Willa’s hair. My girlfriend’s wearing the Rockvale hoodie I stole from Booker a million years ago. He’s never getting that back. Hell, neither am I. Her hair’s up in a messy bun and she’s as beautiful to me now as she was the first time I saw her—maybe even more so.
Standing, I walk to the fridge and open it. My baby girl’s hungry, so I’ll play chef. Whit’s been MIA, and though I basically suck in the kitchen, I can scramble eggs well enough. “I’m making more eggs. Who, besides my bottomless pit of a toddler, is still hungry?”
“Eggs?” Booker calls as he walks into the kitchen. “Did someone say they’re making eggs? Count me in. Scrambled, over-easy, I don’t care.” He gives Rose a quick kiss and slumps into the chair across from Willa.
“Rough practice?” she asks.
“Yea, Coach is pushing us hard. I get it, and we need it, but my legs feel like Jell-O.”
With as much training as Book does, I figure Coach has to be working them pretty hard to wear him out. I also have a feeling that more than hockey is weighing on Book’s mind, but I don’t stress about it. When he needs us, and when he’s ready to talk about whatever’s bothering him, he’ll let us know.
I scramble some eggs and the conversation flows easily. Before long, I realize I need to get my ass in gear and get moving. I’ve got things to do today.
I give Willa a kiss and promise to see her later. She leans into my body and wraps her arms around me. It’s a feeling I’ll never get tired of.
“Have a good day, love,” she tells me. “We’ll see you tonight?”
“Yea, probably around six?” I ask, looking in Ty’s direction.
“Sounds right. You and I are meeting up at two, right?” he asks.
“Yea, see you then,” I nod. We’re both jonesing for new ink, so we’re heading over to Marked later today. Ty’s adding to his sleeve, and I’ve got an idea for my chest.
Giving another quick kiss to both my girls, I grab my keys and go.
* * *
I can almost feelthe walls shaking before I enter Captain’s Cove. The drive to Annapolis took an hour, as usual, but I didn’t mind it. The restaurant itself is fine; the food’s good. But the real draw is the giant arcade, complete with a ball pit and three-story jungle gym.
Ronin loves this place.
I open the door and smile at the hostess, bypassing her station because I spot my little brother, and his dad, in a booth by the window.
“Knox!” Ronin takes off at a run and nearly knocks me over with a hug. It’s been maybe ten days since I saw him last, but I soak it all in anyway.
“Hey, buddy. How’ve you been?”
“Did you bring your baby?” he asks, eyes wide. “Dad said you have a girlfriend and a baby, but I don’t see them.”
“Not today, bud. Maybe next time.” I tell him, sliding into the booth. “Rose, my daughter, is still pretty little for a place like this. She’d put everything in her mouth. Maybe when she’s a little older she can come along and you can show her how it’s done, ok?”
He pouts, but that soon turns into a smile as the server arrives at our table and sets down a milkshake in front of him. Keith takes his beer and gestures for me to order.
“I’ll take a root beer,” I say. “And a burger with fries.” The server nods, before hurrying off to another table.
“It’s good to see you, Knox,” Keith says, and I notice, maybe for the first time, how damn tired the man looks. I’ll be honest, I’ve never paid much attention to his moods or emotions. Pretty much from the moment my mom said Keith wanted his own kids, and therefore, not me, I basically wrote the guy off. I didn’t always go out of my way to piss him off, but I also never went out of my way to include him or take his feelings into consideration. But the dark circles under his eyes, and the strained smile tell me these past ten days have been rough.
I’m not surprised. Heather Gallagher Dorsey is no picnic on the best of days. But after her lies were exposed? I’m damn glad I don’t live in that house anymore, and I’m sorry Ronin has to.
