Page 75 of Road to Redemption

Her voice was softer now as she spoke. “Yes, darlin’. I’m going to pick you up now, okay? It’s time for a rest and a shower.”

Completely in her world, I nodded. Leo was going to take care of me, to hold me through the night and nurse me back to health. And I would hold on to her for as long as my body would let me.

40

KIERA

Despite Dom’s general broodiness, it only took us a few days to settle back into some sense of normalcy around the house. I enjoyed my days lounging around and sketching while Spencer and Leo waited on my every whim and desire. Lady spent hours roaming the yard, thrilled to have her rule of the roost without the company of Viv’s noisy chickens.

When she wasn’t at work, Dom did whatever it was that beasts got up to during the day. And frankly, as long as she wasn’t picking fights with me, I wasn’t going to ask what exactly that was.

But as quickly as calm had settled over the household, life dropped chaos at our doorstep in the form of Caleb’s 18th birthday.

It was a good thing, of course. Aside from the relief that came with knowing that he was free from Bill’s legal guardianship, it was also just a huge milestone. Spencer hadn’t been able to stop talking about it for weeks, grinning from ear to ear with pride over her nephew.

And of course, because she was Spencer, there was no going small for this day. She’d planned every little detail of his birthday celebration to perfection. But there was one very small detail that still needed to be worked out: whether or not I was coming with.

Her plans were lowkey enough that I couldn’t imagine Dom saying no if I took precautions. After all, where else was safer for me to be than with two of my hulky protectors?

But Spence was protective of the kids — I’d seen as much when I’d accompanied her to the hospital just a few months ago. I would totally understand if she just wasn’t ready for that yet, or if the kids weren’t.

It was Caleb’s special day, after all. I didn’t need to overshadow it by being introduced as his aunt’s captive-with-benefits.

Still, it would be nice to know what the plan was at some point. And as the hours ticked down to the party, I started to doubt Spencer would ever make a decision.

I sunk back into the couch with a huff, clutching my sketchbook to my chest as Leo ducked her head into the living room. “You sure you don’t need anything before I go get ready?”

“No,” I shook my head. “Just let Spencer know I’m here. And to say bye before you guys head out.”

“You’ve got it, Princess.” Leo smirked, tapping the doorframe before heading off to the stairs.

But before I could pick up a pencil and get back to work, Spencer appeared in the doorway with a grin on her face. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Depends, you still haven’t told me what I’m doing.” Despite my best attempt to hold the scowl for just a second, the sight of Spencer’s giddy smile instantly melted away my chilly attitude.

“Well you’ll want to wear something comfortable, but maybe a bit less casual than your pajamas…”

My heart pounded in my chest as I realized what she was implying. I sat up, setting my sketch pad at my side. “Are you sure?”

Of course I wanted to go — I wanted to do anything that felt important to Spencer. But I knew that this situation was complicated. Spencer wasn’t their mom, and she never tried to be, but I knew well enough from Maura’s revolving door of creepy boyfriends how weird it could be when a parent-figure brought around their new boo.

“I’m sure. And Caleb is too,” Spencer nodded, plopping onto the couch beside me. “He’s eighteen now, so I asked him what he thought about it, and he really wants to meet you. Abi does too, but she’s been begging me to bring home a girl forever, so that wasn’t a surprise. Plus, it’s not like you’re going anywhere.”

I raised my brow at that last sentence. “Is that right?”

“Well, yeah. Unless you had other plans. But to be honest, that would kind of suck since I’m like, madly in love with you.”

My cheeks prickled with heat and my ears rang as I tried to make sense of the words. “You what?”

I wasn’t sure how she said it with such casual confidence. Like it was just a simple fact of existence, like the sky being blue or the Earth being round.

And where most people would have been shaken by my lack of response, she just smiled as she gave my hand a squeeze. “I love you, Bunny. A lot, actually.”

It made me just as dizzy the second time. Looking into her sparkling brown eyes, I knew that I felt exactly the same. Despite my nerves, I let the words my heart had harbored for months bubble past my lips. “I love you too, Spencer.”

“Took you long enough,” she smirked, cupping my cheek and pulling my lips to hers. The kiss was soft and tender. There was always a heat with her, but it only added to the soft melting feeling she created deep in my chest.

When she finally pulled away, smirking at my shock, I couldn’t help but smack her shoulder. “What’s so funny, Moore?”