“No, I can think of a thousand questions you should be asking me, and that is not one of them.”
“You answer that question,” I say, “and then you go from there. And Tatum and I are right here with you when you go from there. Just like Greg will be too.”
She exhales a long breath and since my niece is practically my daughter, I know what that sigh means. She’s in turmoil and the only person who’ll be able to calm her will be her husband. Greg might drive me crazy with that life plan of his, but he treats Renee like a queen and always knows exactly what she needs to make it through her days.
“Your plan is out the window,” I say with determination because this conversation needs to be moved along. “It’s time for a new plan.”
When the only response I get is another long exhale, I continue, “You and Greg want a family, Renee. That was in the plan. Two kids. A dog. Maybe a cat. Definitely not any birds or fish if I remember correctly. You built your house with all those bedrooms for those children. And you both work your asses off for that size backyard so you can fit a pool in there one day for those two kids. This baby is wanted. You don’t need a fucking plan to tell you that.”
“You say that like it’s so easy,” Renee mutters. “Life isn’t that easy.”
“Life’s never fucking easy. All we can do is roll with it. Shit happens, plans change, we figure it out. Together.” I pause. “And Greg’s not going anywhere. He may never let you drink with Monroe again, but I know he won’t leave you.”
“Nitro’s right,” Tatum says. “Let’s get some coffee in you and start working this out.”
“Do you need me?” I ask.
“No,” Renee says emphatically, like that’s the worst idea she’s ever heard. “I need someone who can tread lightly for this.”
Before I can argue with her over the fact I can tread lightly when needed, Tatum says, “I’ll call you when I’m on my way home to see where you are.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Vegas.”
“I might be here for a while.”
“I’ve got nowhere to be but here.”
“Okay,” she says, and I don’t miss the way her voice changes slightly. The way that tells me she knows exactly what thoughts are running through my head. “I’ll see you later.”
The call ends, leaving me alone with the kind of thoughts that will make the hours until Tatum gets home some long fucking hours.
Tatum’s POV
11:20 a.m.
Me
I’m leaving Renee’s now, but something’s come up at work that I can’t leave for anyone else to deal with. I’m sorry but I’ll probably be another couple of hours.
Nitro’sgoing to be pissed about me working today. I know he’s forced himself to be more patient than he prefers over the last few weeks while my workload has tripled. Today may be the day he finally has his say over it.
Ever since the day seven years ago when I started my own business helping women who are in trouble with the law, he has supported me. While Nitro can be bossy when he wants to be, he has never tried to boss me into making different life choices. Heencourages me in every way possible, even when that involves long hours away from him. But today, I know he wants time with me and a lot of it. When he calls just after I send the text, I answer immediately.
“Hey,” I say softly. “I’m sorry I have to work.”
“Don’t apologise. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. But when you get home this afternoon, your phone gets turned off. You do whatever you need to do to make that happen. I need my wife.”
What he’s saying is, “delegate the fuck out of your work for the rest of the weekend.” He’s saying that because I’m not good at delegating, and if I was, he would see a lot more of me.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bossy man?”
“Vegas.” He says this in a low growl, one I’ve heard hundreds of times during our marriage. And one I don’t ever need an interpreter for. I can push my husband further than anyone can, but on this, I’ve pushed him to his limit.
“My phone will be turned off before I step foot inside our house.” It’s a promise I intend to keep because I want what Nitro wants today just as much as he does. I want to submit to him and everything he wants to do to me.
Nitro’sPOV
5:30 p.m.
