"I should.He's probably calling about the wedding vendors, deposits that need to be cancelled..."
"Let it go to voicemail.You don't owe him anything."
She stares at the phone for another moment then deliberately hits the decline button."You're right.I don't."
The simple act of defiance makes pride swell in my chest.She's finding her strength again, piece by piece.
"Come on," I say, offering her the helmet."Let's get you to the clubhouse."
But as she settles behind me on the bike, as her arms wrap around my waist and her body presses against mine, I'm not sure how easy things are going to be.
The ride back to the clubhouse is torture.Every turn, every stop light, every breath she takes against my back reminds me of how she felt in my arms.How she looked at me when I touched her face, like I was something worth wanting.
By the time we pull into the clubhouse parking lot, I'm wound so tight I'm ready to snap.
"Thank you," Evangeline says as she climbs off the bike, her voice soft."For today.For everything."
"You don't need to thank me."
"Yes, I do.You didn't have to..."She trails off, looking around at the familiar chaos of the clubhouse.Bikes parked at odd angles, brothers coming and going, the sound of laughter from inside.
"Didn't have to what?"
"Care.About me, about the kids.You could have just taken custody and asked me to stay out of it."
The idea makes something ugly twist in my gut."That what you think I should have done?"
"No.God, no.But I understand why it would have been easier."
Easier.Yeah, it would have been easier.Wouldn't have me tied in knots, wouldn't have me questioning every decision I've made for the past five years.
But it also would have meant losing her completely.
"Easy isn't always right," I say.
She nods, and for a moment we just stand there in the afternoon sun, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us.
"Aunt Evie!"
Sophie's voice breaks the spell, and we turn to see all five kids spilling out of the clubhouse.They surround Evangeline like she's been gone for weeks instead of hours, chattering about everything they did while she was away.
"We helped Ghost fix his bike," Jake announces proudly."He said I'm a natural mechanic."
"Sniper taught us card tricks," Emma adds."But he said we can't use them to hustle people."
"I drew you a picture," Lily says, tugging on Evangeline's hand."It's you and me and Uncle Hades and everyone."
The word 'everyone' hits me like a punch to the gut, because I can see it in the kids' eyes.They're already thinking of us as a unit.A family.
And watching Evangeline with them, seeing how naturally she fits into their chaos, how her face lights up when they tell her about their day, I realize Tempest was right.
This is dangerous territory.
Because I'm not just falling for the woman anymore.
I'm falling for the whole fucking picture.
"Come on," Evangeline says, gathering the kids around her."Tell me everything."
