“No, but we talked about stuff first.”
“Well, Elle ran too fast for me to have any real conversations with her. But I knew she was clean, and I knew I was clean. I made a choice. Now, I have a little critter growing inside a woman who will raise it with care.”
Exile shook his head. “I did not see any of this coming from you.”
“Because you think I have no heart,” I said and smiled at his scowling face. “Not caring aboutmostpeople in the world doesn’t mean I’m incapable of caring aboutsomepeople in the world.”
“No, I know you care about our club brothers, and you’ve been protective of Nova and the girls. I just didn’t think you were capable of getting silly and soft over a woman.”
“Well, I’m a complicated man. This is me acting goofy with the love bug,” I said and leaned back in the chair. “Are you impressed?”
“Your reaction has been both gross and charming.”
Chuckling at his bullshit, I considered Elle’s rounder than usual belly. My kid was growing inside that sexy woman.
“What happens now?” I asked after the pizza arrived at the table. “Am I supposed to ride back to Baton Rouge and wait for the results?”
“Clint paid for the test to be expedited. It should come back in a day or two.”
“Then, I’ll stick around here and wait. I want that dinner with Elle before I return home.”
“I’ll see if Rowdy will play host,” Exile said and texted his Little Memphis people.
Watching him, I marveled at the way he took to his new role as Lula’s guard dog. For years, Exile was an unfun bitch. The only time he wasn’t a robotic grump was when he spent time with his sister and her kids.
These days, Exile bounced around like an excited puppy with a backyard full of new toys.
“Rowdy can’t do it right now. He’s with Rock down in Little Rock. Clint will find someone else for you to bunk with.”
“Or I can stay at your place.”
Exile narrowed his gaze. “No.”
“Because I might charm your woman?”
“I’m more worried about you teaching the girls more bad habits. Not to mention, you might wander over to Elle’s place and stir up trouble.”
Glaring at him, I grumbled, “Well, aren’t you a fucking Boy Scout?”
“You wanted an alliance with the Crimson Guard, and that comes with hoops to jump through.”
“Sure. So, are you planning to squirt a critter into your lawyer love?” I asked and sank my teeth into the hot pizza.
“We want to get married before we consider kids.”
“Is that a crack at the mother of my critter?”
“No, and I heard Elle’s planning to name the baby either Charlotte or Wilbur.”
“We’re having a boy, and it won’t be named Wilbur.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“About which part?”
“Either one.”
“Nothing in my life has come easily. That’s why I know it’ll be a boy. I’d prefer a girl. Your nieces are easy. But I’ll get a boy, and he’ll probably try to kill me one day. The only question is, will I let him?”
