Chapter 21
Remi pulled into the parking lot and immediately saw more than a few cars he recognized.
Lunchtime at the work site very often meant Vince's, and obviously, today was no exception.
He parked, strode up to the door and pulled it open.
The moment he stepped inside, he realized that more people were there than he anticipated.
Barron, Havoc, Lucien, Kiernan, and Shaun were seated at the bar, elbows deep in burgers, onion rings, and a varying array of shakes and root beers.
But at a table on the far left of the room were Kaid and Delilah.
Since Kaid and Delilah were watching him expectantly, he went to their table first.
“Uncle Kaid, Aunt Delilah,” Remi said.
“Hello, Remi. It is very good to see you up and around,” Delilah said.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s good to be up and around,” Remi replied.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to offer you my deepest apologies for my behavior.
I was offensive, selfish, and completely out of line.
It was not my intent to be disrespectful to you or anyone else.
I can’t take it away, but I can certainly make every effort to make amends by way of my actions, and I’m doing so. ”
“Thank you for that, Remi. I appreciate you taking responsibility for your actions. It can be a hard thing for a lot of adults to figure out how to do,” Kaid said.
“Yes, sir. There is no excuse, but I am truly trying to make apologies, and prove that I’m not that broken, pitiful excuse for a male.”
Kaid surprised him when he stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. “The best of us are often the product of having been broken at one time or another. Me among them. It takes a strong male to recognize that he needs to take control of himself, and make strides to improve himself.”
“Thank you for saying that,” Remi said.
“Don’t let him just leave it at that,” Vince said, coming up behind him carrying a tray.
He placed Kaid’s and Delilah’s meals in front of them, handed Delilah a fresh ketchup bottle, then looked at Remi directly.
“He shot a hole in my damn ceiling in the middle of his being broken. I mean, a hole, Remi! It was raining in my damn bar!”
Remi chuckled.
“Go away, Vince,” Kaid said, patting Remi’s shoulder before sitting down to enjoy his food.
“Before you do, let me apologize to you for making a spectacle of myself in your place of business. I’m so embarrassed, and even sorrier for my behavior.”
“We’ve all done some things we regret, son. Just learn from it. That’s the best we can do.”
Remi nodded. “I want to thank you, too. You called Brandt to come get me and take me home safely. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’d have driven myself and I’m sure it would not have been good.
Someone could have been killed because I was having a pity party.
Thank you for taking care of me and calling my Alpha. ”
Vince hugged him. “You’re welcome. You’re a good kid. Always have been, you just got a little lost.”
“So, I’m guessing we don’t rate high enough for an apology?” Barron shouted across the room.
Remi grinned. “I’m getting there!” he called out, without looking toward Barron and his own generation.
He looked at Kaid again. “I asked my parents if I could stay with them for a little while as I get on my feet again, but I’m thinking maybe I should have asked you first since it’s your property. ”
“No. Not at all. I have no say in what happens in any of the families who belong to my clan other than making sure they don’t do anything that will cause grief of any kind to the rest of the clan.
Their business with their children is up to them.
Now, having said that, if you’d asked, and they’d turned you down, I’d have offered my spare room to you, because in my eyes you’ll always be that little dark haired, dark eyed male that faced off against your daddy and my Delilah to protect your momma when you weren’t sure of the rest of us.
You, Remi, saved your momma in a way that none of the rest of us could.
And for the record if you didn’t get your head out of your ass soon, I was coming to help you remove it from the shadows so your momma wouldn’t be upset by you anymore. ”
Remi nodded. “Thank you, Uncle Kaid. For all of it.”
Kaid gave him a single nod. “I’m glad to hear you’ll be at the shelter, too. Now, go see your people so I can eat my onion rings before they get cold.”
Delilah reached out and pulled the platter close to herself.
“Hey! Half of those are mine,” Kaid said.
“Maybe. Maybe not,” she answered.
“You see that? That’s why I thought Emmalyn was theirs instead of Bam and Everly’s,” Lucien said. “She’s got a mean streak, a lot like Delilah.”
“Do not speak my name, person who shall not be named!” Delilah called across the room. “I’m still angry with you for not including me in your little excursion to New Orleans.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” Lucien exclaimed. “Brandt called that one!”
“And I shall make sure he’s familiar with my opinion on that as well.”
