Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
West Scott
W as this my life now?
“Daddy, can I have this, pretty please?” Ellie flashed me her big doe eyes and a large box with some robot cat, and I just…
“You’re getting a real cat soon,” I pointed out. “We’re here to buy presents for Ryan and Kian, princess.”
Even she knew not to push it. She barely pouted, and that spoke volumes.
I glanced up the aisle to where Trip was showing Alfie something, and I knew that, yeah, this was my life now. Every now and then, we’d come to a toy store to buy gifts for a mafia boss’s children. Finnegan had how many kids? Four or five? Five, right?
Then there was Liam Murray, who lived in Chicago with a woman he was not dating, yet they had two kids together? Or maybe they didn’t actually live in the same house. I was still learning. Either way, I supposed I should prepare myself to fly out to visit them when Alfie wanted to go.
Hell, I’d do it with a smile on my face. The whole change we were going through was mind-blowing and overwhelming, but in a way that made me feel more alive than I ever had before. Even back when Alfie and I had lived in LA, a time I’d always associated as the best part of my existence so far. And now, it was getting a run for its money.
My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I’d done the past couple of days.
It was ridiculous.
While keeping an eye on Ellie, who evidently thought we’d find something for Ryan and Kian among the dolls, I trailed over to a corner filled with robot toys. Maybe it was where she’d found the cat. There were dinosaurs too. Talking parrots, hissing snakes…huh. I grabbed a box with a dog that could walk, bark, and wag its tail.
Kian had recently turned two. Would he enjoy something like that?
Ryan was easier. He was turning five, and Alfie had found a drone for younger children. Something the boy could fly around in their backyard.
I thought back on when Ellie had been a toddler, and it gave me an idea. I abandoned the displays of robots and snatched up my princess on the way to the aisle with toys for toddlers.
Ellie giggled as I threw her over my shoulder.
“Where are we going?” she laughed.
“We’re going to find Kian a busy board,” I said. “Do you remember those?”
“Um, nooo?”
So, it had only scarred Alfie and me, then. Well, it was Finn and Emilia’s turn—if they didn’t already have one or two.
“You loved yours,” I said. “It had a bunch of buttons with lights, and some made sounds too.” I hauled her back to my front and positioned her on my hip, and she actually went along with being carried. That didn’t happen often anymore.
She grinned and smushed my cheeks together, so I stuck out my tongue to make her giggle.
“You’re funny now, Daddy.”
Ouch . She had to add the “now”?
Not that I didn’t know what she meant. My behavioral change had happened overnight. Going to bed with Alfie by my side, and waking up next to him, sharing a home with him, made all the difference.
“I’m happy.” I kissed her nose.
She smiled, then cocked her head. “Weren’t you happy before?”
I hummed. “You and your brother always make me happy. But having Daddy with us again makes me over-the-moon happy. Does that make sense? Kind of like, I suspect, you getting your cat will make you even happier than you are now.”
She beamed and nodded. “I can’t wait! I want a girl cat so she can have lots of babies.”
I coughed around a laugh and shook my head. “We agreed on one pet, not a kitten factory, you little brat.”
I made a mental note to make sure whatever cat we adopted was neutered or spayed.
“This is amazing.” Alfie inspected the toy for Kian as I pulled out of the parking lot. “Switches, levers, a clock, buttons… Ellie, do you remember you had one of these?”
“Noooo, Daddy already asked,” she huffed.
“Well, excuse me so fucking much,” Alfie muttered.
I smirked to myself and started driving out. Next stop, Villanova.
Meanwhile, Alfie stuffed the presents into gift bags and attached bows—well, he struggled with one that got stuck on his fingers instead.
“Motherfu—dge.”
“You usually say motherfucker,” Ellie said frankly.
I snorted under my breath and turned onto the main road.
Alfie peered back between our seats. “That’s no fuckin’ excuse for you to say dumb shit like me. We clear?”
“Okay, shit!” Ellie yelled.
“Noelle,” I warned in the rearview.
