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“Never.” Rogue smiles at me unapologetically while Grimm just stares at her in that freaky tranced state she puts him into.
“Ain’t you got a body to bury or some shit?” I ask him, waving my hand in front of his face. He shakes his head, still captivated by Rogue.
“No bodies today,” he tells me in a flat tone.
“But it’s still early.” Rogue wiggles her eyebrows at him before grabbing him by the lapels of his cut and dragging his lips back onto hers. His hand clasps under her jaw as he attacks her with his tongue and I leave ‘em to it, getting on with the gearbox change I’ve been putting off.
Once Grimm has torn himself away, Rogue cranks up the radio, singing at the top of her lungs like a cat that's being strangled, while she gives Brax’s truck a full service. It dawns on me among the chaos that today feels different to yesterday and the day before that. I’ve got a sense of hope that I haven't had in a real long time, and with the comfort of that settled deep in my chest, I smile and get back to work.
“You want me to head over to the clubhouse and see what Marilyn’s puttin’ out for lunch?” Rogue asks a few hours later. She’s got a huge grease mark on her cheek, and filthy hands which she’s attempting to clean with an equally filthy rag.
“Sounds good.” I nod back at her, heaving myself up onto the worktop and lighting myself a smoke while she studies me.
“You had sex, didn’t you?” her eyes narrow and dare me to lie.
“That is none of your business.” I feel the smirk pull at my lips.
“Oh, come on, I share all my sexcapades with you.” She frowns at me like I’ve disappointed her.
“Firstly, that ain’t my choice, and secondly, you should be aware that you’re becomin’ more and more like those old ladies you moan about by the day.”
Rogue gasps loudly, her eyes boring into me like red-hot flames.
“I am not.Pleaseforgive me for caring about mydearfriend and wanting to know if he got his dick wet last night.” She rolls her eyes, pretending to be pissed with me as she picks up her phone from beside me to check it. Something must have piqued her interest, I can tell by the way she focuses a little more intently on the screen and when her eyes lift up at me, I know immediately that whatever it is must concern me.
“A date, huh? On the bike.” Her head tilts while she waits for my confirmation.
“How did ya… what the hell?”
“Group chat. I’m a lurker,” she tries to defend herself before slipping the phone into her pocket and folding her arms.
“What? I thought it would be nice to take Addison out for a drink. She’s got a lot on her mind and bein’ stuck here ain’t good for her.”
I wait for Rogue to say something clever, or at least get defensive, but she doesn’t. Instead, she comes closer and places a kiss on my beard.
“It’s about time.” She smiles before heading out across the yard to get us some lunch.
It’s early afternoon when I finish up my job and Rogue insists I knock off. Since she makes it very clear I ain’t to argue with her, I do as I’m told and head back to my cabin.
I can’t help smiling to myself when I walk in on Charlie and Addison making cookies in the kitchen. The place smells and feels like a home for the first time in years, and instead of feeling guilt, I get a sense that it’s exactly what Carly would want.
“Shaniya popped over with some ingredients, she thought it might keep us busy this afternoon,” Addison explains, wiping the back of her hand over her brow and trying not to get flour in her hair. “We went a little overboard.” She looks down at the dozens of already baked cookies and the huge ball of dough that Charlie is focusing hard on rolling out.
“Looks like you're havin’ fun.” I head on over and take one from the plate. “You got enough here to feed the whole club.” I shake Charlie's floppy blonde hair, and he takes his eyes off his task to look up to me and smile. “How about you take some over to Dylan’s? I thought you might like to hang out with him for a few hours?” I put the idea to him.
“Really?” His little face lights up.
“If it’s okay with your mom.” I watch him look up at his mom desperately, then celebrate when she nods by fist-pumping me.
“I’m gonna go pack up some toys. I wanna show him my crane.” Charlie rushes off to his room and the way Addison looks at me makes me panic that I’ve done something wrong.
“Sorry, was I not supposed to do that? I should’ve asked you first, right?”
“It’s fine, honestly. I just feel bad putting on all your friends like this. I’m not used to it. I mean I get help from Nora but…”
“Get used to it. It’s how it works around here.” I take the opportunity of us being alone to take her in my arms, realizing how much I’ve missed being away from her. “I was kinda hopin’ that me and you could go out for a drink together or somethin’.” Why am I suddenly feeling nervous?
“I’d really like that.” She bites her bottom lip to try and tamp down the huge smile her lips want to make, and it’s so fuckin’ cute I can’t help kissing them.
