AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emberleigh extends a fist to bump, and I respond with the same but hug her quickly, before moving on to Braxton. There’s a beat there, an unknown. But he bear-hugs me, which is saying something since he’s taller and broader than I am. “You look great, man. So proud of you.”
No one is wearing kid gloves. Their hugs and backslaps aren’t measured. No one is giving me a wide berth or standing flank on my weak side. The innate dance of two months ago is all but dead.
At that moment, Eli walks in with balloons tied to a box of something and a cake.
Livy’s hand slides into my large paw, and I squeeze her there. “How’s Kyle?”
She smiles at her shoes. “He’s good. Lots to show you. Later, of course.” She pauses and leans into me. “Are you going back tonight?”
I bob my head once.
“Because it’s worth it?” She exhales deeply. “Or because you’d rather not be at home?”
I turn and tug her with me out the door. As soon as we make it out the door, I press her into the wall, one hand at her neck and fall on her mouth. I growl as I kiss her, and she moans into my mouth, trying to get closer to me. I tip her chin as I loom over her.
“Pix, my home is where you are. Beach house, lake house, ranch house, teepee.Youare home.”
I drop a peck on her lips. “I’m going back because when I gethome, I want to be as strong as possible. I need to know that I’ve done right by myself and by my family. That includes you. Nothing in me wants to leave you. It was hell the first time. This time… Well, I don’t even want to think about it. Today is day twenty-six. I committed to at least twenty-eight. I don’t break my commitments, baby. And it’s a couple of days. I can do it. You can do it. We’ve survived worse forty-eight-hour stretches, right?”
Tears stream down her cheeks, and I slide my thumbs to wipe them. It doesn’t work. “This is going to be futile if you keep crying. I’m not catching them, just smearing them.”
She smacks my arm. “You fool. I’m crying because of what you said, not because of two days, or a week or whatever.”
“Pix, I’m going to marry you. Make you mine in every way. Erase all that worry from your mind that with you isn’t exactly where I want to be. I’m making sure I have the tools to keep my word.”
She lifts on her tiptoes and pulls my mouth to hers. “Get after it, Ranger.”
I slap her tight ass as we walk back into the room.
Exton walks toward me, carrying his son. He’s the proudest I’ve ever seen him. He reminds me of a lion strutting. He lifts the baby to me like an offering, asking me if I want him. I tap my pocket… an old habit. I find my gum and agree. His eagle eyes don’t miss it, and his face sobers.
“Gum. Want some?”
“Nah.” He looks at his son. “Kimpton, this is your uncle Layton. Listen to only half of what he tells you because he’s likely to get you in trouble. Uncle Layton, meet Kimpton Alonzo Ranger.”
My eyes whip from my nephew to my brother. “Alonzo?” I mouth.
He smiles and tips his chin, placing his hour-old son in my hands.
“Don’t spike him,” Willa says from her place on the bed.
My big hands cradle this new life. “Hi, little dude. I’m your uncle Layton. Don’t listen to your daddy. I know all kinds of things that are worth getting in trouble for. And I can tell you how to get out of it too.”
“Bullshit,” Braxton coughs into his hand.
“That uncle is boring. He’s aparent.” I emphasize the word. “I’m fun. Stick with me, kid.”
“I have horses.”
“Pay no attention to him. I’m your favorite. Deal?”
I adjust him so he’s in the crook of an elbow and find his hand wrapped in his blanket burrito. I knock his knuckles with mine.
FORTY-EIGHT
COMPLETE SENTENCES, CAVEMAN
LAYTON