She found my stare in the mirror and scowled. “Be mad at Daddy also for cursing. You always say Noelle …” She darkened her voice, and it was too fucking cute.
But fair enough.
I turned to Alfie. “ Alfredo …”
“Oh, gross .” He made a face. “Don’t ever call me that, you sexy nutjob.”
I laughed. So did Ellie.
Now I understood why Colby had opted to take the bus. He’d looked half horrified at the prospect of entering a toy store with us, but the car ride might be worse.
However, something told me that Colby was more interested in meeting up with the kids his age. An invitation had been extended to him through Kellan; the teenagers in the family were avoiding the birthday party by eating at a burger place. And according to Alfie, Colby had “lost his vocabulary” the first time he’d met Finn and Emilia’s daughter, Autumn.
“I like Dad’s chicken alfredo very much,” Trip offered. “Can we have that for dinner on Monday after school?”
I chuckled. “Definitely, son. You looking forward to second grade?”
“Yes.” He smiled happily and looked out the window.
“And now we’re not going to Daddy Alfredo’s—we’re staying at the same house,” Ellie said. “Daddy can cook all the time!”
Alfie stared back at her. “You absolute shit-stirrer.”
I just sighed contentedly, happier than I’d been in ages.
I’d obviously looked up Finn and Emilia’s address on Google Street View first, but the grand estate still left a mark as we drove through the gates.
Never again did I want to hear Alfie complain about the finer things in life. He made good money. He wore watches most couldn’t afford on a year’s salary, his car was worth two hundred grand, and Villanova was his new hangout for barbecues and birthday parties.
The day we found a new house we both loved, it was undoubtedly going to cost a fortune. A backyard with a pool was bad enough, but to add a Center City location? Or close by?
I wasn’t sure backyards actually existed downtown unless we wanted a rowhome with an inflatable kiddie pool.
“Kellan and Shan are here,” Alfie mentioned. He nodded at an Audi R8. You didn’t see those every day. “You can park in front of it.”
“Got it.” I made sure not to knock down the potted magnolia next to the hedge. “And Liam wasn’t going to be here today?”
Alfie shook his head. “No, he couldn’t make it. He’s at some car show. But Luna and the boys are here.”
Uh-huh. A car show. Right.
The golf round with Shan had helped a lot. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be. After killing the engine, we made our way toward the entrance, and I kept thinking I was going to a social function with a bunch of mobsters, and…I wasn’t as bothered by that as I should be. Shan’s straightforwardness and honesty—at least I assumed so—had desensitized me enough. As had getting back together with Alfie after he’d already joined this criminal empire.
My eyes were open, and I was still going in.
“Yay, there’s music!” Ellie cheered. “Do you hear it, Alfredo?”
“What the fuck!” Alfie threw his arms out. “Do I have a target on my back today or what?”
I exhaled a laugh and caught Trip snickering behind his hand.
Ellie beamed proudly, holding the bouquet of flowers I’d bought for the hostess. Emilia O’Shea, mobster wife. Or, as Ellie called her, Auntie Emilia.
Alfie huffed and rang the doorbell, and I folded up the sleeves of my button-down. Despite his reassuring me it was casual, I felt like I’d just rolled out of bed. He’d picked out the khaki shorts for me, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn them. I’d been taught a grown man was only allowed to wear shorts on a beach—or at a water park. In public, that was. I wore swim trunks around the pool all the time.
Okay, perhaps I was nervous after all.
I took a deep breath as someone turned the lock inside the house, and then the big door opened.
I’d expected Emilia, but it was Finn. With a screaming toddler in his arms. Would that be one of the birthday boys?
“Oi! Come on in. I just gotta run upstairs and change this one’s diaper,” Finn said. “Kian decided to kick off the party with a wicked shit.”
Yes, we could smell it.
“Hi, Uncle Finn!” Ellie ran in like she owned the place. “I have flowers for Auntie Emilia!”
“Hey, sweetheart,” Finn chuckled. “Everyone’s out back.”
“Okay!” She was already gone.
