Chapter Fifty-Two #2
Bax winces in sympathy, but it doesn’t even matter, because Mom is suddenly striding into my room on the heels of my father. She looks a little more composed than Dad, who carefully gathers me into a body-melting hug that only my dad can give me.
“I never gave you permission to gain a new scar,” Dad grumbles into my hair, and a surprised laugh slips out of my mouth before I can stop it.
Patting Dad’s back, I point out, “It’s not like I asked for one, Papa. The universe is simply out to get me. I’ve been telling you this.”
Before Dad can respond, Mom smacks his back and grumbles, “Quit hogging my baby, would you? Mama needs a hug.”
Just as Dad gives me one last squeeze before moving away, I spot Bax trying not to laugh, and I glare at the handsome bastard before I’m enveloped in a floral-scented hug that reminds me of my childhood. Squeezing my mom back just as tightly as she hugs me, I promise, “I’m okay, Mom. I swear.”
“Hmm,” she groans, pressing a kiss to my temple. “You better be glad you’re damaged right now, or else I’d spank your ass for getting hurt.”
“Good to know,” I snort, rubbing her back just as she starts rocking us to and fro. I’m not much for feeling like I’m on a ship sailing rocky seas, not so soon after waking from a fainting spell after being shot in the arm by my psycho ex, so I mumble, “Mom, I’m getting motion sick.”
“Oh, sorry, baby,” she blurts, releasing me so fast her hand brushes my arm, and I bite back the yelp that almost bursts from my voice box.
Mom has the good grace to look sorry, hands fluttering just above my throbbing arm, and she quickly offers, “Let’s get you to the kitchen.
You’re due some pain meds, and I’m pretty sure only you can save one of your beaus from AJ’s fists.
It looks like she’s ready to start launching right hooks out there. ”
“Oh my God,” I mutter, right before I’m herded out of my room and led to the living room, which has descended into nothing but pure chaos. All I can do is stand there and watch, eyebrows crawling up my forehead at the sight I happen upon.
Zelda is holding AJ in the air like she’s nothing more than a cuddly teddy and not a scrappy little shit swinging her fists and feet like she’s air-fighting her demons.
Henley is standing between AJ and Rayne, rolling her eyes at our best friend’s dramatics.
Caiden is standing behind the couch as though he’s afraid to get too close to the angry demon boxing spirits.
Rayne looks like he couldn’t give any less of a shit, slouched on the couch in nothing but his cargo pants and a shirt that reveals his own bandage wrapped around a tatted bicep.
Ryan is the only normal-looking one of the bunch, quietly stirring a spoon in a large mug on the kitchen counter, unbothered by the lunacy currently occurring in the living room.
I can only respect it, appreciating the tolerance the man has for drama.
He notices me first, his entire face softening with relief, and he smiles that charming smile over at me. “Hey, trouble.”
I wave, only I use the wrong arm, and I shut my eyes against the bloom of pain that comes with the movement.
“Oh my God, Maddie,” AJ suddenly blurts, and my eyelids open in time to watch Zelda lower our nutjob to the floor, the Oreo-haired diva rushing toward me the moment her booted feet hit the floor.
I’m yanked into a tight hug that does nothing to alleviate the pain, but I allow it since AJ doesn’t hug very often. “Are you okay?”
“Just give me a dance floor and I’ll do the tango,” I assure her, making her snort into the crook of my neck before pulling back with a silly grin that looks almost watery. Oh my God, is my best friend about to cry?
Apparently not, because the smile disappears quickly and her fist swings toward my good arm before I have the good sense to block the bitch. “That’s for missing our phone call. You’re not getting another because you’re hurt, so it’s the only thing you have to be grateful for.”
Sighing, I shake my head and shove her away, making her laugh. “You were nice to me for all of five seconds, you whack job. Bring that AJ back or don’t even talk to me.”
“You love me in all shapes and forms,” she argues, before she’s not so gently shoved aside once more, Zelda and Henley rushing over to hug me just as tightly but with more caution for the bullet wound in my frigging arm.
Flipping AJ off with my hands behind Zelda’s and Henley’s backs and grinning when she laughs, I soak in my girls’ embrace before they pull back with matching expressions of worry.
“I really am fine. Don’t stress,” I assure them, shooing them to the couch just as Ryan walks toward me with a coffee mug extended toward me. I visibly melt right then and there, accepting the drink with a wobbly smile. “You’re an angel. Thank you.”
Ryan flashes that charming grin again before leaning in for a respectable and brief kiss.
He wanders back to the couch and sits beside Rayne the moment he’s sure I won’t drop the coffee cup, and I’m left with my parents, who flank me, the three of us looking at the chaotic medley of people gathered in my living room.
I love it.
“I approve, baby,” Mom whispers from my right, and I catch her nodding with a smile as she watches Caiden throw his hands up in the air when AJ says something sassy. “You did good with these four.”
Lifting my coffee cup, I hide my smile behind the rim, eyeing the funny scene before me.
Just as Baxter points at Rayne and mutters something I don’t hear, causing Zelda to actually laugh out loud, Dad quietly agrees with Mom.
“They definitely match your energy, Malyshka. Couldn’t have picked a better group of men to take care of you.
Pretty sure tonight would have ended much worse if it weren’t for two scary fuckers loaded with tattoos. ”
Coffee sprays everywhere when I laugh into my coffee mug, and Dad laughs when I turn to look at him with liquid dripping from my nose and chin. Glaring at him, I mutter, “You’re a dick.”
“You said it, baby,” Mom snickers, and I shake my head even as they both wrap their arms around me, almost like they’re making sure I’m still earthbound and huggable.
And while I stand there, soaking in the mingling of all the people I care most about, a thought floats through my mind that I can’t ignore.
Toby almost took this away from me, and it makes me realize that every day I spend with these people is one I should cherish for the rest of my life.
So, if there’s one thing from my relationship with Toby that I can appreciate, it’s that he had an effective way of reminding me just how deeply I’m loved and how much I love in return.
It was a fucked-up way of reminding me, but effective nonetheless.
So with that, I sink into Dad’s side and reach for Mom’s hand with the hand attached to my defective arm, thanking the universe for allowing me to live another day with the family I’ve formed with my guys, the bonds I’ve built with my besties, and the love I feel every day from my parents.