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“I know.”
“Anything you need, any time of the day. No questions asked.”
“I know,” I repeated, but he wasn’t listening to me.
“And not just for the baby, but you too.” His gaze met mine, so much shining inside his hazel orbs. “I know we’re not in a place we planned to be, but I’m okay with that. I’m okay with whatever my life will be, as long as you’re in it in some way, shape, or form.”
I wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Did he want to be friends? Only friends? Was this his way of drawing a line between us?
“I…okay.” I should have said more. I should have asked him to clarify, but I was scared I’d put my foot in it. He’d said he’d walked away and stayed away to protect me, but what did that mean now? He’d confessed to falling in love with me all those months ago, but he hadn’t said he still felt the same way.
Maybe it was one-sided? Maybe it was all me? Either way, it didn’t matter at that moment. All that mattered was I knew he’d be there. And right then, that was enough for me.
Chapter Nine
FORD
I could feel all eyes on me, burning a hole through the side of my head. It had been that way for days. The guys on the team only spoke to me when they absolutely had to, and I understood why. I’d kept a secret from them, but it was more than that. It had been a secret about Belle, the girl who they all viewed as family. They thought I’d taken advantage of her. They thought I’d destroyed boundaries. They didn’t understand that you couldn’t choose who you fell in love with. They didn’t understand that the prospect of not touching her nearly broke me.
They were on the outside looking in, but people in glass houses should never throw stones.
I understood they needed time to process everything, but I wouldn’t let it go on forever. There was nothing I could do to change the situation. All I could do was my best to make sure I was there for the people who needed me—Belle and the baby. They were what mattered most now. My entire life had shifted the moment I’d realized the baby was mine, and there was no going back now.
Belle had stayed at my place again last night, and I lay by her side, watching her sleep and waiting to see and feel the baby kick. After the first night last week, I wasn’t sure whether she’d come back, but she had. She’d turned up at my door again, moaning that her bed wasn’t as comfortable as mine. Only that time, I’d messaged Brody right away to tell him she was at my place. Belle was twenty-one, but I had to show Brody respect if I had any chance of being part of their family again.
I’d been pushed out, but I understood why. For over twenty years, I’d been a permanent fixture, and now I was an outsider looking in.
I shuffled some papers on my desk and stared at the words which were all blurring together. There was nothing I hated more than paperwork, and Brody knew that, which was why I’d been given a shit ton to do. He was punishing me, but what he failed to realize is it wouldn’t work. I didn’t give a fuck if I had to sit at this desk for the next twelve months. All it would mean was that I was here and not out on an undercover job, so although I hated it, there was a silver lining.
My cell pinged, and I let out a breath, thankful I had a distraction. It was already three in the afternoon, and although I knew I could leave at any stage, I wanted to stay to show some kind of solidarity. I didn’t know what I was thinking, but it seemed to make sense in my head.
Cade: Come to my place at 5.
I frowned down at the message. I hadn’t spoken to Cade for a couple of days, and although he was pissed I hadn’t told him about Belle and me, he’d taken it better than everyone else. I had a feeling Aria had something to do with that, though.
Ford: I’ll be there.
I pushed my cell into my pocket and let my head drop back. Usually, Lottie would have been with me, but Belle had asked if she could stay with her today, and I couldn’t deny her. At least that way she’d have an added bit of protection, especially as she was at home on her own most of the day.
The time seemed to go by at a snail’s pace, but as soon as it hit 4:30 p.m., I closed my folders and headed out. I passed Jord, who was sitting in front of his computers, and Ky, who was taking a nap in the break room. I’d barely seen Ryan since the day in Brody’s office, and I didn’t really care, if I were honest. He’d made a mistake, one which had cost us all.
By the time I pulled up outside Cade’s house, it was just turning five, and when I switched my engine off, I saw Brody’s car. Fuck. What the hell was he playing at now?
The front door swung open, and Aria’s smiling face appeared. She waved me over, so I pushed out of my car and walked up the driveway. “Hey, Tyson.”
“Hey.” She stepped back to let me in and shut the door behind me. “Cade is holding an intervention.” I raised my brows in response to her, but all she did was chuckle and push some of her dark-red hair behind her ear. “Get ready for this,” she whispered, and I followed her as she moved into the living room.
“Are you serious, Cade?” Lola ground out, standing up from the sofa. She narrowed her eyes at me, and if looks could kill, I’d have been dead.
“Yes, I’m serious, Lola,” Cade replied from where he was standing opposite the sofa with his arms crossed. “This has gone on long enough.”
Aria poked my arm and tilted her head as if she was saying, “Told you so,” and moved into the kitchen.
“Ford,” Cade greeted, nodding at me. “Come and sit.” He pointed to a chair next to the sofa, but I declined and leaned against the wall instead. I was surrounded by Eastons, so there was no way I was letting my guard down.
“You’re out of line, son,” Brody told Cade, but the bite behind his words wasn’t there. He sounded more tired than anything.
Cade ignored him. “We’re all here because, apparently, the grown-ups don’t know how to act their age instead of their shoe size.” I raised a brow at him, surprised by the way he was talking to Lola and his dad. It wasn’t often Cade put his foot down. The last time had been when Aria had been taken in to the hospital, but that was thirteen years ago. “This needs to stop.”
