Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
NONA
The door to Trick’s house opened, and the look of relief on his face at the sight of us had me biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
“Hey, Trick!” Tristan called before barreling inside in search of Shawn.
“Hi, Trick,” Blythe greeted politely.
“Hey, sweetheart. Hannah’s out back. You can just go on through.” She did just that, leaving Trick and me standing across the threshold from each other.
“Thank fuckin’ Christ, you’re here,” he grunted, taking the Tupperware container of chocolate chunk cookies from my hand and putting it on the table just inside the door. He pulled me into him, and I braced my hands on his chest so I could look up into those gray eyes I was coming to love.
“You look like you’ve just been dragged through the nine circles of Hell.”
“Feels that way,” he muttered unhappily.
My nose crinkled as I took a sniff of the air. “What’s that smell?”
“Paint,” Trick answered. “I promised Shawn and Hannah they could paint their rooms this weekend.” He looked over his shoulder toward the backyard. “What I didn’t know was that Blythe invited Heath to join us on our trip to the hardware store.”
I lost the battle against my grin as I asked, “Well, did he at least help out with the painting?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled unhappily in return. “Not that he was much of a help. Had to go over everything he did. What kind of guy doesn’t know how to paint?”
A snort vibrated up my throat as my fingers pressed deeper into his chest. “Something tells me that he could’ve painted better than Michelangelo, and you’d still find something to complain about.”
Trick let out a grunt, refusing to admit I was right. “The boy’s been here damn near all day, and he’s been starin’ moon eyes at my girl the whole time.”
“Aw, that’s sweet!”
His gaze shot back to me. “Yeah? Tell me how sweet you think it is when some sex-crazed punk’s makin’ eyes like that at Blythe.”
I let loose a quiet chuckle. “If that look means he cares about her, it may be hard, but I’ll deal.
” He scoffed, but I kept going to prove my point.
“I saw the way he looked at her at the field. That’s the look of a boy who cares about all the beauty that is Hannah, handsome.
Inside and out. I’ll count myself lucky if Blythe lands a good boy like that. ”
He let me go in order to hook an arm across my shoulders and started guiding me toward the back door. “We’ll revisit this conversation in about six months, how’s that sound?”
I giggled as he guided me through the house.
I’d been inside on multiple occasions when Eden lived here, but it was different seeing it with Trick having taken over.
All the girly touches were gone, and the house was all man now.
It was full of dark, masculine furniture that was handsome, but so different from what I was used to.
It was like stepping into a totally different house.
“Speaking of Blythe,” he said, segueing into a totally different topic, “how’s she been?”
“Good,” I answered, although her reason for the about-face she’d taken in the past twenty-four hours left me with a sick feeling in my stomach.
“You don’t sound too happy about that.”
I pulled us to a stop, turning to look up at him as I lowered my voice. “I’m glad she’s back to normal, but she only got that way after I told her that her dad called me and said he wouldn’t be able to pick them up for his next couple of visits.”
"Tell me he fuckin’ didn’t,” Trick growled in return.
“Oh yeah, he did. Right before he asked me to loan him fifteen thousand dollars.”
His expression turned to stone, and the air around us began to crackle with the anger rolling off of him in waves. “What?”
“I told him no,” I blurted. “I mean, there’s no way in hell I’d lend him that kind of cash, even if I had it.
Which I don’t. But I still can’t believe he asked.
” I cast my eyes over his shoulder as I chewed on my bottom lip.
“I don’t know what he’s gotten himself into, but my gut’s telling me that, whatever it is, it’s bad. ”
Trick worked to get calm himself, stepping closer and pulling me against him. “You want, I can look into him next time I’m at the station.”
My heart swelled and my belly fluttered at that thoughtful offer. “Is that allowed? I mean, isn’t it against the rules?”
He shrugged off my concern. “Don’t worry about that. If this is bothering you and I have the means to do something about it, then that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
My whole body sagged as I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, honey. That means a lot.”
His arms squeezed, and he leaned in to place a kiss on my lips before lifting his head. “Anything you need, beautiful. Now tell me about Blythe.”
“Well, she seemed almost… relieved when I told her she wouldn’t be going back to her dad’s for a while. That’s not normal, right?”
