I chuckled. “Good to see you too, babe.”
She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I didn’t hug her back, not entirely sure what to do with my arms.
“Just go with it,” Alamo instructed. “Once she locks on, she sticks. You should know that by now.”
“Uncle Doom!” Kinsey, Badger and Quin’s daughter, came bounding into the kitchen. “Will you come play pool with me? Dad’s cheating.”
I chuckled. “Sure.”
Jasmine released me, but reached up and patted my cheek. “Really glad you’re here, honey.”
I nodded and followed Kinsey out to the great room and over to the pool table where Badger and Quin were deep in a game.
“What’s this about you cheatin’, Badger?”
Quin chuckled. “He’s still losing.”
“It’s true,” Badger admitted, leaning down nose-to-nose with his daughter. “But you seem to forget that snitches get stitches.”
“And you seem to forget that I’m club business, so I’m always protected,” Kinsey retorted.
He laughed. “Good girl.”
For the next two hours, I communed with my brothers and their families. I hadn’t felt this light in years and I knew it was because of Lyric. I tried not to put too much stock in that fact, but she was growing on me. Becoming important to me.
There was a freedom in knowing there was no pressure for anything more. No expectations. Maybe that was why I felt like the noose was loosening a little.
As midnight approached, I headed into the kitchen for another beer, walking in as Willow, Quin, and Olivia were putting food away, and overheard part of their conversation.
“Did you invite her tonight?” Willow asked.
“Lyric?” Quin asked.
My ears perked up.
“Yes.”
“I did. But she had a date. Some guy named Wes. I’ll give her more notice next time so she can make it. Oh, hey Doom.”
“Hey,” I said, grabbing a beer and walking out of the room and straight for the bar. I suddenly needed a bottle of tequila to go with my beer.
Fuck.
I snagged the Sauza and headed for my room.
“Doom?” Willow called.
Jesus, shit, fuck balls.
I turned to face her. “Hey, babe.”
She cocked her head. “You okay?”
“Yep.”
“Something changed.”
“Will—”
