Dangerous (Bad Boys of Voyageur Bay #3)

Chapter 25

25

Peter

I pulled Katy onto my lap to straddle me while I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. All the while hating myself for what I’d done to her, to us. I wished I’d pulled my head out of my ass earlier and admitted my feelings for her. Even if I’d never acted on them, maybe I wouldn’t have been so reckless. But that was the only part I regretted, the recklessness and the carelessness of her feelings from my self-centred actions. The other part, holding myself back from acting on my feelings, that I couldn’t regret. Even now, the fact that she’d pulled away from me, from us, was almost a relief. Without that barrier of denial, it was so hard to keep myself in check. Already there were a few instances where Greg had given me a what-the-fuck look. Thankfully, he’d brushed them off, not demanding to know more since he’d heard the same comments from other students that I’d heard when she was near us.

Those instances, as much as I hated that she was experiencing them, gave me a credible reason for why I was so concerned for her, why I was so close to her. There effects were potentially so devastating that Greg had started to look out for her, checking in on her to make sure she was handling everything okay. He’d even come to her defence when the school councillor had questioned about whether or not she should be calling Katy in to ask about her pregnancy . I hadn’t needed to say a thing because Greg tore a strip off her, telling her to use her brain since I was the biological father of Liam and since Katy had been involved with cheerleading activities right up until the end of school which was after Liam had been born. Once Principal Kostiuk’s heard about the incident, she was ordered to leave Katy alone unless I or Greg to him that we thought she needed some extra help.

Although Greg may have decided he wanted to help her since she continued to provide him with a selection of baked goods whenever she made a large batch. Of anything, that’s what I was truly jealous of because Greg was good looking, nice, and younger than I was. Plus, he didn’t have the crazy history with her that I did. He’d be a great guy for her if there wasn’t the pesky law about her needing to eighteen and no longer a student. But then, if there wasn’t that law, then I wouldn’t have been in this predicament. A philosophy question for the ages. And that was a course I hadn’t enjoyed.

As much as I hated her tears, my body relaxed at the feel of her in my arms. I missed this so much. There was truth in the old adage about you never know what you had until it’s gone. That’s how I felt. As much as I loved Katy, I don’t think I truly understood just how much I appreciated her until she wasn’t there for me whenever I wanted or needed. Just another example of my self-centredness.

Fuck. I’d been so stupid. But I knew that now and I was already working hard on changing. It’s why I wasn’t rushing to fix things with her. I was still fixing it by showing her through my actions that I was still here, that I appreciated everything she did, that I appreciated her. I just wasn’t forcing her to accept more of me then she was ready for.

So, as she silently cried, I held her, rubbing her back and stroking her hair like I’d do for Liam. And yes, I pressed the occasional kiss to the top of her head, too because I couldn’t not do that.

Over time her body stilled and when she didn’t respond to my softly spoken call of her name, I’d known that she’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t the first time that she’d done that, and I prayed that it wouldn’t be the last. Not that I wanted her to have more tears because I didn’t. I just wanted to be the one holding her when she fell asleep in the future.

The front door opened, admitting Jason and Jarrod who were quietly talking. Those were two other problems I needed to deal with because neither one of them was acting completely normal. Something was bothering them, and it worried me that they weren’t talking about it. But now wasn’t the time. Not when Katy slept in my arms, catching up on the sleep she’d been missing.

Their eyes widened when they saw her tucked up against me.

“Is she sleeping?” Jason gently sat on the couch beside me, already knowing the answer without me saying a word. “Good. She’s been looking so tired. I was going to go over tonight since her mom is back on nights.”

“Yeah, Marie was called in early so Katy was waiting for me in the daycare.”

“She didn’t ask you for a ride in class?” Jarrod sat on the other side of me, in the spot Katy had been sitting in.

“She didn’t. She said that Marie had left her a voicemail that she didn’t listen to until after class, but she didn’t go looking for me or check my classroom. But I understand why.”

“She told you what’s been bothering her, didn’t she?” Unable to resist her allure, Jason ran his hands over her leg.

