Chapter Thirty-Eight
Corey
Sitting outside in the garden, I lift my brush to the easel, enjoying the sunshine on my face as I process my life right now while I paint. A week has passed with no drama, and it’s been heaven. I stay with Damon most nights, and we’re in our own little loved-up bubble. River has gotten used to us being together, and he and Damon have been getting along well. So there is that miracle. Life seems to be pretty damn good right now, except for one thing.
Melinda.
I’ve accepted the fact that Damon might be having a baby. And if it is his, I would love and care for that child the same way I would for my own. Because it’s still his child, and I love him no matter what.
But we still have to get to the bottom of whether Melinda actually is pregnant. Damon told me how she still hasn’t shown him so much as an ultrasound photo, so he’s waiting to go to the appointment she set up in a few weeks’ time.
Since she sent him that message, though, she’s been quiet, which is a little confusing, because I thought she’d be harassing him. I know she asked for money, which makes me wonder if that was her plan all along. But then I feel guilty about judging her. What if she is pregnant with his child, and does need money? I’d say give it to her. Not like we’re short on it. But I also don’t want him to be taken advantage of. It seems very suspicious, and I don’t trust her one bit.
Why is it all so hard?
“What are you thinking about so intently?” Bella asks, coming to sit outside with me while I paint.
“Damon’s baby,” I admit, dipping my brush in the blue paint. “And whether or not we are being assholes.”
“You are not,” she assures me, taking a sip of her coffee. Now that things are back to normal, she’s back at work as a property manager. While we do have an office here, she usually goes out to have meetings with clients. Today must be one of those days, because she is dressed to business perfection in a black suit, with red lipstick sealing the deal. “When you find out the truth, then you can go from there, but right now you’re all in limbo, which sucks.”
She stands up and comes over to see what I’m painting. “That’s beautiful. I have to go to work now, but I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
She kisses me on the cheek and leaves.
I stare at the butterfly I’ve painted. It’s flying over the desert, off into the sunset. Looking at it just makes me think of Matthew and smile. I smile wider thinking of how Damon hung the painting of him in his bedroom, and he stops to admire it whenever he walks past.
Over this last week, I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I want to do in life, and I’ve decided to go back to college next fall and finish my business degree. As much as I’ve been enjoying my time off, I’m getting a little antsy now, and want something to challenge me a little more. And with my degree, I can help the MC continue to build their empire and create generational wealth for all the members in the club.
“Am I interrupting your creativity?” Damon asks as he steps outside, holding a plate of snacks.
“No, you are my muse, remember? And what do you have there?” I ask, putting my brush down.
“Well, you always stock the house with everyone’s favorite foods, and all the men love you for it. And I love you for being so thoughtful. But today I went and got all your favorites and made it into a platter for you,” he says, presenting it to me. “And proof that I pay attention to you.”
“That is very sweet,” I say, eying the carefully picked plate of my all-time-favorite chocolates, fruit, and sweets. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, giving me a kiss.
I touch his leather cut. “You heading out?”
“Yeah, we’re going for a ride and then I have to go to Devil’s Play.”
“That reminds me, I need to text Echo. She wanted to catch up. I should tell her to come over here and she can hang out.”
His hands slide down to my hips, and he pulls me in for a kiss. “Sounds good. I’m sure the prospects will enjoy having a single woman around.”
“She’s not coming for them,” I say, arching my brow. “I’ll see you later.”
“Love you,” he says, disappearing back inside. I pull out my phone to text her before I forget.
Corey: Drinks here tomorrow night?
Echo: Perfect! I have work until nine, but I’ll come straight there after.
Corey: Great, I’ll see you then.
Echo: Want me to bring anything?
Corey: Just yourself.
The next two hours are spent finishing both the platter and the painting, and once I check out the final product, I decide to mail it to my mom instead of keeping it.
She needs some peace in her life.
“Where are you off to?” Jag asks when he sees me grabbing my keys with my bag slung across my shoulder.
“I thought I’d go to the store and get some food and alcohol for the party I’m throwing tomorrow night,” I say, and his eyes light up. “I’ve invited Echo over. Do you want to invite anyone?”
“Yes, I’d like to invite the good doctor. I don’t know if she’ll come, but a man can dream.”
“She better come, otherwise you aren’t doing it right,” I joke as I head out the door, closing it on his laughter.
“The good doctor,” I mutter to myself in amusement. In all honesty, I’d like to meet this Dr. Shine.
I do a big grocery shop, then get some alcohol and mixers. For my last stop, I walk back into the crystal store, and head to the counter where Rosalind is standing, writing something down in a notebook.
“Hey,” I say, as she lifts her head.
“Corey, what do you want?” she asks, studying me through narrowed eyes.
“I just wanted to come in and say thank you for coming to the clubhouse to give us that information. I don’t know what made you do it, but I appreciate it nonetheless,” I say.
When River went to drop our mom home, her house was trashed, and the animals had been let out. Rosalind’s information was correct—the Lost Lions MC had gone there to exact their revenge.
And without her giving us the heads-up, my mother might not be alive today.
Neither would Tatum, because River would have tracked him down and killed him, and probably the rest of the MC, but that’s another story.
“You’re welcome,” she replies, clearing her throat. “I know you probably won’t believe me, but there was no ulterior motive. I heard what they were planning, and the Angels MC are still my family. My father was the president before Julianna took over. I don’t want my clubhouse destroyed; I have so many memories there. And I don’t want anything to happen to my nephew. He hasn’t done anything. He’s just a child.”
I feel like what she’s saying is genuine, and that’s coming from a person who has every reason to hate her. “Well, thank you, from all of us.”
She shrugs, playing it off. “There’s probably one more thing you should know,” she adds, smirking.
“Oh no, what now?” I ask, frowning.
“Melinda...”
“Shit, you know everything, don’t you?” I mutter, waiting for her to continue.
She laughs and leans forward against the counter. “Yes, I do. People like to gossip, especially when they come in here. You’d be surprised at the number of secrets that get spilled.” She looks around. “I think it’s the crystals. They make a safe space.”
“Okay, well, please don’t leave me in suspense any longer,” I say, and she grins.
“It’s not Damon’s baby,” she says, touching one of the amethyst crystals in front of us. “In fact, from what I’ve heard, there is no baby. She wanted to trap him and is now trying to get pregnant by any random man with dark hair, to try to pin it on him.”
“She’s not even pregnant?” I ask, gritting my teeth. “That fucking bitch! I knew it!”
Rosalind nods sympathetically. “Nope, but she’s trying so there’s a baby in there when you go to the appointment.”
“Wow, you’re really up to date with all the local gossip.”
We would have known, though, because the pregnancy would have only been a few weeks along, instead of a few months. I suppose this just brings us a lot of peace and saves me time stressing about the situation.
“Gossiping queen right here. Trust me, it’s a superpower.”
“I can see that. Thanks, Rosalind. I appreciate it,” I say, offering her a small smile.
“He’s a good man. He deserves a happily ever after,” she adds.
I walk out of there with a few crystals, wanting to support her, but also being drawn in by that damn amethyst she tried to give me the first time I stepped in here.
When I get into my car, I take a moment to just feel relieved.
Our fairy tale is back on.
And I couldn’t be happier.