16. Sparrow
“How’s it going with King?” Skye asks from across the table. I met her at the diner while the kids are running errands with said man. This place is a twenty-four-hour truck stop diner, and even though I’m hesitant to eat here, Skye is craving biscuits and gravy.
“Ugg. He is perfect. Too perfect. He makes me feel bad that I wasn’t very nice to him when I moved here.” I’m not exaggerating, King is what you would call the perfect book boyfriend. Has the whole ‘touch her and die’ vibes, but to me and the kids, he is vulnerable, shows his softer side.
“I think there’s something in the water up here. I thought the same thing about Cam, remember?” I nod my head, because she was a mess thinking that Cam was too good to be true.
“I know. I just worry what he’s getting out of this.”
“PB, stop. I’ve heard the stories. That man would burn the world down for you. Just enjoy the ride. Well, I hope that the ride is open, that is.” My friend says with a smirk on her face.
We burst into laughter as I feel my face heating. The ride is open and award worthy, no complaints there. The server interrupts us as she sets our food down in front of us. My mouth drops open as my friend starts shoveling food into her mouth.
“Not a fucking word, PB,” Skye barks out with her mouth full. While this is a funny scene, it sends a pang to my chest. Skye has been in hell trying to get pregnant and to have a successful pregnancy. I have felt guilty because I got pregnant the first time I had sex, delivered twins, and even though they were early, Loch and Telle were healthy.
“I’m getting my hopes up, because I’ve never made it this far. I’ve never felt like this,” Skye softly says.
Noticing her watery eyes, I don’t go with an emotional response. “I’m excited to spoil my niece or nephew. So, you feed them whatever they want, and let Cam wait on you hand and foot. We both know that that’s his favorite pastime.” That isn’t an exaggeration. It seems like spoiling women is just what the men up here do.
“Thank God for that man,” she says before stuffing another bite of biscuits in her mouth. My phone lights up on the scratched table.
King
How’s breakfast, Bird?
Skye is thoroughly impressed.
King
I can get you something else.
King
I’ll make you something, we are almost home.
King! I’m shockingly impressed, you don’t need to make me anything.
King
Okay, Bird. Text me when you're on your way.
King
I love you.
Setting my phone back down, I stare out the dirty window. King keeps telling me that he loves me, but for whatever reason, even though I do love him, I can’t bring myself to say it. Other than my kids and Skye, I haven’t told anyone that I love them since King. I used to tell King that I loved him every chance I got, and it still got ripped away from me. In a way, I think my brain is trying to protect my heart. It’s telling me that the moment I say I love him, he’ll disappear again.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Looking over at my friend, I paste on a smile Skye knows is fake. “Yes and no. King keeps telling me he loves me, but I haven’t said it back.”
“Of course you haven’t. The last time you told him that, he pulled a disappearing act,” my friend states like that’s the most reasonable thing to ever be said. I think it’s a sign that I desperately need therapy, but as long as Skye thinks it’s normal, I’m okay.
And that is why this woman is my person. She knows what I am thinking without me having to open up any wounds. I wish I could open my mouth, and those three little words would fall out, but I rarely get what I want.
Parking next to King’s truck, I take in my surroundings. There are at least ten vehicles here, and after wracking my brain, I don’t remember King telling me that there was going to be a party. Walking around to the back of the house, fire runs through my veins. There are a handful of barely clothed women running around, with Ace in the middle of the haggle.
“Shit. Hey, Sparrow.” Turning, I find River walking outside. It looks like he is on his way to the studio, so he is safe from my fire.
“Where are my children?” I growl out.
“Umm…inside. King…he didn’t know. Something is going on with Ace, and yeah…”
Storming past River, I stomp inside and find the kids in the kitchen. “Bird, I’m handling it, I swear.” King rushes out.
“My kids will not be living in a frat house. We are just going to go to our house. Loch, Telle, go grab your things, please.”
“Mom!” Loche whines out, surprising me.
“NO!” Telle shouts.
Both of them whine at the same time, Telle shocking me when he screams no . King steps up, slightly bending down so he can look at the kids in their eyes. “Hey, no arguing. If your mom says it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Now go get your stuff, please.”
The kids run off, leaving King and I alone. “I’m sorry, Bird. I don’t know what’s going on with Ace, but I’ll get to the bottom of it. If he thinks this is going to be okay, then I’ll look for somewhere else for us.”
“King, you wanted to live with them, they're your family,” I respond, waving my arm around the kitchen.
“You listen. You and the kids are my family. My number one priority. I don’t want them around this anymore than you do—” He’s cut off when the back door bangs open and Ace stumbles in with two women under his arms.
“There you are, brother. I brought you a gift!” He slightly pushes a half-naked woman towards King. I quickly step in front of King, but pin Ace with my stare. I know he struggles with his mental health, but he has never been downright mean to me before.
I guess some things have changed.
“Ahh, c’mon. My big brother loves my gifts, don’t you, Kingston?” Ace says with laughter.
Hearing the kids, I grab my purse off the counter and turn towards King. His face is bright red, hands in fists at his side. Ace is going to need to watch his back tonight. “Handle it.” Stepping around slut number one, I stop in front of Ace.
“I never knew you to be so hateful, Ace Bluff. You aren’t hurting me, but your niece and nephew, who want to stay with their dad and uncles…you are hurting them.”
Looking down at the kids, I say, “Say bye to your dad, you will see him tomorrow.” Once they give King a hug, I usher them to the door. Deciding there’s one more thing I need to do before we leave, I turn back around and walk up to King. He breaks his stare with Ace and looks down at me.
“I’ll text you in a couple of minutes.” Standing on my tip toes, I give him a kiss that I meant to be quick, but he wraps an arm around my middle, pulling me in closer. After a moment, King pulls away.
“I love you. I love our kids. I’ll fix this, Bird.” Looking up at King, I nod my head before turning around and joining the kids at the door.
Once we are back home, the kids wordlessly go to their rooms. They don’t understand why we left, and both think that it’s my fault. Sure, we could have stayed and not ventured from King’s wing, but all it would take is one look out the window and the kids would have seen things they’re not old enough to see.
I don’t want to force King from his home, but I’m seriously debating if it’s the best place for the kids.