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“Yeah, of course, but why would it matter? It’s not like we’re kids. Everyone’s legal so who cares?”

“You’re sure? It’s not going to bother you in a few years when I hit menopause or when my hair grays and you’re still young? What will everyone say when I’m getting older and you’re still young?”

“Sweetheart,” Cypher leaned close and lowered his voice. “It’s not like you’re twenty years older than me. It’s a few years. You might go gray before I do, or I might gray before you do. Who cares? As long as you and me are happy, who gives a fuck what anyone things. What’s between us is just that. Between us.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them away before they could fall.

“You mean that?”

“Sweetheart, we’ve been over this. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

Relief washed through her. She’d been worried that if she did stay with him that in five to ten years, she would be even older than she was now, and he would decide it was too much. That he would decide he wanted some hot young thing instead of someone older, and she would end up raising this baby alone. Not that she couldn’t do that. She could raise a baby on her own, but she didn’t think that would be fair to the kid. Still, she knew him saying so once wouldn’t be enough to convince her, but it was a help.

She took a deep breath and told herself she was being insecure. Cypher had never lied to her, he’d never done anything to make her doubt him, why was she so nervous?

“I want to try. I want to do the trial, at least until the end of this trial. That’s not going to be fast. We’re looking at several months to more than a year. I might as well move everything and let the house go. Why pay rent for somewhere I’m not living.”

“I agree, but I wasn’t going to push for it. I don’t know your finances or if you want to keep your place for your own peace of mind. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to isolate you or cut you off from your circle by asking you to move onto the compound,” Cypher said.

“I appreciate that, and I’m glad you wanted to clarify. I can’t say I don’t have concerns, but let’s do this. Let’s go for it.” They walked a little longer as she tried to find the words to say what she wanted. “Now I have to think about the logistics of this. I need to give my landlord notice. We’ll need to move all my stuff. I’ve been so tired and now I know why, but that’s not going to make packing and moving any easier.”

“Don’t worry about the logistics of the move. The Warriors can handle that. And if you’re worried about a bunch of men going through your things, that wouldn’t happen. Our men have more respect for our women than that, and I’d beat anyone’s ass who even tried it. I’m also sure that Jenna, Elle, and Lacey would be happy to help you pack anything you don’t want the men dealing with. It’s not all on you and I’m not just talking about moving. You’ll find that The Warriors will become your family. If you’d call your brother to look at your car or even if you wouldn’t, it’s not a big deal to go to Papa Smurf and tell him you think something’s not right or you’re having some problem. He’ll take it into the shop, and someone will look at it, fix it, and get it back to you. It’s normal to us and not only will we not mind, but we also expect you to come to us, no matter what you need. We are here for you. However you need us, we will have your back.”

Lauren felt some of the tension and nervousness drain from her. Her shoulders relaxed and her breath came easier. Until he said it, she hadn’t realized how much she’d worried about Cypher and the rest of the club isolating her from the very few people in her circle.

“I have a question,” Cypher said after a few moments. “And I know it’s early but I’m going to ask it anyway.”

“Okay,” she stretched the word out, not sure she was ready but if he was willing to ask, she would at least consider answering it.

“Are you prepared for your family’s reactions?” Cypher took a deep breath and continued. “To all of it? To the pregnancy, to me, cause I’m well aware that I’m not the kind of guy every parent dreams of their daughter finding. They probably won’t like me, at least at first, and maybe ever. I’m good with that, but I need to be sure you’re prepared for that and the probable pushback you’ll get from them.”

“I hadn’t thought about that. I don’t think you’re wrong, it just hadn’t occurred to me.” She looked down and watched their feet as they walked a few feet from where the water lapped against the rocks. “How will your family feel about me? Will they be upset that I’m so much older than you?”

“Sweetheart, five years isn’t all that much. And my family will be happy I’ve settled down. My mama has been desperate for me to settle down and stop running around like a teenager with keys to a Harley. She won’t care how old you are, and she’ll be even more happy when we tell her you’re pregnant.”

“Even if there are no plans for marriage?”

“Even if. She calls the Warriors my pack of lost boys. I can’t say for sure, but I think that having a family, or even the start of one, will make her happy. Like maybe I’m a little less lost than she’s feared.”

“You’re right. It’s a lot, but we have a lot of time. We don’t have to address it all right now. None of it.” Thankfully all her years as a counselor, helping people, especially young people who don’t know how to manage big emotions, had given her the ability to know that while all this was huge change and could very easily be overwhelming, she had the tools to break it down into manageable pieces. “Can we go look at the house again?”

“Of course. You want to go now?”

“Yeah. I want to look at it with fresh eyes, see if anything comes to me as I look at it with a different mindset.”

Lauren found herself feeling lighter and far more hopeful as they made their way back to the house.

Chapter Thirty-Five

“Sweetheart, tell us where you want it. We’ll move it.” Cypher met her gaze as he spoke, hoping she would see he was serious and why he didn’t want her lifting things, without him having to say it. They’d already decided not to tell anyone about the pregnancy, not yet.

Partly because they both wanted time to get used to the idea, but also because she was afraid of telling everyone, then possibly miscarrying, and then having to tell everyone that. She didn’t want to have to go through that mourning every time they told someone new. They’d decided to hold off until they’d seen her doctor, and they passed the first trimester.

Lauren looked at the sofa they’d just put in place and wrinkled her nose and tilted her head.

“I’m not sure that’s where I want it. Can we put it against that wall?” She pointed.

“Sure.” He pushed the couch from the middle of the room and into place. “How’s that?”