Like a math problem, the numbers started lining up.Fucking hell.“You good?”
Her nose wrinkled up almost identical to how Ali’s did when she was annoyed.Kin’s did that sometimes too.It was kinda cute.
“I’m fine,” she gritted out.
Not believing her, I cocked a brow.She hastily glanced around at Bentley and Evan, who were watching Ali with gaped mouths as she inhaled an entire slice of toast in two bites.
Toast that was slathered in butter and strawberry jam, thank Christ.
As much as I looked forward to the day we started our family, I didn’t want to have to share my daisy girl anytime soon.We had at least ten years before we started talking about bringing kids into the picture, maybe longer, depending on how I was mentally.I might never be in a stable enough headspace for parenthood.Ali was okay with that.When we said all we needed was each other, that was exactly what we meant.
Sometimes I wondered if I could share her attention.A baby would need her full focus.So, yeah, we would have to wait and see where my head was before we decided if we were ready to bring kids into the equation.
With everyone else distracted, Abi made a zip-it motion and narrowed her eyes in a way that promised pain if I didn’t heed her warning.I decided to let her keep her secrets for the moment, but only because I didn’t think it would impact Ali.
Dipping a triangle of toast into my egg yolk, I lifted it to my girl’s mouth.She accepted the bite with a happy hum.
Bentley watched Ali for another few minutes before he stood and grabbed his keys.“I gotta get home, cuz.Caprice keeps text-bombing me, and Mom is on my case about not being home all weekend.She gets cranky about family time right before a tour, so I gotta shower her with all the love until then.”
“Don’t let us keep you,” Abi snarked, taking another itty-bitty bite of her toast.
“I’m gonna miss you too, Abs,” he said with a roll of his eyes.“But I wasn’t talking to you.Ali, you need me, you call me.”
Jumping up, she hugged him hard.“I wish you were coming on tour with us.They’re not the same anymore without you.”
“Sorry, sweetheart.I’m trying to fast-track through undergrad.That means summer classes.”He smacked a kiss on her cheek then pointed at Evan.“You want a ride home?”
“Yeah, sure,” he grunted, unfolding himself from his chair.His aquamarine eyes tracked Ali with longing.When she didn’t spare him so much as a glance, his shoulders drooped.“Abi, are you going to be okay if I go?”
Hayat had left the day before.Bentley said some guy named Jamie had picked her up.I was surprised she’d gone with him after everything that had happened at the warehouse.She was keeping secrets too, but I was too tired to try to keep up with her shit.Hayat was extra, and I liked that about her.Mostly.
“I’ll be fine,” Abi assured him, giving him a grim smile that only lasted a second.Her face must have hurt like hell.Just seeing her all bruised up from taking an elbow from someone at the fight club caused that burning itch deep inside my head.“You should go home.Ali and I are going to camp out on the couch and watch a movie until Mom and Dad get home.”
“Well, call if you need anything,” he said, sending Ali another longing look that she didn’t see because she was back to stuffing food into her mouth.
“See you, Sixx,” Bentley called.
“Later.”I picked up my plate and took it to the sink, cleaning away the mess we’d made.“Daisy girl, do you want anything else to eat?I’ll make you a bagel.”
Forking the last bite of egg into her mouth, she shook her head.“Thanks, babe, but I’m officially full.”
Crossing back to her, I took her plate and smirked at Abi.“What about you?You full?”
“You make loving you so hard, asshole.”She broke off a piece of crust and threw it at my head.
Barking a laugh, I loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the counter before reluctantly grabbing my gym bag out of the laundry room.I’d washed my workout clothes and the extras that I’d gotten blood all over.Sammy had been in and out of the house most of the previous day, and she’d shown me how to get the bloodstains out of my shirts.
Ali saw the bag slung over my shoulder, and her chin started wobbling.“I wish you could stay.”
“Me too, baby.”Stroking my thumb over her trembling bottom lip, I groaned.“I have homework that I need to finish.Mom’s been texting me all morning, and I still haven’t explained these stitches to her.”
She grasped one of my bandaged hands and kissed the back of it.“I’m sorry.It’s my fault.”
“Nope, we’re not doing that shit again.You don’t apologize for my choices, Ali.”Kissing her quickly, I stepped back while I still had the self-control to leave.“I love you.For the rest of the day, I want you to relax.Then study for your finals this week.Everything else has been sorted out, daisy girl.If you don’t pass your classes, I’m gonna be grumpy.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” she teased, stepping on her tiptoes to nibble on my bottom lip.
Catching her ass in both hands, I gave the perfect globes a hard squeeze before setting her away from me.“I gotta go.Be good.”