“Seriously, Aunt Delilah. We had to go, suddenly, all of a sudden,” Havoc explained.
“That’s redundant, Havoc. Say it once and be done. I’m still put out with not being included,” Delilah said.
“Uncle Vince! Please take Aunt Delilah some more onion rings! On me,” Havoc shouted.
“Done,” Vince called from the kitchen.
“My mate does not have a mean streak,” Barron grumbled.
“Yes, she does,” every other male at the bar said.
Remi grinned as he walked over, extending his hand to shake Barron’s.
“No, that’s bullshit,” Barron said, getting up and hugging Remi. “Do not shake my hand when we’re practically brothers. It’s good to have you back. We were all worried about you.”
“I appreciate that, but I was fucking up left and right. I’m sorry for anything I caused you, and everybody.”
“It’s okay. Come on, I’m next, come give us some sugar,” Havoc said, turned around on his barstool, waving Remi to him.
Remi moved toward him, planning to give him a man hug, but Havoc grabbed him and yanked him in, wrapping his arms and legs around Remi, clamping down on him and giving him a full body hug.
They all laughed.
When Havoc finally released him, Remi looked up and down the row of them and shook his head. “I don’t even know where to begin. I’m just so sorry. I’ll fix it though. I give you my word, if it’s still worth anything.”
Havoc sobered and shook his own head in disbelief.
“You took me in when I committed the worst offense against family and mates that can be committed. Not everybody wanted to even look at me, and I get that. I earned it. But you never once wavered in your support and friendship for me. Do not even speak another word. You’re family.
You’re friend, and if I’d had to, I’d have gone and dug your ass up outta where you’d got to and forced you to clean your act up.
But everybody has a right to wallow from time to time. It’s necessary in some instances.”
“Thank you, Havoc. But please don’t hug me with your whole body again.”
“Didn’t you like it just a little?” he teased.
Remi laughed, but then focused on Kiernan.
“I am so sorry that I exposed your mate and babies to somebody that would cause them distress of any kind. If it’s alright with you, I’m going to come by later this evening once you get home and apologize to her personally.
I hope you can both find it in your heart to overlook my behavior. ”
“It’s forgiven,” Kiernan said. “But thank you for apologizing. I appreciate it.”
“Thank you, Kiernan.” Remi turned his attention to Shaun who sat quietly beside Kiernan eating his burger. “Shaun, I owe you so much. You are so much a better male than me.”
Shaun turned around and looked stunned when he met Remi’s gaze. “You don’t owe me a thing, Remi.”
“I do. You knew that Bailey was your mate from the first time you saw her. But because she was with me, you kept it to yourself. You continued to treat me with respect, and you told no one what she was to you.”
“She was happy. When you love someone more than yourself, you want them to be happy…”
“Even if it’s not you that makes them happy,” Remi finished.
Shaun smiled and nodded.
“She told me that a little while ago. You were willing to keep your unhappiness to yourself so that she and I could be happy. You told me once you admired me… no, man. It’s me that admires you. I hope that I can one day be half the male you are.”
Shaun just smiled, unsure of how to reply to such a huge compliment.
“And let me tell you just one other thing… when I went to apologize to her earlier, when I said your name, her whole face lit up. The joy was just beaming out of her. She never, not even for a second, loved me like that. You have brought out a confidence and a love in her that nobody else ever could. I’m happy for the two of you.
I wish you both every imaginable happiness and a long, loving life together. ”
“Thank you, Remi. I appreciate that,” Shaun said, extending his hand to shake Remi’s.
“You, are a true gentleman, Shaun. I apologize for not giving you the same respect and consideration that you tried to give me.”
“What about me?” Lucien said. “Don’t I get a sorry?”
“I am sorry for my behavior, Lucien,” Remi said.
“What’d you do?” Lucien asked, knowing full well what he’d done though it never personally affected him.
“I was an ass,” Remi said.
“Ain’t we all?” Lucien asked, then handed him one of his burgers. He had three.
Remi looked at the burger in his hand and laughed. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Lucien said. “Sit the fuck down.”
Remi had no sooner sat down and everyone returned their attention to their food, along with juvenile jabs at Remi, then everyone suddenly stopped eating and even chewing, at exactly the same time.
Their heads all snapped up, some of them reaching for drinks to wash down food they were choking on, while they stood up and started digging in pockets for keys while moving toward the door.