“Turn you into a maniac? You’re not already one?”
“Not a homicidal one.”
“Good point. But you’re not staying with me and Jeremy. I have the perfect place for you.”
“I’m not committing a crime, so I can spend the night in jail. I don’t care how nice the jail cells are since Eli invested in them.”
She giggles. “The mayor will tan your hide if she finds out you’re in jail again.”
“Technically, I promised I wouldn’t spend another night in jail for a decade. It’s been more than a decade.”
“You sound like a Raider.”
I gasp.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to bring him up. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
I slump in my seat. “Work tomorrow is going to be fun. The whole town will know by then.”
“By then? The whole town knows now.”
I growl. “You’re not helping things.”
“I’m being realistic.”
Ugh. Why did I beg my mom to stay in Smuggler’s Hideaway when I was twelve? I should have let her follow her boyfriend to Belize. I could have learned Spanish.
Anything would be better than living in a town where everyone pities me because the man I love thinks of me as his nanny.
Chapter 35
“I can add idiot to the list of skills on my resume.”
Zane
Icuddle Adele into my arms. I allow her sweet baby scent to wash away the fear. I can’t lose her. She’s my pride and joy. I never expected her. I thought I didn’t want children. But since she arrived, everything has changed.
“I’ll have the nurse draw up the discharge papers,” Dr. Allens says.
“Thanks, doc. I’m sorry we panicked.”
She grins. “You were right to come to the hospital. She only has the flu, but with her symptoms, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Mom squeezes my shoulder. “It’s okay, Zane. She’s perfectly fine.”
“How did you do this?”
“Do what?”
“Raise six boys who were in and out of the hospital our entire youth without having a heart attack.”
“You take it day by day. Sometimes hour by hour.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I’ll always come running when one of my boys or my grandchildren needs me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Not thank you for coming today. Although, I appreciate it. I mean, thank you for all you did for us while we were growing up. You were the best mom. I don’t think I ever told you.”
