Lucky stared down her “friend.” “I told Damen when you saw him here he’d be the only thing you focused on and that you’d flirt with him, shamelessly, even though you pretend to be only interested in Lincoln. Or Hawk. Really it’s any of them because you don’t really care as long as you get the guy, even if he’s with someone else.”
“Jealous?”
“No. Furious that my friend”—she made air quotes—“betrayed me.”
“What’s going on?” Krystal stared up at all the adults.
Lucky reined in her fury. “Sorry, sweetheart. Your mom and I had a disagreement. We’re going to talk about it tomorrow and sort everything out.”
Damon squatted next to Krystal and kissed her on the head. “Thanks for hanging out with me and kicking my butt at Candy Land. I haven’t had that much fun in a long time.”
“I could fix that for you.” Desiree had no shame, even after what she’d just said about them being in an argument.
“Mama, when can I see my dad again?”
Desiree lost her smile and glared at Lucky. “I don’t know. I need to work some things out with him and your aunt tomorrow. Then, we’ll see.”
“I want to see him and talk to him. Maybe he’ll play games with me, like Damon. Maybe he’s nice, too.” Krystal looked up at Damon. “You’d be a really great dad.”
Stunned, Damon’s eyes went wide, and then a huge smile broke on his face. He picked up Krystal and held her to his chest, so they were eye to eye. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me, munchkin. I would be the happiest dad on the planet to have a little girl like you.”
Krystal beamed, wrapping her arms around Damon’s neck and hugging him tight.
Damon’s eyes shined with unshed tears before he blinked them away and set Krystal back on her feet. “You’re really special. Never forget that.”
“Can I come back and play tomorrow, Aunt Lucky?”
“No,” Desiree cut in. “You’re with grandpa tomorrow while Lucky and I figure some things out.”
“You never let me do what I want to do. Everything always has to be your way.”
Lucky understood Krystal’s frustration and the absolute truth in her words.
Desiree took Krystal’s hand. “Come on.” She pulled Krystal out the door, calling over her shoulder, “We’ll hash it out tomorrow, and then let it go.”
Not this time.
Lucky closed the door, hoping everything went as planned.
Krystal deserved better.
Desiree deserved to get what was coming to her.
And Lucky wanted to be free from Desiree’s brand of friendship, so she could fully embrace her new life. With Hawk. His family. Soon to be her family, she hoped.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lucky opened the door and the knots in her stomach loosened just a little at the sight of the big man standing in front of her with his arm wrapped around his pregnant wife. “Mason. Lyric. So good to see you both again. Please come in. Hawk will be out in just a moment.”
Mason walked in, hooked his free arm around her neck and pulled her close so he could hug and kiss her on the forehead.
She kind of loved their little ritual of riling each other up by kissing each other’s women. “You know Hawk’s going to get you back for that.”
“Like he hasn’t already kissed my wife a thousand times.”
Lyric rolled her eyes and came in close to hug Lucky. Lyric’s even bigger baby bump pressed to her stomach and Lucky felt a pang of envy.
Maybe someday she and Hawk would hold their baby, too. Soon. Ish.
