42. Phoenix
Phoenix
I ’m protective of all my friends. Although I know of Miguel, we haven’t met yet, and I’m not so sure I would have chosen to do it at this party. I really need to focus on Walker, Alexis, and Colton today.
But when I look up, Miguel is shaking hands with Knox as Dylan and Jake protectively flank his sides, instantly telling me they like him.
So, the more the merrier, I suppose. As long as everyone gives Walker and Alexis privacy as they talk with Colt, and I fall asleep with Walker in my arms tonight, I really don’t care what else happens.
I kiss Cassie’s cheek, allowing myself to be excited about the surprise.
“Cass! What are you doing here? You told me you couldn’t make it,” I remind her.
“Because otherwise it wouldn’t have been a surprise,” she says, rolling her eyes. I have to admit, she looks happy…and that makes me happy. “Come, I want to introduce you to Miguel,” she gushes with hearts in her eyes .
There’s no pissing match, no puffed out chests, no threats of you better take care of our girl .
Miguel is as nice as they come and as smitten with Cassie as she is with him.
As he should be . They are a gorgeous couple.
Miguel looks older than Cassie, but that’s a rude question to lead with, so I wait for the conversation to turn there naturally.
He and I shake hands, but I’m already distracted when I see Walker heading for Alexis’s car.
Sensing my need to be with him, Miguel graciously says, “Why don’t we continue our conversation after you greet your other guests. Thank you for having me, it’s nice to finally meet you.”
Welcome to the family, I think to myself, impressed and appreciative of his polite demeanor and awareness.
I slap Jake on the back in hello and bump my fist to Dylan’s. Before I have to say anything though, Dylan nods his head in Walker’s direction.
I want to be sensitive about Walker and Alexis’s need to handle this on their terms, as a team, as Colton’s biological parents, but I also want Walker to know I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.
Coming up behind him, I say hello to Alexis as I plant my hands on Walker’s shoulders and massage lightly.
Colton’s still in his booster seat in the back.
“Just let me know what you guys need. You’re obviously welcome anywhere in the house or the barn if you need additional privacy.
” Another thought occurs to me as I talk.
“And if needed, I can keep my hands to myself for the afternoon if you think that would be too much for Colton to digest?” I direct the question at Alexis, but it’s Walker who answers.
“Thank you, but no, Phoe. The whole point of today is no more secrets. Treat me how you always do.”
I arch a brow. “Like you’re the love of my life?”
“Precisely.” He smiles back .
“Maybe we should eat first and let Colt get used to everyone here before pulling him aside and telling him the news?” Alexis suggests before opening Colton’s car door.
As soon as he’s out of the car, he starts peppering me with questions about the horses.
I hold up a hand for a high-five and tell him to give Walker some love too.
Once he sees Walker, I cease to exist.
“Mom said that you’re gonna let me ride with you and steer the reins! Is that true?” he asks excitedly.
I watch Walker flash a look of surprise at Alexis who winks at him.
Fuck, I love her. Intuitive enough to know Walker is struggling and needs help connecting, she brilliantly put the idea in Colt’s head as if it were Walker’s plan.
“Uh, yeah!” Walker says, playing along. “We’ll go down to the barn after we eat and get saddled up. Do you remember what order the tack goes on?” Walker asks, finding his stride as they walk off toward the rest of the group.
I hug Alexis, hello. “Thank you,” I tell her as I lean in.
“For what?” she asks, genuinely confused. “You’re the one who invited us. Oh!” She reaches back in the car and pulls out a casserole dish. The scent of the bacon in the baked beans makes my mouth water. “I brought these as a contribution.”
“Thank you.” I take the dish from her. “And my earlier thank you was for being so good to him.” I jut my chin in Walker and Colton’s direction, knowing she knows I mean Walker.
“He’s always been special,” she says quietly and with just a hint of sadness. It’s the first time I’ve stopped to think maybe she still has feelings for him…which would make this extremely awkward, but she came anyway for their son.
“Do you…do you still…” I can’t even bring myself to ask the question, but thankfully, she knows where I’m going with it.
“I’ll always love Walker. He was one of the only people who ever gave me the time of day when we were growing up.
He made me believe I could be better than my parents.
That I could make it out of our sleepy town.
I owe him a lot. But a part of me always knew that he was with me because I was safe for him.