“Oi, mate.” Alfie walked in next and slapped his hand to Finn’s, before he ducked in to give Kian’s cheek a quick smooch. “What’chu cryin’ about, trooper? Huh? It’s your party!”
Kian sobbed and babbled something incoherently, and Alfie played along, saying he agreed with the boy 100%.
I couldn’t help but smile. What he lacked in finesse, he made up for with his energy.
Finn shifted his attention to me and extended a hand. “Good to see you again, West. Especially now when youse’re back together. Bonus points for kicking my old man’s ass in golf.”
I mustered a smirk and shook his hand firmly. “Given what he set in motion, I won’t gloat.”
He chuckled and stepped aside so we could enter. “Don’t give him too much credit. From what I hear, you didn’t need that much of a nudge.”
Oh, I didn’t know about that. I may have been on a path where I would’ve surrendered eventually regardless, but Shan had spared Alfie and me plenty of heartache. We could be stubborn as hell.
Kian demanded his daddy’s attention again, and Finn excused himself to head upstairs. In the meantime, Alfie and Trip led the way through a nice foyer and past the staircase. Emilia and Finn had family photos everywhere, and I liked that. I also liked how they’d decorated their home. These grand estates were usually so devoid of comfort that I could never relax. I’d grown up in a house much like this one, but without warm colors and trinket dishes. Or what Alfie called crap bowls.
We passed a wide hutch with more photos, and I spotted macaroni art and clay bowls painted by children.
That was how it was supposed to be.
I let out a breath, and Alfie slipped his hand into mine right before we made a turn into a large kitchen.
Three caterers were in the middle of preparing food on the kitchen island, with trays packed with hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Both for grown-ups and children. Or so I assumed when I spotted a serving tray with smaller glasses, umbrellas, fruit garnishes, and colorful?—
“Look, Dad!” Trip pointed at the fizzy mocktails, clearly impressed. “I like pineapple, as you know.”
I combed my fingers through his hair. “We know. It looks like they’re for children.”
“And maybe me. I like a colorful drink too,” Alfie said.
He sure did.
We followed the party cacophony out to the patio, where all the guests had gathered. I estimated approximately forty or fifty people had made it, and I was sure it had more to do with the father of the children than the boys themselves. Though, there were plenty of children running around. Among balloons, streamers, and—hell, there was a man making balloon animals for the kids.
Within seconds, Emilia had greeted us with the biggest smile and two hugs, as if we were the guests of honor, and then she introduced me to a handful of men I wasn’t sure I should associate with. I met Kellan’s little sister too, Luna Ford. She kissed Alfie’s cheek and mentioned something about his Instagram, and it was quickly followed by an invitation to visit Chicago.
“CJ’s been looking forward to seeing Trip all week,” she finished with a grin.
Trip perked up. “Where is he?”
Luna pointed toward the two gift tables. “Over there, sweetie. Probably wishing it was his birthday.”
I smiled. Certainly an impressive collection of gifts for the mafia boss’s sons.
“Come on, son. Let’s go over and add our gifts to the piles,” Alfie suggested.
Trip was all for it, and the two headed over there.
I shifted my smile to Emilia and Luna instead, fairly sure I could manage without my mobster barrier, and it seemed I had nothing to worry about. Emilia spoke up immediately.
“I was so happy when Shan told me you and Alfie were getting back together.”
Okay, but that was a little baffling. I hadn’t actually confirmed anything to Shan, so unless Alfie had let the news run wild, I didn’t know how they’d found out, and that included Finn.
“How did he even know?” I had to ask.
She laughed softly and shook her head. “I assumed you’d told him, but if that’s not the case, I’ll chalk it up to Shan’s way of knowing things. He’s the family mediator.”
“I’m his latest project,” Luna said wryly. A server walked by at the same time, and Luna went for it. “Champagne, anyone?”
Before I could even answer, I had a glass in my hand, and then someone squeezed my shoulder lightly.
It was Shan.
“How nice, you made it,” he said. “For the record, you had surrender written all over you at the golf course—and then I received my confirmation when Alfie let Finn know you were coming today.”
