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Each day he’s getting stronger and each day the knot in my stomach gets tighter.
With him almost ready to fight, it means reality is just around the corner. And I’m not sure I’m ready for it.
Being here in our little bubble has been everything I could have ever wished for. The four of us have bonded, our relationships growing every day. But I’m not ready to have them tested.
It doesn’t feel right yet.
We’ve only just found this… this ease between us all and there is every chance it’s about to be ripped away.
“For real?” JD groans when the front door slams and Aubrey shouts, “Honey, I’m home.”
Multiple sets of footsteps thump through the hallway, making my heart jump into my throat.
“I come with a gift,” she announces as she emerges in the kitchen. “And just in time I see,” she says happily, her eyes locking on the food Reid is dishing up.
She looks up at him and smiles, but unlike before, I don’t feel even a stirring of jealousy. Those few hours we spent chatting on the deck the other day helped to banish all of it.
One glance at the size of the pan in Reid’s hand and reality hits.
He was expecting her. Or them, it seems as Jude and then an older man I don’t recognize steps into the room.
“Griff,” JD announces with a wide smile before he walks over and gives him a friendly man-hug that involves a lot of back-thumping.
Mav’s hot breath rushes over my ear before he whispers, “Reid’s uncle.”
“Ah.”
I study the man with new eyes, and suddenly, I wonder how I missed the resemblance. Their eyes, they’re almost identical. Although Griff’s have a few more lines around them.
“He’s from Seattle. Ever heard of Kingston, or the Kings?”
“Err… should I?”
“No, I guess not. He’s part of them.” When my brows pinch in confusion, he continues, “On his mom’s side. We don’t have a brothers-in-rival-gangs situation.”
“Right. Good. That’s… good?”
“Yeah, babe. It’s good.”
“Griff, this is Maverick and his—” Reid clears his throat as he realizes what he was about to say. “And this is Alana.”
“Ah, I’ve heard a lot about both of you,” he rasps, moving closer to shake our hands.
Confusion covers Reid’s face, making it more than obvious that whatever he’s heard hasn’t been from us.
Interesting.
“So, is that Bolognese for dinner, kid?”
“Take a seat,” Reid says, and he quickly follows orders, Aubrey and Jude not far behind.
I watch as everyone pulls out a chair and takes a seat.
“You okay?” Mav whispers in my ear, his attention burning the side of my face.
“Y-yeah,” I stutter, looking around at all the faces before me in disbelief. “I’ve just… I’ve never had this,” I confess.
JD drops into the chair beside me and reaches beneath the table to squeeze my thigh.
