CHAPTER 26
Chase
I left the truck running as I got out to open the front door for Bear and Smith. They were each carrying a twin with Mack moving slowly after them. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Bear frowned. “Where are you going?”
“We all know where I’m going.” I looked back at Joanie’s house and swallowed. “She needs someone.”
Smith scowled. “And you’re that someone?”
“I’m going to be.” I opened the door and waited for them to go through.
Smith held Macey out to me. “You take Mace. I’ll go take care of Joanie.”
“Don’t fucking pass my kid back and forth.” Bear shook his head. “Maybe it’s time we talk about this.”
I looked at the girls. “What’s there to talk about? If the girls ran away, I’m assuming you had the same fight. They want a new mommy and you don’t. You’re not ready for Joanie. I am.”
“What about me? I’m fucking ready.” Smith cut his eyes at Bear. “Sorry.”
“Maybe I’m ready. How the hell would you know?” Bear adjusted his grip on Maggie. “I could be ready.”
I backed away. “No one believes you.”
He looked at Smith and scowled. “You don’t believe me either?”
Smith looked away. “Let’s get the girls to bed.”
I shrugged. “I’m not waiting on you to get ready, Bear. She needs someone now.”
“Goddammit, Chase.”
I backed away. “Take it as motivation to be ready.”
I turned and jogged back to my truck. I was in a rush to get back to Joanie. The softness in her face when I’d put her in bed was replaying in my head over and over again. I wanted that softness like I wanted my next breath. I couldn’t stop the anxiety that tugged at me over not knowing if she’d look at me like that again.
I parked behind her car and let myself in through the front door. I locked the door behind me and kicked off my shoes. By the time I got to her bedroom, I was down to my boxers. She looked back at me when I walked in and I froze when I saw her red-rimmed eyes.
She turned her head away from me right away. “Go away.”
I pulled the blanket back and got in behind her. “No.”
She tried to crawl farther away from me but I wrapped my arm around her and tugged her into my chest. She grunted and went still. “I’m fine. I don’t need you.”
I pressed my thigh between her legs and wedged my other arm under her head. “Did you ever think that maybe I need you?”
Her breath caught. “Shut up.”
I smiled into her hair. “I’m sorry I left. I was always coming back, though.”
She sniffled and held my arm to her chest. “You think you’re so great, being kind to me and everything.”
“One of these days you’re going to admit you like me.”
“No, I’m not.”
“That’s too bad.” I inhaled her sweet scent. “Because I like you.”
She was quiet for a while and I was starting to think she’d fallen asleep when she spoke again. “You want to know something sad?”
I held her tighter. “Sure.”
“No one has ever held me like this before. You’re supposed to be the bad guy but you’re doing things for me that confuse me.” She sighed. “We can redraw the lines tomorrow.”
“Or we don’t redraw the lines and you let me in.” I kissed the back of her neck.
The sound of footsteps coming down the hall almost sent me into fight mode until I heard Smith’s voice. “It’s just me. Relax, asshole.”
“Did you pick the lock?” I sat up and scowled at him. “What are you doing here?”
He walked around to the other side of the bed and started undressing. “You’re not the only one who can take care of Joanie.”
Joanie sighed and pulled on my arm to get me to hug her again. “Neither of you seem to understand how strange it is that you both let yourselves into my house.”
Smith got under the covers and cozied up to Joanie like he’d been doing it his whole life. “We care about you. If that means we have to let ourselves in at times, so be it.”
I begrudgingly agreed. “God knows you’re not letting anyone in willingly.”
“I was just minding my business a little while ago and now I’m sharing my bed with two men.” She didn’t seem to mind all that much as she cuddled deeper into us. “We can talk about you two not doing this tomorrow.”
I kissed her shoulder. “Sure.”
“I was just fine by myself.”
Smith grunted. “Uh huh.”
“I’m serious.” With a grand sigh, Joanie yawned and her head rested fully on my arm. “If either of you thought I was going to put out, you’re out of luck.”
“Go to sleep, sweetheart.” I listened as her breathing slowly grew deeper and grinned when Smith’s light snoring followed. There was something peaceful about knowing they were both comfortable enough to fall asleep so fast.
I lay there for a little while longer, thinking about how things were changing with Joanie. I’d been honest with her when I told her I’d noticed her before. There was always something about her which drew my attention. I was over ten years older than her, though, so I’d never entertained that interest. Then I was married to Sonya. That marriage hadn’t exactly been for love but I’d never strayed from it. I’d allowed myself the thought of Joanie, though, and buying into her business had been a secretive move I never thought would be anything other than something I could think of on the lonely nights of my loveless marriage. I’d never imagined walking into Joanie’s life for real.
As she sighed in my arms and cuddled deeper into my chest, I was glad I’d allowed myself to help her. I was glad she’d been a place I could run to after my life exploded in the most public way possible. Even though she hadn’t been receptive of my presence, I drank in every moment with her. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt alive. Fighting with Joanie was better than anything else I’d done in far too long.
I didn’t plan on giving Joanie up. I didn’t mind I was seemingly sharing her with my best friends. As long as I got to hold her at the end of the day, I didn’t care. She could be ours. I just had to convince Joanie that I was worth the chance.