“She did. Ethan asked her to the dance and wants her to be his fake girlfriend for lots of reasons, but she didn’t want to hurt us by making us see her with someone else.”

“Fuck.” Jarrod ran his fingers through his hair before he loosened his tie enough for him to pull it over his head. “Her heart’s so big. I hate that she saw me with other women.”

“Me, too. It really hit home how much hurt and pain I inflicted on her. None of it was intentional, but that didn’t stop it from hurting her.”

Jason pretended to sniff loudly as he wiped a non-existent tear from his cheek. “My boys are growing up.”

“Fuck you. If Katy weren’t sleeping, I’d take you to the ground.”

“Promises, promises, Peter.” The look Jason gave me made me excited for tonight. Something that I didn’t need since I was already trying my hardest not to pop wood while Katy was nestled against me. I guess I didn’t hide my discomfort enough because Jason grinned. “Getting a little hot and hard there?”

I lifted my hand off her back and flipped him off, but he just chuckled before pressing a kiss to her head and standing.

“At least we know the problems and can address them, letting her know that we want her to follow her heart, and experience things so that she can make a true choice without any future regrets. Right?”

Jarrod and I nodded.

“Good. Then I’m going to go get cleaned up. What are we ordering for supper?”

“Katy’s stomach decided on Chinese so who was I to argue?”

“Chinese it is then. I’ll order while Jason cleans up. That way one of us is available if the prince wakes up and needs attention.” Jarrod pulled out his phone to do just that.

Katy began to stir as Jason opened the door, accepting the delivery of Chinese food while Jarrod was in the nursery, changing Liam who’d woken up only moments before.

She pushed up from my chest. I loved her when she was like this, all soft, cuddly, free from any of the constraints placed on her. But once she saw me, realizing I wasn’t a dream, she stiffened as a soft blush tinted her skin. “I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you like that.”

“Relax, sweetheart. You’re fine.” I held her down, not wanting to let go of her just yet. “You needed some sleep and I’m just happy that you felt comfortable and relaxed enough to use me as your pillow.”

“Supper’s ready,” Jason called out, giving her an excuse to scramble off my lap. I wasn’t sure how I felt about his interference, but one look at her face and I knew it had been the right thing to do. She looked a little uncomfortable. Something, that until this summer, had never been directed at me before. It made me sad that even after our conversation, she still worried about my reaction or was worried that I’d hurt her again.

“Did you have a good sleep?” Jason reached out, snagging her to be pulled into a quick hug.

“I-I did.” Her skin flushed pink again, making me feel good. Visual proof that she was still attracted to me. That I could work with and would help on those nights when I questioned if I’d ever get a chance to be with her again.

“Good. You needed it. And you look like some of your problems aren’t problems anymore which makes me happy. I don’t like seeing you weighed down from things that we could help you with.”

She nodded, but didn’t answer because Jarrod walked into the room with an excited Liam, reminding me of the two major milestones he accomplished today.

“Guess what our boy did today?” I snatched him from Jarrod, lifting him high in the air before bringing him down so I could blow a raspberry on his belly. He smiled and chuckled but didn’t give his belly laugh so I did it again. This time, when I blew on his belly, he squealed and then laughed.

“Holy shi-taki mushrooms. Is he laughing?” Jarrod stepped up beside me, taking the opportunity to blow on Liam’s belly when I pulled back to answer, eliciting more laughter from our Little Man.

I glanced up to find Jason holding up his phone, recording it. “How did you know he could do that?”

“Katy,” I said smugly. “She had him laughing like that in the daycare when I arrived. And all she had to do was place kisses all over his face because he was so excited to see her.”

“Just like his dads. We’re always happy to see her as well.”

She rolled her eyes at Jason but couldn’t stop the large smile from forming on her face.

“That’s not all he learned today, but we’ll save that for after supper.” I winked at Katy as I brushed past her on my way to the highchair where I placed Liam.

For the first time in what felt like forever, my family felt whole as we sat there eating supper and talking. I could only hope that this was only the beginning instead of the end. Either way, I knew I’d cherish the memory forever.