“Romeo, could you go start my truck?”
“Sure.” Romeo took my keys from my hand as I caught up Birdee’s jacket.
I only slipped it onto one side of her body, once again keeping her arm free. “Just tuck your shoulder in.”
She did, just as Vito said, “What the hell, Birdee? I’m your father. I should know things like this. Were you in the hospital?”
“For three days, yes.” Birdee moved toward me when I gently tugged on the empty sleeve of her jacket.
I pulled her into my arms as gently as possible just as Vito went on a tirade.
“That’s something a father should know,” Vito continued.
“You know now, don’t you?” I asked. “And also, back up. She just got out of the hospital and you’re scaring me. If this repair breaks, she could literally bleed out right here. She’s already done that once in the last week, I’d rather not ever have it happen again.”
Vito’s angry eyes came to me. “What are you doing with her?”
My brows rose. “I’m taking care of her. What’s it look like?”
“Why?”
Birdee flinched.
“Because she’s someone extremely important to me, Vito,” I pointed out. “She’s mine.”
Birdee’s breath hitched.
“Yours?” Cody asked curiously.
“Mine.” I looked down at the top of Birdee’s head. She’d dropped her gaze to my chest so I could no longer see her face. “She’s mine and I’m hers.”
Birdee inhaled deeply.
“As in boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“As in her man, my girl, yes.” I rolled my eyes as the waitress appeared with to-go containers.
“Here, here. I’m so sorry again.”
I took it. “It’s no problem, Peg. Thank you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But I feel like it is. Y’all get out of here anyway before this storm hits.”
“We’re goin’,” I agreed just as Romeo came back in and gestured toward my truck that was now pulled up close to the front door.
“You’re just going to go?” Vito asked.
“Vito,” I replied as I started to guide Birdee away. “There’s a time and place, and this isn’t it.”
Because everyone and their fuckin’ brother was paying attention right now, and Birdee hated attention.
Vito said something else, but I halted him with a swift glare that clearly read “I will fuck you up if you continue.”
He snapped his mouth closed, obviously reading the intent in my eyes.
Romeo held open the door, but I stopped him at the door and said, “Can you help her get into the truck? Be very gentle with her.”
Romeo jerked his chin toward me, and Mable rushed outside to go with them.
