Still didn’t make it easy leaving my world behind, even if it was just for work.
Plus, I wasn’t letting her stay with everyone. I was leaving her with Bronson.
How the heck did this happen?
I glanced across the room where Gramps sat in his chair, with Autumn and Patience's son sitting below him, quietly playing together.
“I don’t think it was a thousand times,” I replied to Stormi, with an eye roll.
With my eyes still on Gramps as I spoke, I couldn’t help but see the twinkle in his gaze.
“You want your girl to stay here with me, I got you covered,” Gramps said, giving me a wink. A laugh tumbled from my lips and it felt good, relaxing me.
My eyes went to Stormi who watched me with pleading eyes. I knew she wanted Bronson to care for her. I wasn’t sure what her quick attachment to him was and it scared me a bit, but I’d already told her that he could stay with her.
I glanced at Bronson who studied me and then nodded, with a reassuring expression on his face. After knowing him for so long, I knew he would, one take care of her, but two, he was also saying he’d go with whatever I felt was right or was comfortable with.
How was it after all this time, I could still read him like an open book?
“Thanks,” I told Gramps with a warm smile.
He was a character, charmer, and one heck of a man. Ruby was a lucky girl to have him. To even have family around must have been amazing. I shook off the sadness that tried to worm its way into my heart when thinking of my parents being gone.
“I think Bronson’s got this one,” I added, turning to the man himself, who was grinning.
“Well, we can always save his sorry a—” Lyric stopped and cleared his throat. “I mean,butt,if he needs it,” he added, jokingly.
Stormi started to snicker and everyone looked her way. “Nice save,” she said, looking at Lyric. “Embry would have been sad she missed the money.”
We all started laughing. My daughter seemed to be very taken with Embry and the way she managed to take the gang's money. The girl was stealthy and had some bionic ears, that’s for sure.
“That girl has gotten enough of my money,” Lyric told Stormi, making her giggle.
It was time for me to get going. Part of me wondered what it would feel like to go home and hang out with Bronson and my daughter, but I knew I needed to get those thoughts out of my head.
He left you.
I had to keep reminding myself how torn up I was when he left. The broken heart I nursed for years and the anger that plagued me, were not things I wanted to experience again.
“I better get going to work. It was great seeing you guys again,” I told everyone.
All of a sudden, I found myself wrapped in a hug. Ruby gave me a good squeeze before letting me go. “You’ll have to get together with me and the ladies soon. We’ll figure something out.”
Shocked, I only nodded at first. They’d said the same thing the evening before at the party, but I thought maybe they were just being polite. I had a few friends from work, but that was about it, and we didn’t get a chance to hang out much. Any free time I had was spent with my daughter. But the idea of spending some time with the ladies sounded nice.
“And it begins,” Lyric said, causing Ruby to smack him playfully in the stomach.
“What begins?” I asked.
Bronson grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. “Ignore him. Let’s get you to the car for work, so you’re not late.”
I let him drag me away because I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the tingle that shot through my palm and up my arm at his touch. I knew he was just trying to get me out of there but I couldn’t help my reaction.
“Bye,” Stormi told everyone cheerfully as she followed.
“See you later,” I yelled over my shoulder.
I not only heard Lyric and Ruby laugh, but Gramps chuckled too.
