Page 31 of Texting the Wrong Bikers

Owen pushes past her into the room before either of us can stop him. His little face lights up instantly when he sees me. “Thunderbike man!”

I stare at him for half a second. Then glance at Sadie helplessly. What the fuck am I supposed to say to this tiny, excited human?

Sadie looks horrified. Owen looks thrilled. Meanwhile, I’m sitting half-naked on her bed, trying not to look like the exact kind of man mothers warn their kids about.

“Uh,” I say intelligently.

Owen points at me excitedly. “I know you.”

“Do you?”

“You came last night. My daddy was being nasty, and you told him to let me go. Are you living with us now?”

Jesus Christ.

Sadie makes a choking noise behind him.

I cough violently into my fist while Sadie turns bright fucking red.

“Okay!” she says quickly. “Breakfast!”

Owen immediately loses interest because, apparently, children are basically raccoons with smaller shoes. “Pancakes?”

Sadie tries to keep a straight face. “Maybe. If you’re good, let Kane get ready in peace.”

Owen studies me then, as if only now realizing my state of undress and the fact that I’m in his mom’s bedroom. I hold my breath, expecting the worst. Instead, he tilts his head to the side and asks, “Who drew on you?”

“Huh?” I’m still half asleep and trying to figure out how not to make this situation any weirder.

“Your skin. Someone drew all over you,” he innocently says, pointing to my tattoos.

This time, Sadie laughs, sounding worlds more relaxed and the sound is music to my ears. “Those are tattoos, Owen. You know, like the ones Aunty Dani and I got in college.” She flushes a little at the mention of her lower back tattoo, which she’s ashamed of. I didn’t get a proper look at it. She turned away, saying it was stupid and reckless, when I tried to inspect it last night. I intend to prove to her just how sexy it is, if she’ll let me.

The answer doesn’t seem to fully satisfy Owen. “Why has he got so many? Daddy says they’re for stupid people.”

Sadie looks pained, wincing. A bark of laughter erupts from me, and relief floods her face.

“Well, I guess I can be kinda stupid sometimes. But once you get a tattoo, it’s pretty much there for life, unless you want to spend a lot of time and money to remove it.”

Owen nods thoughtfully, as if contemplating a big adult subject, which to him, I guess, it is.

“Owen, what did I say? If you want pancakes, quit pestering and go downstairs,” Sadie says, a mix of exasperation and amusement in her tone.

“Okay!” He takes off running toward the kitchen.

Silence settles over the room. Sadie groans into both hands.

I know I should apologize. I let her down by falling asleep. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’m just so stupid.” I start laughing before I can stop myself, which only makes her glare harder.

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s a little funny. He’s a funny kid.”

“Oh God. What’s going to happen if this gets back to Ethan,” she grumbles, but her smile says otherwise. That maybe she’s secretly pleased that jumped-up prick will find out she’s moved on.

“Thunderbike man will save the day!” I declare, placing my hands on my hips and puffing out my chest, making her laugh. I pull her into my arms, and she lets me kiss her softly before pulling away to finish getting dressed.

I pull my clothes on while watching her move around the room, grabbing clothes off the floor. She mutters under her breath as she tries to find her sweatshirt. I wonder what it would be like to wake up to her every day. This should feel awkward, but instead it feels dangerously natural.