Page 73 of Hash

“You’re here now, aren’t you?” she fires back. “I know you’re new to this life due to no fault of your own. We’re blaming all of that on Hash because, in my opinion, you should have been here years ago, but these men do not just bring anyone around. Especially not at a family event. The fact that you’re here says all we need to know.”

I look at Sutton to see if I can gauge whether Evan is trying to talk me up or telling the truth.

“Pretty much.” Sutton nods. “Ink brought me here one day, and I never left. These men don’t mess around.”

“Hash and I are kind of stuck in each other’s lives regardless if we’re together or not,” I say, my attention on the grass as I absentmindedly pick at it.

Cormac crawls over to Evan, who picks him up and sets him in her lap. “Imagine if you two never saw each other in Georgia. Hash probably would have never known about this little guy.”

Guilt bubbles in my stomach. “I didn’t keep Cormac a secret from Hash,” I say, trying not to sound defensive but failing miserably. “I tried to tell him.”

I’m so sick of everyone, including Frankie sometimes, acting like I should have tried harder or should have done more. I did my part. Why should I have to go leaps and bounds for someone who at the time wouldn’t have done the same for me and cut me out of their life like I meant nothing?

“Oh, I know,” Evan says. Thank God she doesn’t sound upset with the way I just came across. “Hash told us how it went down. The only time these men are smart is when it comes to the club. Anything else, they’re straight-up fucking idiots. I’m honestly shocked they’ve survived so long. When Cain first brought me to the clubhouse, there was nothing in that kitchen. The fridge was full of beer and no food. No food? Can you believe that? A bitch has to eat.”

“Men.” I scoff as I shake my head. “When I first went into Hash’s room, I thought it was a guest room and I was in the wrong place. There was nothing in it!”

Evan and Sutton start laughing.

“You mean the man who wears the same outfit every day isn’t a maximalist?” Evan laughs. “I need to know how many shirts he has of the same color?”

“Too many. It’s like he buys them in bulk packs.” Not that I’m complaining. Those shirts mold to him in all the right places.

“I’m assuming you two are all good now?” Evan asks, changing the subject.

“We’re working on it.” I shrug, trying to keep it light. I’ve never been one to dive deep into my personal life, family or not. It’s nothing against them. I just think some things are meant to stay between the people they’re between. “It’s definitely better than it was. I think it’s just going to take a while to completely get over.”

“Makes sense,” Sutton adds. “It’s not like he forgot to grab you something at the store. He blocked you, and you had a whole freaking baby.”

“Say fuck,” Evan tells Sutton. “Say you had a whole fucking baby.”

“You had a whole fucking baby.” Sutton rolls her eyes with a smile on her face.

“I’m still in the process of corrupting her. She’s come a long way,” Evan says proudly.

“Some habits are harder to kick than others,” Sutton says.

Ain’t that the truth.

Like the man that’s strutting across the yard heading right toward me.

I couldn’t quit him even when he quit me. There wasn’t a single day that I didn’t think about him, what he was doing and who he was with. It’s its own form a torture, really.

“You about ready to head out of here? We need to give Cormac a bath before bed,” Hash says, eyeing the grass stains on Cormac’s clothes.

We need to give Cormac a bath before bed.

I’ve turned this man from a bad boy into a daddy overnight, and he’s all mine.

“Holy shit, my ovaries just spasmed,” Evan says as she fans her face.

I snicker.

Mine too, bitch. Mine too.

“Yeah, let me grab my stuff out of your room,” I tell him as I stand up.

Hash grabs Cormac out of Evan’s lap. “I’m going to say bye to the guys. I’ll meet you inside.”