I take Fern back to my place, and she falls in love with it instantly.
“This life is perfect,” she breathes, spinning slowly in the living room. “The small town. The cute little house with the country vibe. You’re literally living in a Hallmark movie right now.”
I snort as I fill the kettle at the sink. “Single, pregnant woman living with her little sister,” I say dryly. “Yeah, very romantic.”
She leans against the counter. “Excuse you. There’s a big biker five minutes down the road who is absolutely bat-shit crazy about you.”
I keep my back to her, grabbing two mugs from the cupboard. “How have you been?” I ask, carefully.
“Don’t,” she says, firm. I glance over my shoulder. “Don’t change the subject because you don’t want to talk about it,” she adds.
I sigh. “I don’t have anything to say.”
Her eyes widen. “He’s stepped back from the club, Eden. Not just as President, buteverything. He doesn’t pick up the phone when any of us call.”
“You’re here now,” I point out weakly.
“Because he wants something,” she shoots back. “Diesel’s picking up his bike so he can sell it.”
My stomach tightens. “Yeah. Martha mentioned that.”
“He wants to buy a family car. Something safe.” She waits for my reply but I don’t offer one. “You don’t think any of this is a big deal?” she asks, incredulous.
I drop into the chair opposite her with a groan. “Of course, I do. The club is his whole life. But every time I bring it up, he just says it’s his past. That this baby is his future.”
Fern exhales sharply. “We both know that’s code foryou’rehis future.”
I shake my head. “I’ve made no promises.”
“Eden,” she says softly. “You could keep that man firmly in the friend zone until he’s old and grey, and he’d still stick around.” She leans forward. “He loves you. He could’ve stayed where he was. Been a weekend dad. Visited on holidays. Done the bare minimum.” Her words sink in, heavy and uncomfortable. “But he didn’t,” she continues. “He uprooted his entire life to become someone else. Just to be good enough for you.”
My chest tightens painfully. “I didn’t ask him to.”
“I know,” she says quickly. “And honestly, after the way he treated you, part of me thinks he deserves to suffer.” She gives a small, helpless shrug. “But no one sawthiscoming. And now, he’s selling his bike.” Her voice drops. “He means it.”
I stare down at my hands. “The sad part is, I don’t want him to change.”
She goes still. “Have you told him that?”
I shake my head slowly. “How can I?” My voice cracks. “How do I say that without giving him hope I’m not ready to offer?”
We fall silent.
And I realise the problem isn’t whether Kade can change. It’s whether I can live with what those changes might cost him.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
KADE
“Don’t you miss it?” asks Diesel as he takes a drink of his water.
I smirk, mainly to deflect my true feelings. “The oil under my nails and the pain in my wrist from tattooing all day? Nah.”
He shrugs but it's the kind that says he doesn’t buy my bullshit. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Be around for my kid,” I say simply.
“And Eden?” he pushes.