I supposed that made sense.
Shan glanced at Emilia and Luna. “I hope you don’t mind if I whisk him away, girls.”
“I mean, I mind a little bit,” Luna replied. “I’m starved for interactions with adults after being stuck in Chicago all summer.”
“And you know my thoughts on that matter,” Shan told her.
Luna widened her eyes at him. “Why are you still here? Whisk the man away already.”
I smirked, and Shan did just that. I nodded at the ladies, and then I followed Shan toward the side of the house.
“Perhaps I should check in with my daughter first,” I said. “I don’t trust her around water.”
“I already put your husband on the task,” he responded. “In addition, we have one nanny and two babysitters on duty, and it’s one girl’s full-time job to keep an eye on the pool.”
Well, then.
When we rounded the corner of the house, I saw where he was taking me, and I could not be more on board. Fuck me, I wanted a pool house like that. Guest house? Whatever. It was small, with two big glass doors wide open to reveal all the comfort I could need. Decorated like an English library with Chesterfield furniture, nice rugs, and books, it was a haven away from the loud children.
“Your son doesn’t strike me as one for old England,” I noted.
Shan stepped inside and smiled over his shoulder. “No, not really, but he and Emilia are a godsend. They prepared this for me a few years ago for whenever I wanted a quiet moment.”
Oh. That was…incredibly kind. A few years ago… That must’ve been around the time he’d been lost in his grief.
“These days, it’s the best part of any party,” he said. He stopped at a drink cart and picked a nice bottle of whiskey. “My grandchildren know where to find me, Kellan stops by to fuss over me, and I don’t have to mingle with people I don’t like.”
I looked around at all the books—not to mention the big flat-screen—and I finished my champagne in two gulps.
“I want a tree house like yours when I grow up,” I said.
He laughed and returned with two drinks, and he offered me one. “My family spoils me, that’s for sure.” He nodded at one of the couches—or the coffee table, rather. “I have something for you.”
I wouldn’t mind some of those snacks. It reminded me of the snack board he’d ordered at the golf club, with jerky and whatnot. This one had cheese and crackers too.
“Don’t bite my head off,” he warned, digging an envelope from behind a pillow.
I lifted my brows and took a small sip of the whiskey, and I was surprised by how smooth it was despite its smoky, oak flavor. I might have to order a bottle.
At the first flash of Green Grove’s logo in the corner of the envelope, I let out a laugh and shook my head at the bastard.
“Grandpa!” A young boy ran in as I opened the envelope, and it had to be little Ryan. He looked so much like Finn that there was no question. Messy copper hair, birthday hat askew, and ketchup all over his short-sleeved button-down.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Shan greeted. “I take it food’s been served for the children.”
“Yeah, I had a hundred hot dogs,” he huffed. “Can I sit here? Everybody wants a piece of me.”
“Of course,” Shan chuckled.
I coughed around a laugh, causing the boy to glance over at me.
“Hey.” He jerked his chin at me. “Are you Uncle Alfie’s husband? Grandpa has a husband also. Uncle Kellan.”
I smiled, highly entertained by his personality. He was sort of how I envisioned Alfie as a young boy.
“I am,” I replied. “My name is West. You must be the eldest birthday boy.”
“Yeah—Ryan.” He scratched his nose. “Mommy said I’mma get my own party next year cuz now I’m this big.” He flashed five fingers.
I grinned faintly. “Five is impressive. That makes you a big boy.”
He tried to stand a little taller and nodded firmly, then walked over to one of the cushy chairs and threw himself into it. Poor boy looked exhausted by all the attention.
Shan went to sit down on the couch, and while he asked the boy if he was having fun and such, I pulled out a letter from Green Grove, welcoming me as a new member.
I shook my head again.
He’d actually pulled strings to get me in faster.
It felt good, though. Incredibly good. Not only because of how much I enjoyed that club but because I would never have to set foot at my old country club again. I’d cancel my membership first thing on Monday.
“Pop!” someone hollered. “Is Ryan in there with you?”