Trick gave that some thought before hedging, “Maybe she just doesn’t like being away from home. After all, she has Hannah across the street now, and you said it yourself that Chris’s apartment is shit. I’d be willing to bet she just doesn’t want to stay there.”
“Maybe,” I muttered as we restarted our trek. “I just don’t know.”
“It’ll be all right, beautiful. You’ll see. Kids adjust.”
“Yeah.” I pushed out an exhale and forced the bad feelings away. “You’re probably right.”
“I am.” He opened the back door and let me go so I could step through, offering a wink as he said, “Now prepare to be amazed.”
“By what?”
“Your man’s culinary brilliance when it comes to the grill.”
And just like that, all was right in my world again.
The smell of burgers grilling filled the air. There was a breeze blowing, keeping the temperature nice and comfortable, and white, puffy clouds dotted the beautiful blue sky above. It was the perfect day for a backyard barbeque, and everyone was having a great time.
Everyone but Trick.
Grabbing a beer from the cooler, I popped the cap and headed toward the grill. Pressing against Trick’s back, I circled his waist with both arms. He took the beer, and I let go so I could move to his side.
“Thanks, baby.”
I stood on my tiptoes to brush a kiss along his cheek. “How you doing there, papa bear?”
He let out a grunt in response.
We both looked out at the yard. Shawn and Tris were kicking a ball around while Diva ran after it.
Both Shawn and Hannah had been beside themselves at their dad’s surprise, and they hadn’t stopped fawning over her since they got back home yesterday afternoon.
And according to Trick, the entitled girl had loved every minute of it.
Blythe and Hannah were laid out in a couple loungers in the middle of the yard, soaking up the beautiful sun. And Heath, god bless him, was on his way to the porch, having obviously built up the courage to finally make his approach.
Oh, boy. Here we go.
“Uh, hey, Mr. Wanderly. Do you… um, is there anything I can do to help?”
I looked back and forth between a sullen Trick and nervous Heath, waiting for him to put the boy out of his misery. Trick kept his eyes pinned to the burger patties, and when it became clear that he didn’t plan on saying a word, I decided to step up.
“Yeah, actually, there is. The condiments and chips are on the island inside. Would you mind grabbing the stuff and bringing it out here?”
“Yeah, um, sure thing, Ms. Fanning.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. And you can call me Nona.”
He walked past us and into the kitchen.
As soon as the back door closed, I turned on my man. “Trick Wanderly!” I scolded in a whisper-yell while smacking his arm. “You can’t keep acting like he doesn’t exist.”
“Sure I can. I just did. See how easy that was?”
“Trick!”
He dropped his head back on a heavy sigh. “Fine, I’ll be nice.” He said it like that last word tasted so sour he might actually throw up.
“That’s my guy,” I teased, clapping him on his back. “And if you pull this off—” I leaned in to whisper right in his ear. “—I promise I’ll make it worth the effort.”
That seemed to do the trick, and his shoulders instantly slumped. “All right.” He lifted the spatula he’d been using to flip the burgers and pointed it at me. “But I expect you to hold up your end of the bargain.”
I leaned in for a kiss, speaking against his lips. “I promise.” He started to turn back to the burgers, but I grabbed his arm to keep his attention. “Hey.” Those gray eyes hit mine again. “You’re an incredible dad, and a phenomenal man.”
His forehead came down on mine, and he pulled in a deep inhale. “Lucked out getting a second chance with you,” he said in a gravelly voice.
My breath hitched. “Trick.”
“You have my word that I’ll never take that for granted, baby.”
The image of him started to blur as tears welled in my eyes. The back door opened, and I quickly blinked them away in just enough time to see Heath coming through, his arms laden with everything I’d laid out on the island in preparation.
“Here,” Trick said, moving from the grill. “Let me help you with that.”
Heath looked up at Trick like he was a superhero as my man divested the boy of half his load. “Thanks, Mr. Wanderly.”
Trick stopped and looked at him, fortunately without murder in his eyes this time. “You can call me Trick.” The kid practically swelled at his acceptance. “Just as long as you’re treating my Hannah Banana with respect, got it?” he finished on a warning.
I pulled my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing. Honestly, I hadn’t expected anything less. These were baby steps, after all.
“Y-yes, sir. You have my word.”
Trick nodded, and the two of them headed for the big patio table at the end of the deck.