"Thanks, Honey. I really appreciate it and in time, I may just take you up on it." She pauses and then adds, "Can I tell you something?"
"Sure, hon."
"I was so jealous of you when I first got back in touch with Caden. I knew I came between you two. I felt bad to an extent but was more jealous than anything else. You know the man that he is today, and all I had was the boy I had known 20 years ago." She looks away briefly and then back at me. I know she is waiting for me to say something, but how do I respond to that? So instead I remain quiet and let her continue. "And, well, now that I have gotten to know you, I really like you. You've become a good friend to me."
I smile and say, "Well, that makes us even. I was jealous of you, too."Sometimes, I still am."I knew that you and Ice had a history and I guessed that you were the reason he never settled down with anyone. He was never going to make me his old lady. I never realized that, however, until you came."
"I'm sorry." There is an awkward silence between us and then she adds, “I really never meant to hurt anyone by coming back into his life."
"I know that, really I do. I was hurt at first, but I know that you are the one that has been meant for him all along. I've never seen him content, truly content, like he is with you. I loved him—hell, I think I still do in a way. But it really makes me happy to see him happy. That's what's important."
"And what about you?"
"Oh, now don't you go worrying about me. I know there's someone out there for me. There has to be, right?" I ask with a laugh.
"I know there is!" She beams. "What will you do now? Will you stay with the club?"
"Ice has assured me that I will always have a place with the club. He has told me over and over again that this club is my home. So, I plan on sticking around. Besides, I really enjoy taking care of these boys and I do consider you a friend." I let the silence between us settle and then say, "You know, he took me in when I had nothing. I will never forget what Ice and this club have done for me."
"What happened to you before you came to the club?" Emma asks.
"That, my dear Emma, is a story for another day. Right now, we have work to do." Emma is definitely growing on me, but I'm not ready to tell her my sad tale.
"Can I ask another question?" she asks.
"Sure, hon."
"Is Honey your real name?" I laugh. Of all the questions she could ask, that was not what I was expecting.
"No, it's Amanda." I don't have the heart to tell her that Ice gave me the nickname, so I lie and say, "The boys gave me the name "Honey" and it kinda stuck." I pause and look at her oddly and say, "Did I really just say that?" And we both start laughing.
Just then, Hawk walks through the front door. "Hey, girls. How are things going here?" Emma looks from Hawk to me and then back at Hawk again.
I look at her incredulously.
"What?" she asks.
"What's going on in the head of yours, Emma?" I give her a look that says,I know you're up to something.
"Not a thing," she replies smugly. "Don't you need to tell Hawk about all the arrangements we've made today?"
I proceed to go over everything with Hawk. He seems pleased with the progress Emma and I made today.
A couple of hours later, Rebel and Ari return and inform us that everything has been dropped at Kandi's and that they picked up some things for us here at the house as well. Rebel and Ari go out to carry them in and when they are gone, Emma asks a lot of questions. She seems especially curious about Rebel and Ari. I think she is playing matchmaker. But I also think she is right. I know that Rebel has had a thing for Ari, but I don't think he's said anything to Ice about it. Frankly, I'm not sure how Ice will take it. He's very protective of his kid sister and rightly so.
"Rebel has been dancing around his feelings for her for as long as I can remember. He's worried that Ice will beat the shit out of him if he messes with his sister. I can't say I really blame him, but at least he could ask him. Don't ya think?"
"He should ask him. What could it hurt?" Emma says.
"For most people, it couldn't. But if Ice is totally against the idea, he could get so pissed off that Rebel would even think about dating his kid sister that he'd beat the shit out of him. And Ice would win. That's why Rebel is scared."
"Would he really hurt him, just for that?" she asks curiously.
"Hell yeah, he would. That's almost as bad as one of the guys going after his old lady," I say as Rebel and Ari come back in carrying a few bags.
As we start to empty the bags that have been placed on the counter, Ari comes up behind us, drops her bags on the counter, and runs upstairs to her room. We then hear the door slam. Rebel goes out the front door and slams that door too. Emma looks over at me and I just roll my eyes, silently telling her to just leave it alone.
Several minutes later, they come back into the kitchen. "You two finally kiss and make up?" I ask in my best motherly tone.
Rebel gives me a look that says,Let it go, Honey.Out loud he replies, "Yeah, we're all good here."
"Yep, all good," Ari adds.