“Daddy, I’m here!” Ryan yelled.
Finn soon poked his head in and grinned. “You hidin’ out, son?”
Ryan shrugged and placed his hands on the armrests, which he had to reach for. “I’m too popular.”
Finn laughed and walked farther in. “My poor boy. I guess Kian can take the heat for a while now. They’re getting ready for baby karaoke.”
Ryan snorted. “I ain’t doin’ that.”
Christ, he was such a little gangster.
“Me either,” Finn admitted. He walked over to the coffee table and stuck a cracker into one of the softer cheeses. “It’s some bullshit that the grown-ups don’t get food until five. I’m fucking starving.”
“Didn’t you eat the hors d’oeuvres?” Shan wondered. “The crab cakes were fantastic.”
Finn snapped his fingers, crammed the cracker into his mouth, and headed for the entrance again. “I’ll be right back. I’mma steal one of those trays. Then I wanna hear all about this little bromance of yours.” He gestured to Shan and me before he ducked out.
“Because I was so bitter!” I chuckled. “That same night, I went online and ordered the best ice cream machine I could find. A donut maker for Ellie too. But Trip hasn’t mentioned it since that barbecue, so they’re still in their packaging—I hid them under the stairs for another day.”
Shan shook his head in amusement. “And you wondered how I knew you’d get back together. Jesus Christ. Alfie was just as miserable—and it showed.”
“Amen.” Finn grinned and took a swig of his drink.
I finished my own drink before setting the glass on the table. A part of me knew it was time to go track down Alfie, but I was just so comfortable here, and I was enjoying talking to Finn and Shan.
I might have to get one of these chairs too.
Finn checked his watch. “Ten more minutes. It’s only a matter of time before the wife tracks me down.”
“So, hiding at birthday parties runs in the family,” I noted.
We’d lost Ryan some ten minutes ago; he’d run out to get ice cream, but three generations of O’Sheas had still sought solitude in here today.
Finn huffed, sounding much like his son. “Look, I proposed balloons and catering—and I hinted we could invite the inner circle. Before I know it, Emilia’s sent out fifty evites to anyone in the syndicate with children.”
Shan laughed under his breath. “Basically, everyone who shows up at church.”
Oh hell. Was that something I should make time for now? Alfie had started attending Mass, I knew that much. Trip and Ellie had gone with him too. And I remembered one time, they’d met up with Liam afterward. Ellie really liked her new “Uncle Liam.” He was apparently funny.
“I see the wheels turning, West.” Finn had his eyes on me, and he smirked faintly.
I smiled and cleared my throat. I had to be careful around this bunch, especially Finn. I’d caught him observing me more than once in the past hour. He was extremely nice, funny, and full of charisma. But I was under no illusions. Alfie and me getting back together wasn’t the end of it. Finn, for some reason, wanted us solid because it made things more stable, and he could relax when there was no bad blood between a Son and his spouse. His care didn’t come from an altriustic place, so to speak. Even though Alfie had told me he wanted everyone married and producing children. And hopefully attending church every Sunday.
Finnegan O’Shea was the type of man who could welcome you into his family with open arms, all while maintaining a finger on the trigger in case you stepped out of line.
It also went without saying that he wouldn’t be forthcoming about the Sons when I was around.
I was, and always would be, an outsider in that regard.
“Well, I was thinking Sunday mornings are usually the perfect tee time,” I said as half a joke.
I wasn’t particularly religious, though I attended church with Alfie on holidays. Or I had, back when we’d been married. And I’d actually enjoyed it, partly because I adored my mother-in-law.
“Oh, I’ll drink to that,” Shan said.
Finn shot him a quick scowl before he glanced back at me. “I don’t know. The golf course ain’t goin’ anywhere. Youse can play after Mass.”
Shan muttered into his whiskey. “Three hundred grand on boarding school for Finn and Patrick, and they still grew up saying ain’t, youse, and innit.”
I laughed.
