Halfway through the second round, my phone buzzes—not with the name I’m hoping for, but with a FaceTime request from my cousin, Danae. She knows Sara from calling before when she’s been over. I’ve told her all about Honey and the Hellions, so I don’t hesitate to answer even during girls’ night.
I accept the call, and her face fills the screen, dark curls framing her sharp features. “There she is! My favorite single mom and her bad influence friends.”
Honey winks. “Damn right.”
Sara leans in. “Hey, D.”
Danae smirks. “Okay, what’s the occasion? Girls’ night, or is Josie Mosie stress-drinking over a certain biker?”
I sigh. “I hate that you know me so well.”
She laughs. “So he’s ghosting you?”
“He’s not ghosting me,” I argue. “He’s just… gone.”
Honey sips her drink. “Club run. Promise you that man ain’t ever gonna ghost her.”
Danae raises a brow. “And he didn’t say when he’d be back?”
I shrug, suddenly feeling stupid for how much this is bothering me. “It’s not like we’re married. He told me from the start he didn’t want to playhouse.”
Sara nudges me. “Doesn’t mean you can’t be worried.”
Honey nods. “And it sure as hell doesn’t mean he’s not coming back.”
Danae tilts her head, studying me. “Do you want him to?”
The question hits harder than I expect, and I don’t answer right away.
Because the truth is… yeah.
I do.
“He said when he comes back, we should move in together,” I drop the bombshell on all of them at once.
Danae smirks. Sara smiles. Honey is like a proud peacock.
“About time,” this comes from Sara.
“He was being patient for Josie,” Honey explains. “Not a doubt in my mind that man wants to put a ring on it.”
“What do you think about that?” Danae asks always concerned for me.
I smile shyly. “I want it. The way he makes me feel safe. Even now, he’s not here, but I feel him around me. I have butterflies just thinking about him. My happiness is with him. To watch him with my son is a dream come true. He is the total package just wrapped up in leather and boots.”
Sara laughs, “best biker husband description ever.”
“As happy as all of you seem to be, I need to find a biker,” Danae jokes as we all relax chatting away.
Time passes and Honey crashes here since her kids are with her brother for the night. I’m thankful for the company. Tonight was a good distraction for the time it lasted, but lying in bed I miss him all over again.
I do not want to live apart. Even if the whole he owns my house thing did freak me out since he didn’t tell me up front, I still want to have my nights in his arms.
Yes, I love him.
Dean “Riffraff” O’Neal has my heart.
Fifteen
