Inching closer, I point a finger at his face. “Who the hell have you been saying that to?”
“What are you trying to do, turn me on?” he asks.
“I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?” He wraps a hand around my wrist. “You chose to stay, remember?”
I try as hard as I can to pull away, but he holds me.
“I swear to God.” He runs a hand through his hair. “It’s like talking to a wall sometimes, you know that? What the hell do you think I mean when I say you’re everything? Or when I say you’re my baby? My one and only? My forever?”
I don’t answer, instead choosing to close my eyes.
“Look at me,” he orders, and my eyes snap open. “I’vebeentelling you, and I’ve tried to show you because to me, words without actions are empty. But if you want words, here you go. So, listen for once, dammit. I have never cared about anything or anyone until your drunk ass came into my club. From the moment you dared to put your little hands on top of mine, you became a part of me. You became mine. Mine to protect. Mine to care for. Mine to love. So, yes. I love you. You happy now? Damn.”
He drops my wrist, and I stare into his face, stunned speechless by his words. He opens his arms. I go in, and when he wraps them around me, I get on my toes and kiss his neck. “Well, why the hell didn’t you just say that? I thought you didn’t feel the same way.”
“Woman, you’re the one with the degrees. Don’t be a dummy. Can we go eat now?”
Chapter 42
Eden
Ms. Hazel escorts us to the last booth in the back. It’s the same one my friends and I were kicked out of all those weeks ago. He slides in next to me instead of across. One of his strong arms goes over my shoulders, and he pulls me close.
“We had our first fight and said I love you all in the same morning.”
“Yeah, and now we both get to stuff our faces.” He rolls his eyes at me and picks up the menu, but his phone rings. While he gives one-word answers to whoever is on the other end of the line, I look at potential new cars on my phone.
I’m so lost that I don’t notice my mother and sister being seated at the table a few feet from our booth.
“Hey, Dandy.”
I look up when I hear my mom’s voice. She waves at me, and I wave back. My sister, who only has the baby with her, doesn’t look our way, and I’m happy for it.
I put my phone down, wave, and say, “Hey, Mom.” I’d go and hug her, but Rip has not made any attempts at moving. He does look in my mother’s direction, but carries on his one-sided conversation while giving her a curt nod. He pulls me closer and kisses my temple. Sylvie glares but doesn’t address us.
“Sylvie wanted to talk to me in private,” Mom whispers, probably to explain why I’m not a part of their party. My mom is always there for us. She keeps our confidence and advises without being overbearing. I never worry about her choosing one of us over the other. She would never do that.
“Okay,” is all I say. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
Rip finally ends the call and puts his phone down. He picks up the menu and studies it.
“Um, good morning, Ripley,” my mom says.
“Ma’am,” Rip says without looking up from the menu. Thankfully, Ms. Hazel returns to our table, and we place our order. By that time, Mom is sitting down and talking to my sister. Sylvie has her hands in the middle of the table, and Mom is holding them.
“The coven is convening early this morning,” Rip says, subtly tilting his head in their direction.
“Baby, come on. My mom is the nicest person on earth.”
“Do you have another mom I haven’t met yet?” I elbow him in the ribs.
“Stop it.”
“If you say so.” He shrugs. “And don’t buy a car while I’m gone.” He puts a finger under my chin. “I mean it. And I love driving you around.”
“And I love being your passenger princess, but I can’t count on you to do it all the time.”