Finn chuckled through his nose and refilled his drink. “The best advice in life sure as shit didn’t come from Aberdeen Grange, old man.” He tipped his glass at Shan. “Hell, several in my Top Ten are from you and Gramps. I think I was nine when he taught me that a good lawyer knows the law and a great one knows the judge.”
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Shan snorted. “And that’s when your mother contacted Aberdeen.”
I shook my head in amusement, before I heard someone approaching behind me.
“You freaking sneak, Finnegan!” Welcome to the house of solitude, Emilia. “Why am I out there suffering when you’re in here being all chill?”
“Because you went wild with the invitations, princess,” Finn replied, not missing a beat. “To be fair, you could sit here too. There’s room right here.” He patted his lap.
Smooth.
She scoffed and positioned herself in front of the TV so she could raid the cheese platter. “I’m so hungry. Three servers walked right by me because the old lady I was forced to listen to waved them off.” She groaned as she stuffed some cheese and crackers into her mouth. A few grapes too.
“You’re so hot,” Finn said.
She flipped him off. “At least I didn’t pick a white dress like Luna. Who the hell picks a white dress for a children’s party?”
“Luna,” Finn deadpanned.
She blew out a breath and smoothed down her own dress, which was blue and covered in colorful flowers. Possibly some ketchup and—was that glitter?
Oh, it was always glitter.
“So, what’s happening here?” she asked, diving for jerky this time.
“West just agreed to accompany Alfie to Mass tomorrow,” Finn replied.
“I don’t remember that happening,” I chuckled.
Emilia huffed another breath and threw the jerky into her mouth. “Don’t let him push you around, West. Now that you’re in a family filled with lowlifes, you gotta stand your ground.”
“Wow,” Finn mouthed. “It’s been a long time since you brought up the L-word, princess.”
“Awww…” She went over to him and plopped down on his lap. “You know I love you with or without the lowlifery.”
Shan found the situation funny; Finn thawed out and kissed her silly, but to me, it reflected my own reality. No matter the word I chose to describe it, I’d made the decision to accept Alfie’s affiliations.
“May I ask a personal question, Emilia?” I wondered.
She immediately gave me her attention and repositioned herself on Finn’s lap. “Of course.”
“How did you come to terms with all this? How did you finally choose?”
She let out a breath and smiled a little. “Do we really have a choice when we decide between true love and despair?”
So she really knew the dilemma.
“Are you having doubts?” Shan asked me curiously.
I shook my head. “No, the decision’s been made—and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I’m only worried conflict will arise in the future when the honeymoon bliss has faded a bit.”
I hoped that made sense. I wasn’t being jaded or cynical. If anything, I wanted to prevent future fights on the matter as much as possible. The love Alfie and I had shared, and still shared, had always been full of passion and fire. But it also meant we could fight it out quite heatedly, and I didn’t want the topic of his work to cause additional problems. We both had to be vigilant about communication so no one became bitter or got hurt.
“I think the way I came to terms with everything is a bit of a cliché,” Emilia admitted. She leaned back and draped an arm around Finn’s shoulders. “I did what all women do when they find themselves with a fucked-up guy with sexy eyes and ass dimples they can’t resist. I told myself I could fix him.”
I let out a chuckle, appreciating the moment of levity.
It was very similar to what Shan had told me too. How I could make more of an impact from within the syndicate, so to speak. By Alfie’s side, at least. Than if we went separate ways.
“But you know what?” Emilia smiled at me. “Part of the fix is realizing there’s something wrong with you too.”
For chrissakes, that was exactly what Shan had said too.
One had to be sufficiently fucked in the head.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Finn said. “She’s perfect.”
I smiled.
That was what it all came down to, wasn’t it? Alfie was perfect for me, when he was truly himself. And if I was completely honest, I was more drawn to him than ever before. He’d unlocked something new that just drove me fucking crazy.
“Speak of the devil,” Emilia sang. She had her gaze fixed on something behind me, at the doors, and I looked over my shoulder to see two visibly exhausted mobsters.
Alfie and Kellan.
My mouth twitched.
Both had stains on their clothes and were fairly sweaty.
