He laughs. “No. That’s all settled at school. I’ll just have some juice or something in the morning before we leave.”
I scan the room and notice Jax’s art is spread out over the made bed and his clothes are in piles on the floor, but the piles look pretty organized.
“You’re a great kid,” I tell him.
He looks at me, a funny expression on his face. “Thanks,” he says.
I ruffle his hair and say goodnight. Then I head tomy bedroom. I quietly walk into the bathroom and brush my teeth, then I climb on top of the bed beside Poppy. I check her temp, but she feels cooler. She groans and rolls over onto her side, scooting her ass toward me. I have to physically restrain myself from rolling over and sliding a hand along the curves of her thighs, up her ass, and fisting the long, tangled waves of her hair.
I lie flat on my back, pull a pillow over my head, and count backward from a million.
The next morning, I jump in the shower and dress without waking Poppy. I hope all this sleep helps her turn a corner. Not that I’m anxious for her to be healthy enough to leave. In fact, I’m shocked how comfortable I am with her here. With Jax at the kitchen table beside my girls.
I could get used to this.
Taking care of someone. Looking out for her. But this is a new start for me. I’ve got the girls. I’m staying at the house, not in my shitty bunk at the compound.
I coulddefinitelyget used to this.
“Five-minute warning,” I say, pointing at the door. “Shoes on. Get your backpacks. You know what to do.”
Jax immediately clears his plate from the table, and I throw some berries and melon onto a plate, grab a couple slices of toast from the stack Daisy made for the kids, and pour a huge glass of orange juice.
“Knock, knock,” I say, nudging open mybedroom door.
Poppy’s eyes flutter open, and she looks at the plate in my hands. “I thought you said you couldn’t cook.” She smiles, and her color actually looks good.
I feel her forehead, and unless I’m totally wrong, she’s broken the fever. I set the plate on the tray and put the juice on the bedside table.
“I put this shit on a plate. I didn’t make it.” I lean down and kiss the top of her head before I realize what I’m doing. “Shit, ah… Toast. Daisy. Daisy made it. I’ve got to go. Taking the kids to school.” I turn to leave before I realize I didn’t ask how she’s feeling. “You okay? I’ll be back after drop-off.”
She nods. “Sweaty and gross, but I think I’m better.”
“Rest.” I point a finger at her, then close the bedroom door behind me.
I’m dashing down the stairs when my phone buzzes with a text.
Law Man: Good news. Emergency hearing date set. Family court tomorrow at nine.
This is good news, but it’s all happening faster than I expected. I wonder if the break-in at Poppy’s had anything to do with the date being set so fast.
Me: Will Shayla be there?
“Dad! We got to go!”
I slide into my boots and put my phone in my pocket. I can find out the details later. As much as I want custody of my kids, as much as I want Shayla outof their lives, once the court date is set, the shit’s really going to hit the fucking fan. And I plan on making sure no one I care about gets caught in Shayla’s crossfire.
13
POPPY
I don’t even knowhow much time has passed. When I wake up, it’s dark in Phantom’s bedroom, and I feel like I’ve lost all sense of what day it is.
On the one hand, I feel like I’ve been here forever, and that’s not a bad thing. But on the other hand, I’ve been wearing the same T-shirt and boxers for however long it’s been, and I’m anxious to get back to normal.
Shit, the salon.
I grab my phone from the bedside table, thankful that Phantom has kept it charged.
