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“I got a paper cut!” she cries, as Linc scoops her up and rushes off to the bathroom.
I sit there awkwardly, not wanting to get in the way. The doorbell goes off, and I yelp at the loud noise before jumping up to grab our lunch.
“I got it!” I grab the food, setting out the Cali rolls on a small plate, and placing it at the little table. When Luna walks out of the hall, she holds her small hand up, showing me her unicorn themed band-aid.
“All better!” she declares, and I help her get settled, so she can eat.
Linc and I grab our food, and settle in as well, and after a few moments of silence, Linc turns to me.
“Why Ass-ton?” he asks, and I think for a moment, surprised by his question.
“I don’t know, why Linda?”
Linc grunts, turning back to his sushi, and I wait, hoping he answers.
“Because of my high school girlfriend…we dated for a few years before I left. When I joined the special forces, she promised to wait for me. I came home, after being deployed for eighteen months, to literally find her fucking the guy she told me not to worry about. After that it was nothing but hookups and meaningless sex. Not long after I moved to Miami, I met Linda. At first, things were great. She was just fucking faking, though. Kept trying to change me. Hated my tats. Hated everything about me, it seemed like. If I tried to leave though, she’d turn into this fucking mess, and start saying crazy shit…one night I just couldn’t take it. I left,” he explains, and I sit there silently, letting him get his words out.
When he finishes, he looks at me expectantly. Not really wanting to get into it too deep, I sigh.
“He was pushy, persistent, and one night I was weak. I gave in. I was never able to get rid of him, until you guys fell back into my life,” I say simply.
Luna turns into an absolute terror after that, and I watch, slightly horrified as Linc scoops her up, and cradles her to him, soothing her, I realize. I mentally tell myself not to babysit any sprogs anytime soon. I am not cut out for that. Clearly, Linc’s special forces training is coming in handy today.
“She needs a nap. I’m gonna lay her down, just hang out here,” he tells me, and I sigh in relief. If he had asked for help, we all would have been in trouble.
I turn on something less mind-numbing than the wheels on the bus song that has played for the millionth time, and pick up my soda. I normally prefer tea, but this is really hitting the spot today.
Twenty minutes later, Linc comes back out, and checks his watch with a grimace. “My sister will be here soon. I usually hang out for an hour or so before getting out of her hair. I know Levi is coming over tonight, so I’m sure she’s going to want some time to get ready.” I nod as he says all of this and think for a moment.
“How do you know Levi is coming over?” I ask, thinking it’s odd that he knows that. I guess his sister could have mentioned it earlier, though.
Linc shrugs, and turns away from me, and I narrow my eyes.
“Wait. Did you do that on purpose? So we couldn’t stay here once she got home?” I ask, my teasing clear in my tone.
“No,” he says, but he turns a little red and refuses to meet my gaze. I cock my hip, and glare.
“Liar,” I accuse, and he shakes his head.
“Well, technically, I’m crossing my fingers, so it doesn’t count.”
I throw my head back and laugh, and point my finger at him. “You’ve spent too much time with a kid today!”
He cracks a smile that lights up his face.
“I love your smile…” I say, and his expression shifts. From happy, to hungry in a blink.
“Oh yeah? I love your laugh, and the way you light up when you talk about your ink. I love the way my mark looks on your skin. I love when you scream my name as you come all over—”
His words are cut off when the front door opens, and a very happy Adele steps inside. My breathing is heavy, and the heated look in Linc's eyes holds me in place, even as the gorgeous lady tosses her keys on the coffee table, and walks up to me.
“Sorry, I didn’t get to say a proper hello before. I’d offer to whisk you away for dinner tonight, but like twenty minutes before Linc let me know you were coming with him today, I got a call from a friend saying he wanted to have dinner. I hope you don’t think I was blowing you off. I was just running late, as always. And if I had known—” Adele sighs, suddenly looking dejected, like she needs to defend herself, and I recognize it for what it is. The poor girl feels like she needs to justify every choice she makes, even to a stranger.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re allowed to tell people fuck off, for no other reason than you just want to. Also, you don't have to explain yourself to me. Other than your child, you don’t owe anyone shit. You and I will have plenty of time to gossip about Linc this weekend, okay?” I reassure her, and she gives me a beaming smile that’s basically just the female version of Linc’s.
“Linc’s treat,” she says again, teasing her brother, who just shrugs. He really will do anything for these two girls in his life, and that warms me.
We say our goodbyes and when we climb into the jeep, Linc turns to me. “Let me get you home.”
I pout. He sees me, and shakes his head. “I have a tattoo later today, Beauty. Trust me, I don’t want to leave you.”
I bite my lip. “So if you could, you’d spend the night with me?” I tease, and Linc shakes his head.
“The day is still young. I’ll be done around seven if you want to come over for dinner tonight? I’m sure the guys will be happy to see you,” he suggests, and I nearly leap out of my seat to accept the offer.
I swear, if I don’t get some tonight, I’m going to… Shit, I don’t know what I’ll do, but I need some attention.
