Ford studied me like I was nuts. He couldn’t truly understand because he had Pax growing up. I’d seen the brothers together. They were best friends, always taking time out of their days to fuck with each other. Pax loved Ford more than Ford loved himself. I’d never had anyone love me like that, but I felt like I could with Elle, Sutter, and the baby.
“I want to name the baby Trent after the character from that movie Elle likes.”
“She doesn’t like it. The damn thing scared the shit out of her. She was a teenage girl crawling into our bed in the middle of the night, talking about monsters. I’d have found it funny if she weren’t in tears,” he said and then scratched at his beard. “Trent’s a decent name. Better than Wilbur or even Megatron.”
“I still want Megatron for his middle name.”
Ford chuckled. “I hope you get your wish. Pax will be so jealous.”
“Are we good, then?”
“Sure. I mean, assuming you don’t cheat on Elle or treat her like shit. Then, I plan to bring my bat and hope I’m not too old to break your knees.”
We shared a laugh at his threat despite him being fully serious. I wouldn’t respect the guy if he didn’t threaten me.
Ford was right to worry, too. I had zero experience with commitment or a solid family. I was in completely uncharted territory right now.
But if any woman was capable of teaching me how to live like a family man, Elle was it.
ELLE
Sabrina was so upset over my plan to move that she sent a club-wide alert. I received dozens of messages from my friends. Most asked if I had hit my head harder than they thought.
Clint arrived back at our parents’ house after speaking with the police. He was attacked by Sabrina’s frantic energy as soon as he walked through the door.
“She’s planning to live in a toilet city with an evil man,” Sabrina insisted as she crowded Clint on their way down the stairs. “You need to shake some sense into her.”
Clint met my gaze. I saw his pain over what happened today, and his fear of me leaving Little Memphis.
Yet, he only said, “I support Elle’s decision.”
My brother had always had my back. He supported me when I turned up pregnant with Sutter. He was patient again when I got pregnant by Zodiac. He kept my secret. Now, he said the words I needed to hear rather than admit his fears.
“No!” Sabrina screamed and ran upstairs and out of the house.
A minute later, Zodiac walked downstairs and muttered, “She’s handling it well.”
Zodiac stopped and eyed Clint, waiting for pushback.
“Doesn’t your apartment have just the one bedroom?”
“Yes.”
“Where will Sutter sleep?”
“On the couch,” Zodiac said immediately and winked at Sutter. “It’s a quality couch.”
“Itisa nice couch,” I told Sutter.
Zodiac rubbed at his beard. “Or we could get one of those inflatable beds. Besides, once we buy a house, he’ll have his own room. Two of them, actually, since he’ll still have the one here.”
Clint looked at Sutter, who shrugged. “I can sleep on a couch.”
My brother asked, “When would this happen?”
Zodiac stroked my head and explained, “Ford and I discussed heading down to Baton Rouge in a few days when Elle’s feeling better. I can take your parents, Sutter, and Elle to a few touristy places. We can also look at places to buy.”
Clint hugged Ivy to him and asked her, “Do you want to visit Baton Rouge?”