Kellan gnashed his teeth, looking a little shell-shocked. “I didn’t fucking choose this,” he whispered. “Why are kids always so goddamn sticky ?”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed—and I wasn’t the only one.
“Aw, come here, my darling.” Shan chuckled and extended a hand. “I’ll protect you from the sticky creatures.”
“I chose this, but I still deserve sympathy.” Alfie headed toward me and lifted his brows. “Seriously, papi? You abandon me the moment we arrive so you can get’chur bromance on with Shan?”
“He lured me in with whiskey and a Green Grove membership,” I admitted. I touched his arm as he reached me. “How are the children?”
“ Completely unaware they even have parents.” He collapsed on the armrest, then slid down onto my lap. “Trip is teaching CJ how to color within the lines—it’s going so-so—and Ellie and Ryan are ruling the dance floor.”
There was a dance floor?
“Are they serving food yet?” Emilia asked Kellan. “I’m two minutes away from ordering pizza.”
“They’ve taken over the barbecue area, at least,” Kellan confirmed. “Shouldn’t be too long.”
“I still vote for pizza.” Finn actually pulled out his phone and got busy. “We all know the real party’s in here. The babysitters can do their thing.”
“Many of the guests are here to see you , son,” Shan pointed out.
“Well, tough shit! We’re starving,” Finn bitched. “They can kiss my ass some other time.”
“You tell him, baby.” Emilia was on her hubby’s side. “Ooh, I want those garlic knots.”
Alfie and I exchanged a grin, and he dipped down and kissed me.
“You havin’ a good time?” he murmured.
“I am. But I apologize for bailing on you.”
He shook his head and draped an arm around my shoulders. “It’s all good. When Finn came out and told me you and Shan were bonding, I was just happy.”
That was the trouble with these charming criminals, wasn’t it? They were fun to be around.
“He’s worn a shit-eating grin the whole time,” Kellan informed me. “Even when Reagan flung spaghetti on him.”
“Boy did what?” Finn looked up from his phone.
Alfie laughed. “All in good fun. Ryan declared a food war. You missed out.”
“I’m glad I was there for that,” Emilia chuckled. She turned to Finn. “Don’t worry, we got pictures.”
The only one not amused by sticky children declaring a food war was obviously Kellan.
He eyed me. “And I assume you’re all over that kid shit like your man.”
“No, I had children because I love cleanliness and order,” I drawled.
“Pshhh.” He waved me off as the others laughed.
“My man’s good for more than his dry wit,” Alfie promised. “As I always say, it’s a great idea to have someone around who uses words like abscond, besmirch, and indubididably.”
“Indubitably,” Shan and I echoed and cracked up.
“Right. That. It’s so much easier when you have to forge a form or formal letter if you can throw some college words in there.”
“That’s fuckin’ legit,” Finn said.
Good lord! “I’ll put up with your crimes, boy. I will under no circumstances help you commit them.”
He widened his eyes at me. “You’d actually refuse me?”
I kissed his jaw. “Indubitably.”
“Which crimes, by the way?” Finn asked.
“That’s what I wanna know too.” Kellan nodded. “We run a comedy club. Don’t go besmirching our reputation, West.”
I grinned.
“Look atchu!” Alfie exclaimed. “You know a big word, Ford.”
Kellan flashed his middle finger and a smirk. “Be nice or abscond the fuck outta hea.”
Alfie held out his arms. “Mate, you’re like my mom when she switches to Spanish. I don’t fucking understand.” Then he peered down at me and lowered his voice. “I thought abscond was a lamp or some shite.”
Oh, for— I coughed on a laugh, and unfortunately for him, the others had heard what he’d said. Everyone laughed except Finn, so maybe he didn’t know the meaning of the word either.
“Wait, no, I know that one,” Finn said, snapping his fingers. “Innit sconces?”
“Three hundred grand,” Shan repeated. Oh yes, money well spent on private schooling.
“Fuck, now I want scones,” Emilia sighed.
I wanted…more of this.
I was fucked.