Atlas joins us, taking up my other side as he presses a soft kiss to my temple. We’ve kept things pretty PG the past few days with nothing getting as hot as it did that day in the living room, but the promise of more is there. The promise of…us. All of us.
I didn’t know what to expect when Atty and Kor showed up on my doorstep but all four of them coming to the unanimous conclusion to enter a poly relationship was not one of them. I knew I couldn’t choose but…I didn’t expect for them to be okay with it.
They’re more than okay with it, though. A fact that’s proven to me more and more with every second. None of them hesitate to hold or kiss me, even if someone else is already doing the job for them, and the scorching looks each one of them give me throughout the day is enough to melt my panties right off. Or soak them.
“So, the trial may be done sooner than you thought?”
I nod at Atlas’s question, smiling at Wylder as he comes to a stop beside us. “Yeah…About time, too.”
Atlas scoffs. “I’ll say. I tried to pay that judge off as soon as we got into town, but he wouldn’t budge.”
Roman’s deep voice sounds from behind me, where his head now rests on my shoulder as a hand rubs small circles on my stomach. “He wouldn’t for me either. Have you ever met a judge that you couldn’t pay off?”
The silence following Roman’s question has my bones growing stiff, a feeling that only intensifies as Atlas answers. “No, actually, I haven’t. It’s got Wade’s name written all over it.”
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Thompson hasn’t been returning my calls even after I offered to pay him more to drop the case. He’s under someone else’s control now and Wade is the most likely suspect. I just don’t understand why he would be paying to keep the trial going and not answering my calls.
Unless he lied about more than Kortez being dead.
It’s not like I can tell the others about my suspicions, though, and I already have Viv looking into it since I’ve been a little preoccupied.
Kortez stands, leaving Abel in the living room to continue setting up the track as he joins us in the dining room. “He knows his cars.”
I smile at the pride in his voice, my mind instantly remembering all the trips I took with Kor when I was eighteen to find his perfect car. “He does. His favorite is the Maserati.”
“Well, it would be con –“ Roman chokes as I slam my elbow back into his ribs, shooting him a look to stay quiet.
Wylder laughs, breaking the tense silence that follows. “Evie, are we still doing the end of summerparty?”
“Fuck.” I groan, my hand instantly coming up to rub at my forehead. “Yeah, I would feel bad telling Abel no after he’s told all his friends.”
“In that case, I’ve got work to do. School starts back on Monday.”
Wyld pushes Atlas out of the way and leans in, capturing my lips in a quick kiss that promises me more later. We haven’t done much the last few days with my mind being elsewhere, but I think he can tell I’m getting a little too deep inside my head and he knows exactly how to bring me back to the surface.
He pulls away, clapping Atlas on the shoulder. “Come on, you three can help me. It’ll be nice having some extra hands this year.”
Roman reluctantly pulls away, dropping a kiss on the back of my head at the same time Atlas leans in to kiss me on the lips. They pull away at the same time, as if choreographed to leave me in a messy puddle on the floor.
“See ya later, Little Moth.”
Wylder heads toward the back door with Roman and Atlas following on his heels, leaving just Kor and I standing in my dining room, watching as my son runs up the stairs to gather more cars.
“You aren’t going to go help the guys?”
Kor shakes his head, his dark eyes searching mine as he leans against the wall. “I promised Abel I’d race the cars with him after he sets things up. I’m sure those three have it.”
I nod, a small smile gracing my lips as I realize how much I wanted this – Kor back in my life.
He may be darker and scarred but he’s stillmyKor.
It’s been hours and Wylder’s backyard is slowly turning into a kid’s summer dream. String lights are hung up around the fenceline and Wylder’s garage is loaded down in water balloons, firecrackers, and foam guns. It’s everything I would have wanted as a child.
Kor stands at my side, watching Roman and Atlas shove each other around in the sprinkler Wyld finished setting up. Abel is at the house playing on Wylder’s game console as I watch him through the patio windows. He and Kortez played with the cars for almost four hours, something not even I had the patience to do, but Kor didn’t call it quits until Abel did.
“Thank you for playing with him. I do the best I can but…” I sigh and shake my head. “I don’t know, maybe I’m – “
“Stop.” My body is turned to face Kor, his hands gripping my upper arms just enough to sting. “You’re a working mother doing the best she can. He’s just happy he has you, Evie.” Kor gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re an amazing mother and he’s an amazing little boy. Don’t disregard that.”
