AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I appreciate that, but if it ends up busy, I don’t know what time that would be. And Ben can’t really sleep if he’s not in his own bed.” Slider gave the littler boy a squeeze on the shoulder, like he was letting him know he understood and it wasn’t a problem. In just that one gesture, Slider offered his son more love and affection than Haven had received from her father her whole life. And it made her want to help.
“So you need someone to spend the night at your place with them?” Haven asked.
“Yeah,” Slider said.
“Well, maybe we could do that, too.” She looked at Cora, not wanting to volunteer her friend for something she didn’t want to do.
“It’s not like we’re doing anything else,” Cora said. Haven smiled, knowing she’d be game for it. “Do you live nearby?”
“’Bout ten minutes from here,” Slider said, some of the concern bleeding from his expression.
Maverick came into the room behind Slider and the boys. “Yo, my main men,” Mav said, doing some kind of funny handshake with Ben, who gave him a big grin. He turned to Sam next and held out his hand. “Don’t hold out on me now.”
Sam did the handshake, too, although it was clear the kid was humoring him. Both boys looked at Maverick like they idolized him, and it made Haven realize what a community all these people were to each other. A community she would’ve loved to have been a part of.
“How you been, Slider?” Maverick asked, moving to the refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of water.
“Same old,” the other man said. His gaze shifted back to Haven. “So, uh, you two would really do this?”
Haven nodded. “If you’re comfortable with it, I’d be happy to. We’d just need to grab some stuff for the night.” Beside her, Cora nodded.
Maverick frowned. “Do what?”
“Watch the boys at my place tonight,” Slider said. “I’m in a jam.”
“Would that be okay?” Haven asked, looking at Maverick. “We won’t go anywhere else.” She knew the Ravens didn’t want her and Cora going out in public, but they would hardly be doing that staying at Slider’s house for a night.
“I don’t see why not,” Maverick said after a moment. “Let me just grab you some phone numbers in case you need any of us.” He leaned toward the counter and snagged a crumb of corn bread off the platter with a wink, and then he left.
Haven walked over to the boys. “I’m Haven. Do you guys like chili? Should I pack us up some dinner to take to your place?” She glanced up at their father, who was watching her with a strange expression on his face.
“I love chili,” Ben said, grinning up at her. “I’m Ben. I’m six.”
“I’m Sam,” the older boy said. “Chili would be great.”
Cora stepped up beside them and introduced herself, too. “Why don’t you pack the food and I’ll throw an overnight bag together for us?”
“Sounds good,” Haven said. “Should I pack some for you, Slider?”
“No,” the man said, an air of impatience hanging around him.
“Okay. I’ll be quick and then we can go.” Haven busied herself by spooning chili from the massive Crock-Pot on the counter into plastic bowls, and then she wrapped up four pieces of her corn bread for them, too. Though Haven had made it, the chili had been Bunny’s idea, because it was apparently Rodeo’s favorite dish. Cora returned just as Haven found a brown paper bag in which to carry the food.
“Ready?” Slider asked.
“Yes, all done,” Haven said, scooping the bag into her arms. “I should just find Maverick for that list of phone numbers.” She didn’t have to look far. Maverick found them in the big front lounge. And then they were heading out to Slider’s pickup truck.
“Climb in the back, guys,” he said to the boys. “Sorry the ride isn’t nicer.”
“It’s no problem,” Haven said, wanting to put him at ease. There was just such an aura of heaviness around the man. She hated to think what might’ve put it there. She and Cora rounded the back of the truck.
“You guys have any games?” Cora asked the boys.
“We have lots of games,” Ben said, grinning at her as he climbed in the truck bed, Sam helping him.
“And do you mind getting beat by a girl?” she asked, smiling at them.
Both boys broke into a stream of taunts and laughter as Cora took the middle seat in the cab and Haven hopped in after her. The boys tapped on the glass, clearly still reacting to Cora’s throw-down, though Haven couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Now we gotta make good on that threat,” Haven said, elbowing Cora.
“I know, right?” Cora said.
“The boys love to play games,” Slider said in a quiet voice as he backed out of the space. “So, thank you.”
