My man?
Bear reached his arms under my legs, and I squealed as he abruptly stood, carrying me bridal style. “I’ll get her settled and be back.”
“Oh, wait!” I raised up in his arms. “I have something else I’d like to discuss.”
Bear’s head tilted as he looked down at me. “Pixie?”
“I would like to discuss Michael.”
“Michael?” He blinked. Maybe he needed a nap since he couldn’t seem to make an independent thought.
“Yes, as his legal guardian, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page with his living situation and school.”
“Legal guardian?” Bear’s eyebrows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about? He doesn’t have a legal guardian. Not yet anyway.”
“Actually, he does. And it’s me. We worked it out while I was waiting to go inside your meeting. He called a guy named Lucifer and gave him my information to put on his paperwork.”
Bear’s mouth dropped open, and I had to stifle a laugh. I turned my head toward Mav, who I assumed was the decision maker on this.
“My spare bedroom has a twin bed, which likely won’t be big enough for a growing teenage boy. Do you guys have a full around here I can swap with?”
Bear shook his head. “You can’t be his legal guardian. Mav, help me out here.”
Mav threw his hands in the air. “I met the kid when he came in. I don’t know why you brought him, but there’s no way in hellhe’s staying with me. If Lexie’s volunteering, I won’t stand in her way.”
I smiled. “I’m certified as a foster parent and regularly help with respite care. That makes me legally qualified to be Michael’s guardian, probably more so than any of you. But more importantly, he wants to live with me.”
Bear shook his head. “You met the kid for five minutes and you sure as hell aren’t old enough to be his mother.”
I shrugged. “No, but I am old enough to be his guardian. Besides, we bonded. We’re both the abandoned and unwanted children of a club whore and MC president. We get each other.”
Baller choked on his water and the rest of the guys looked away.
Bear shook his head. “Fuck. You want to be his guardian, fine. But you two will stay with me. No way I’m letting you move in with a sixteen-year-old hormonal asshole.”
“Hey! He’s not an asshole.” Oh wait, shouldn’t I be arguing with the part about us staying with him?
“We’re done here,” he announced as he carried me out of church.
“I can walk,” I told him, even though I secretly enjoyed being carried. After being nestled in his lap for so long, I wasn’t quite ready to be on my own.
“I know,” was all he said, but he didn’t put me down. I looked over his shoulder as he marched us from the room. The screen was still up, and I snickered at my father’s red face, silently screaming on the screen. Looks like he got put on mute after all.
23
BEAR
Idropped Lexie back in my room, a repeat of a week ago. She reached her arms around me. “Do you have to go back?”
I sighed. So fucking sweet. “I do, baby girl. But I won’t be long.”
“Yeah, okay. Let me know if you decide to disappear for a week.”
“I promise I’ll never do that again. But answer me one thing. I get why you stretched the truth on being a legit caterer, and to be honest, I’m proud of you. That took some balls and you clearly know what the fuck you’re doing in the kitchen. But why didn’t you tell me who your dad was?”
Her eyes lowered and she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I didn’t think it mattered. I haven’t spoken to him since I was five. I know his name because it’s on my birth certificate. My grandparents had told me he was a president of a motorcycle club and my mom was one of his club girls.” She sighed. “They weren’t fond of either of them, so I didn’t bring them up. He’sbeen in jail for ages, so I didn’t think anyone would remember him, let alone that he’d still be president. Whatever. If he’d been at the cookout, I probably would have walked right past him. The only picture I have of him is a mug shot.”
Damn. I’d never once thought about going against my prez, but in this moment, my loyalty was wavering. How could he leave his little girl alone like that?
