Lars stared at it, and I wondered what he was thinking.
“Mor,I’m going to bed.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
Lars paused at the doorway. “Maybe,Mor, Magic’s not what we thought?”
“There was a lot of misunderstanding. Magic, deciding he had to protect me, and my believing he’d realised I was pregnant and didn’t want you. If we’d communicated, who knows what would have happened? But I wouldn’t change anything, because I’d have missed out on Vulcan.”
Lars held my gaze. “Not even for the man you loved?”
I smiled. “Lar, I was with the guy I loved for over a decade, and that time is precious and cherished.”
Lars’s expression softened, and then he headed upstairs. I turned the laptop to face me and dived down the rabbit hole. I needed to understand everything.
???
Magic
I was as nervous as a cat on hot bricks. Stupid fuckin’ saying, but that was how I felt. Jody hadn’t guessed, but this was a date. I’d worn my best jeans, cleaned my boots, and tamed my hair. Obviously, I still wore a Henley and my cut. Unlike MC cuts, mine had patches of the places and concerts I’d been to. It had my lone wolf patch and one that said ‘Affiliated with Riders of Vengeance.’ That meant although I wasn’t part of their club, I could call on them if needed.
I was surprised to find Lars and Oskar sitting outside, waiting for me. They both held my gaze, and I wondered what was going on.
“Magic,” Lars said, getting to his feet.
“Lars, Oskar.” If they believed they were intimidating, think again. There was nothing scary about two teenage boys.
“I watched the videos and read the reports on the war a couple of years ago,” Lars stated, holding my eyes.
“Kid, I don’t talk about it. Not with outsiders.”
“Maybe we could spend time together. Try getting to know one another?” Lars suggested. My heart surged at hearing those words, but my paranoia asked why.
“Because you can cling to my coattails?” Urgh, would Lars understand that phrase?
“No. Because you’re possibly not the asshole I believed. A man who stands up for innocents and fights a war that’s not his, can’t be all bad,” Lars said.
“Or I just enjoy causing explosions?”
A grin crossed Lars’s face. “Saw you caused quite a few. Hear they’re still repairing the road.”
Amused, I smirked. “If you’re going to do it right, go big or go home.”
“Agreed. But I’d like to spend time getting to know your crazy.”
“Fine by me.”
“But you won’t replace my dad!” Lars insisted.
I poked my tongue into my cheek. “Look, kid. Vulcan was your dad, ain’t disputing that. The man stepped up in my absence, and I gotta respect that. Lack of communication cost me a life with your mom and you guys. Ain’t no getting that back, but we can move forward. I don’t have to be your dad, but I can be a friend, an uncle, or, in time, your Pops. Dad is Vulcan. Pops could be me.”
Lars screwed his face up, and I wondered if he was going to refuse the suggestion. “Okay. But you gotta do things with everyone. Laila and the others, too. They might not be your kids, but they’re family.”
A laugh erupted. “Haven’t I already proved that with Jesper and Delta Force? I see you as a unit, not separate. Give me a chance and don’t make assumptions or snap judgements. I’ve my own crazy and don’t need anyone else’s.”
“We’ve Jesper and Viggo. Viggo’s quiet but enjoys creating weapons. While Jesper’s in your face, Viggo’s the one to watch,” Oskar said.
“Okay. I’ll take note. Viggo would probably love my arms room.”
