“You’ve got my attention. I’m listening,” I say, suddenly liking where this conversation is going. “What did y’all come up with?”
“A big slumber party at my place. It’s quiet and secure,” she promises. “Icer hooked me up with a system that’d put the president’s to shame. We thought we’d bunker down in the living room and make a night of it without the hanky panky.”
“I’d hope not,” I say, fucking with her. “Y’all would have a lot to answer for if you did.”
I’m not worried they’ll do anything inappropriate in front of the kiddos—Icer’s too damn protective over them to do something of the sort. Letti’s important to him, but Elodie and Gage Jr. are his entire world. He wouldn’t do anything to rock that.
“Zoey’d skin me alive,” she laughs.
“And answer a few things I bet she’s not quite ready for,” I chuckle.
“Truth,” she mumbles as she puts the final touches on the bouquets and making sure they’re centered. Satisfied they’re perfect, she nods her head. “There. Van’s going to be so damn touched by this, Riptide.”
“That’s the hope,” I mutter as I reach down and grab my boy off the ground. “She hasn’t had the best experience in the pastwhen it comes to sentimental gestures. Gage put the circuit and whatever had his attention at the time ahead of her. I want her to know that I’m the type of man who will put her first. Always.”
“It’s good to know you won’t shuffle her to the back. She’s a good one, Riptide.”
“She’s the best, Letti. I thought my life was fulfilled by the club before she and our boy taught me otherwise. Suddenly, with her by my side the world wasn’t as dark. I didn’t see things in shades of gray anymore.”
“That’s a beautiful analogy, Riptide.”
“It’s how I feel, Letti.”
“She’s ripped those rose-colored glasses off your face, huh?” she teases. “Good for her.”
“If you say so,” I tell her, shrugging. I don’t want to get too deep into this with her so I switch topics. “Sorry you and Icer aren’t getting to celebrate the holiday like the rest of us are.”
“It’soneday out of the year, Riptide. I live my life with the idealism that one isn’t more important or special than the other. I make the best out of each one that I wake up for because not all of us are that lucky.”
“You’re good for him, Letti. I hope some of your thoughts and beliefs seep into his head. Fuck knows out of all of us, he needs the reminder that he’s worth it.”
“He’s good for me too,” she counters. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to find their soul mate. I count my blessings every day that I did.”
“Never thought I’d hear a woman profess that her soul was tied to Icer’s. He’s not exactly the soul binding type.”
“He’s like an onion. You have to peel the layers back one at a time to get to the soul of him,” she expresses. “And once you find that center, it’s one of the most beautiful sights you’ll ever see.”
“I’ll take your word for it because I doubt he’ll ever let any of us get that close to him,” I rebuff.
“He’s a hard man, Riptide, but he’s worth the effort and patience it takes to find his true self.”
“And now I’ve been properly put in my place,” I harrumph.
“As long as you stay there, we won’t have any issues,” she says as she turns on her heels and walks away.
I’ve always known there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to my brother, but considering he puts off vibes that scream stay the fuck back, that’s exactly what we’ve done. I need to take my cues from his woman and spend some one-on-one time with the Ice man and see if I can get that wall he’s got around him to melt.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Van
By the timeI make it home from my spa day adventure, all is quiet, which is odd since our house, one way or another, is always full of life. I’m not sure what I expected, but with Rush not being here to greet me, my shoulders slump. I don’t bother flipping on the light switches, what’s the use? I know my way around this house without needing my full vision so I close the door and lock it behind me before I forge forward through the entrance way.
What started out as a day of dreams has ended with a big ole flop.
“What a letdown,” I say, sighing.
