We’re both chuckling at the dipped kiss when a tugging on my cut grabs at my attention. My eyes shift down, and Sadie’s smiling brightly.
I pull Jovie back up with a smirk. “Yeah, baby girl?”
She jumps up on her toes, the brightest smile on her face. “Is Jovie gonna be my new Mommy?”
I widen my eyes, and my chest squeezes with anxiety. Jovie flushes bright red as I spin Sadie and push her back inside the room. “Go have some more tea. Jovie will be in with you soon.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Sadie potters off completely oblivious to the grenade she just launched into my relationship.
I turn to Jovie and exhale. “I’m sorry… out of the mouths of babes.”
Jovie moves in, straightening out my cut with a bright smile like she isn’t affected by any of it. “If it’s any consolation… I’d be honored to step up to the plate for the kids.” She leans in, quickly kissing me, then spins, rushing inside the room, and shuts the door behind her. “Who’s ready for tea?” Echoes out from the other side of the door while I stand here shell-shocked by what she’s just admitted.
In the short time I’ve known Jovie, she’s been so supportive and caring. I honestly haven’t felt this fucking good in years. I never thought I would feel happiness again, and with Jovie, I do.
Fuck, I do.
So, what does this mean from here?
I guess I need to figure that out.
Because her family is still the Slavers, and the Baron is gunning for Ethan and me. I can’t even begin to think of playing happy families until all the evil that could harm us is dealt with.
And that is what I need to focus on right now.
Leaving Sadie and Jovie to their tea date, I head downstairs. Entering the main room, Lucas is playing with Blake and Phantom. He’s much more relaxed after last night.
Zero and Cherry are sitting with Wraith and Prinie, and as I walk past them, Zero signals me to sit.
As I get closer, their conversation becomes clearer. “It’s obvious for safety reasons when your kid is born, you guys need to do it here. Have Chills look after you. A home birth if you will,” Zero offers.
I widen my eyes.
What the fuck am I walking in on?
Wraith scoffs, scrunching up his face. “You’re delusional if you think Prinie’s giving birth anywhere but in the hospital, where everything is medically safe.”
Zero and Wraith both turn at the same time to face me. “Kevlar, you’re a father. What’s better? Home or hospital birth?” Zero asks directly.
Shit.
I need to do this right.
I don’t want to come between my pres and VP, but I have to tell them my experiences.
“With Sadie, we did a hospital birth. Everything was tense because she was our first, but I felt okay because I knew help was right there. But with Lucas, we didn’t make it. Em gave birth in my truck on the side of the freeway…” my muscles tense just from the memory, “… and honestly, it was one of the scariest fucking things I’ve ever done on my own. Not having the medical team at my back, knowing if anything went wrong with either of them, they could have helped, was fucking awful. If it were my choice, I would choose Sadie’s birth with help on hand every single time. It’s too risky not to have help available. For mother and child… but it’s just in my opinion.”
Wraith chuckles. “Now, will you listen to me?”
Prinie snorts. “Honestly, isn’t this my decision?”
Zero and Wraith both glare at her, and it makes Cherry smirk. “You should have learned a long time ago, Prinie, these two boofheads are always going to argue over you.”
“Boofheads?” Zero grumbles.
Prinie hums under her breath. “Actually, while we’re arguing, there’s something else I wanted to run by you,” Prinie adds. She side-eyes Wraith, and he nods giving her the encouragement she obviously needs right now.
Zero groans. “Fuck’s sake, what hair-brained scheme have you come up with now?”
Prinie places her hands on the table, a serious expression crosses her features. “Koda.”
Cherry and Zero both tense.
“He’s growing up. He’s getting used to the idea of prospecting in.”
Prinie grimaces. “What if he didn’t?”
My eyes widen, and Zero scoffs out a laugh, obviously believing she’s joking, but I don’t think she is.
“He’s a Walker. He’s in line for the presidency, Prinie.”
Wraith sits forward. “C’mon, brother, you know he’s not cut out for this life.”
“Jesus Christ, you’re fucking serious!”
I need to leave.
Prinie slides her cell across the table. “I found a college willing to accept him. A lot of places wouldn’t because of where he comes from, but this one place has an amazing curriculum, outstanding references… hell, it’s produced some of America’s most influential people, Zero. Koda could be someone. Make something of himself—”
“This is bullshit! You want to send him away after you tried so hard to keep him with you?”
“I tried to keep him away from the club, Zero. He’s not built for club life. You have to see that?”
“Where the fuck is this place?”
“Albany, New York.”
I really need to leave.
Zero puffs out his chest. “New-fucking-York? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Wraith glares at Zero. “Tone it down, brother.”
“This is fucking crazy. I can’t believe…”
I stand while they continue their family debate and walk quickly away from them and over to the bar.
Damn, I feel for poor Koda in this. I bet he doesn’t even know they’re conspiring behind his back.
Leaning against the bar, Fox slides on the stool next to me. He’s all smiles as he watches Lucas with Blake. Fox slaps me on the shoulder. “You know, Em would be fucking proud of the way you’re raising her babies.” Emma’s eyes shine back at me as I stare at him.
“You wonder what life would be like now if she didn’t get MND?”
Fox hums. “Every damn day.”
A comfortable silence falls over us while we continue to observe Lucas. He turns, rushing over, panting for breath from his game of chasey. “Dad w… w… where’s Jovie?”
“She’s upstairs with your sister.”
“Me go pway?”
“Yeah, buddy, you can go play with them. Just get Blake to take you up the stairs, okay?”
He nods dramatically, then runs over to Blake, and they head for the stairs.
“She makes the kids happy,” Fox states.
Elation swarms through me because that’s all I ever want for my kids. “Yeah… she does.”
Fox grips my shoulder. “Does she make you happy?”
I can’t look at him.
I know I should be able to talk to him about this shit.
He’s my fucking father-in-law, but somehow, it’s like if I admit to him that I have this insane connection with Jovie, it’s belittling the one I had with his beautiful daughter, and it doesn’t sit right with me.
“Kevlar… don’t hold back for fear of hurting my feelings, son. All me and Bub want for you and our grandbabies is to live long, fruitful lives. Em’s gone, we can’t get her back. All we can do is cherish her memory and celebrate the wins life throws us. Because, we, as a family, have had enough losses. So, tell me, Liam… does. She. Make. You. Happy?”