He knew I wouldn’t run my mouth about our business or try to climb in his pants every four seconds. ”
Her love and concern for Walker is obvious, and I can’t begrudge her that.
“He loves you too, you know. And he’s so glad you had the strength to go through with the pregnancy.”
“I know.” She pats my arm. “I’m just glad he found you that night. Otherwise, we all would have lost him.”
At her words and the harsh reminder of what almost was, my eyes snap to my boyfriend. His head is thrown back in laughter as he hands a bottle of water to Colton and challenges him to a game of cornhole. His smile reaches his eyes and the cowboy hat on his head has my balls drawing up.
“Alexis, I just want you to know, he’s it for me.
I plan to spend every day for the rest of my life loving him, which means you and Colton will be a part of my life as well, and if there’s anything you need, we’re here for you.
And not just us, but this entire unruly band of misfits will love you and Colt like their own as well. ”
“Thank you, Phoenix. I really appreciate that. Shall we join the others?”
I hold my arm out and she slips her tiny hand around my biceps as I lead her to the group while I carry the dish of beans.
Cassie takes a seat next to me while we eat. One of the things I love about this group is the way we all mix and mingle. Knox is next to Hudson who’s next to Dylan who’s across from me, Cassie, and Miguel while Jake, eats with Walker, Shannon, Alexis, and Colton .
Suddenly, I spot Kevin down by the barn and wave at him. “Hey, Kevin! Come grab a bite to eat and meet the gang!”
He smiles brightly at the invitation and I feel bad for not thinking of it before.
He approaches the tables and I stand, telling everyone Kevin has moved into the house in the back corner of the property and is helping us out.
Although I don’t expect him to remember all the names, I point around the tables and tell him who everyone is.
“I don’t want to put anyone out,” he says politely when I tell him to grab some food and pull up a chair.
“Nonsense, besides, you did all the work setting this up,” I tell him.
“Yeah, while Phoenix was busy paying the bills ,” Knox snorts.
“Technically, Walker was writing the checks…my ass was just cashing them,” I reply automatically with a wicked grin.
“Phoenix! Young ears!” Walker yells.
“Oh, shit. My bad.”
It isn’t until Walker slaps a palm to his forehead that I realize my mistake was cussing, not referencing our sexual tryst.
Colton is cackling in his chair, hot dog halfway to this mouth. I flash a quick wince at Alexis. “Sorry.”
“Won’t be the most shocking thing he hears today, I’m sure,” she says, sending me a wink before looking at Kevin. “There’s an open seat next to me if you’d like it,” she offers.
Once he’s settled, we all finish the meal with easy-going conversation. Colton has done a great job at being patient, but now that his belly is full, he’s over the boring adult-talk and is vibrating with excitement to get to the horses.
“Can we go to the barn now? Pllleeeaaassse? ” He has both of his hands on Walker’s forearm as he shakes it back and forth. I wince because it’s his injured arm, but he seems okay. Besides, a bronc is going to give that wrist a helluva lot more force to contend with.
Knowing the time has come for he and Alexis to share the truth, Walker looks a little green.
“Excuse me a second,” I tell my table mates. “Hey, DeVille, can I talk to you over here really quick?”
He gets up slowly like his limbs are heavy and his stomach is churning. He kind of looks like he has a hangover. Any sudden movement and he might keel over right onto the ground. As soon as he’s within reaching distance, I pull him into me, wrapping an arm around his waist to keep him upright.
“Hey, you’re going to make it through this. You love him and he knows it. He can feel it. Kids are intuitive like that.”
With trembling hands, Walker grips my shirt in his fists at my sides. “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”
“Listen to me. You and Alexis have both done the best you can with a tricky situation. Colton was made from two of the strongest people I’ve ever met.
He’ll forgive you. If not today, then over the next few years when we’re there for him, supporting him, encouraging him.
” Walker’s eyes grow glassy with unshed tears, so I switch gears and crack a joke.
“And if not, then he’ll definitely forgive you when we buy him a horse. ”
Walker chokes out a laugh as his tears breach the dam.
My boyfriend has big feelings, and I love that about him.
I plant my hands on his cheeks and wipe his tears with my thumbs, bringing my forehead to his. “Hey, you’re stronger than you think, and you’re going to be okay.”