CHAPTER 9
Clay
Archer leaned forward over my desk. “I know you can’t tell me anything because it’s your personal life, but how are you?”
I looked up at the other man and blinked. “Why couldn’t I tell you how I am?” I asked, though I had a feeling I knew where Archer was going with this.
Archer just laughed. “I’m trying to be subtle and ask you how you and Riggs are doing.” A sad expression covered his face. “I can’t believe someone hurt his bar like that. And it was his ex? What a douche.”
Anger tore at me, and I let out a deep breath. “I’m so pissed-off. That evil man tried to hurt him.”
Archer’s eyes widened. “He tried to hurt him? More than the bar?”
I shook my head. “No, I was speaking of emotionally. I mean, his ex-husband did hire someone to destroy the bar. Who knows what else he might have done?” That thought kept me up at night, and I tried not to think about it for long.
Archer reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry for bringing it up. We’re all just so worried about him. Although I hope he knows what he’s in for with the cleanup.”
I snorted. “I don’t think you’re talking about the amount of work. I think you’re talking about the number of us coming to help.”
“Pretty much. The cousins from Denver, Montgomery Inc.—both branches—are on their way. That means we have babysitters for your kids and all the brood they’re bringing. And they are a brood.”
I laughed outright. “I’m pretty sure your family is going to catch up to them in the number of kids it takes to be called a brood.”
Archer shrugged. “Sounds like. It’s what we do. Although, I don’t know when Marc and I are going to have time. Between his job and mine, I’m not sure when we’re going to take that next step.”
I frowned, doing my best not to cross a line in a potentially sore subject. “Have you guys talked about it? I mean, you are getting married.”
Archer smiled softly. “Yes, we are getting married. And yes, we’ve talked about it. While I want kids, and Marc does, too, adoption for us won’t be easy. You know?”
I nodded. “We haven’t gone through the adoption process.
I’m still their guardian, but taking those next steps always felt like something I couldn’t do unless all of us were on board and the kids had a say.
It’s something I’ve talked about with Jackson, but I’m waiting for the kids to get a little bit older before we make that choice. ”
Archer grinned. “Good. That’s good. You’re a great family, and you’re a great dad.”
I swallowed hard. “It’s still scary as hell, though.”
“It is, but I guess parenthood should be. As for Marc and me... I don’t know.
I have plenty of family members I could ask to carry our child, though that’s a big ask.
Annabelle casually mentioned it when we were teenagers and then again right after her wedding with Jacob.
It’s our twin thing. Either way, it’s a huge and scary thing to even ask. ”
The love that Archer had for his sister made me smile. The two were close, even as they grew, and I knew Annabelle would do anything for her brother. Much like Archer would do for her. “That’s a big step for sure, but your family loves you.”
“It’s all complicated. Sometimes, I feel like I’d just be a really good uncle.”
“You are a good uncle. You are to my kids.”
Archer beamed. “Well, that’s sweet. Now, let’s get back to you.”
“Get back to what?” I asked.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Jackson has a soccer game this afternoon, so we’re doing that. And then in a couple of days, Riggs gets the keys back to his bar, and we’re going to start the cleanup.”
Archer met my gaze and seemed to come to a decision. “I’m going to just outright ask. Are things going good between the two of you?”
I ducked my head, blushing. “Yeah. They are.”
Archer squeezed my hand again once before moving away. I looked up and shook my head at his little booty shake.
“What the hell was that for? And please never do that again in my presence.”
“Excuse me. I have rhythm. I like the two of you. Especially together. I want everybody to be happy and looking towards the future. That’s what happens when you’re in love.”
“I take it things are going well between you and Riggs, then?” Paige asked as she walked in behind Archer. “Also, Clay is right. Never do that dance again.”
“Be nice,” Archer teased before kissing her cheek. “I need to head to the meeting. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Paige and I said simultaneously, and we both laughed as Archer did another little booty shake out the door.
Paige and I laughed, shaking our heads before she leaned against my desk. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I’ve been making plans and organizing things with Riggs all day to get set up for fixing the bar.”
That made me laugh, even as my heart soared. “Really?”
“Of course. The insurance company will be a hassle, but we’ve got that down. We are good at what we do, so don’t you worry. We will organize this wonderfully, and we will make sure that Riggs doesn’t have to worry about anything. You’re family.”
I sighed, a smile on my face. “I guess we are. It still seems weird.”
“Well, you’re practically a Montgomery now. You have to be used to the weird.” She winked. “Have fun at the soccer game tonight. I’m sorry we all can’t go. Between meetings and prep for our project, we’re all a little bit busy tonight if we want to get in time working at Riggs’.”
I leaned back in my chair, work hard to focus on just then. “I still can’t believe you guys usually come to the games.”
“Of course, we do. We need to cheer on our next generation. We love those kids, Clay. We’re a family operation, even if our family is a little convoluted.
Now, I’ll let you get back to work. Later, you can tell me all about Riggs.
The man, not the bar.” She winked as she said it, sounding like her old self, and I shook my head, holding back a laugh as she left.
Everybody was so invested in my relationship.
And yet, I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I was falling head over heels in love with Riggs.
And, honestly, I was terrified that it was too soon.
That it would be too much and he’d walk away.
But then would he? He had stayed so far, and while we had done a good job of trying to push each other away, we hadn’t yet.
That had to count for something, didn’t it?
I shook my head and got back to work since Beckett expected a few things from me. There would be time for Riggs and my thoughts on him later. Because in the end, I would make that time. Finally.
* * *
By the time I was done and did the normal after-school routine, I was already a little wired and yet exhausted at the same time.
Riggs showed up as I was getting Jackson ready for his game and kissed me softly on the mouth, pushing my hair back from my face. “You ready?”
“For what?” I asked.
Riggs laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
“Riggs!” Mariah cheered as she ran to him. She jumped about two feet away from him and flew in the air. That little girl was ready for gymnastics and was already doing fantastic at her tumbling class. Only it was still a little startling to see her jump like that.
Riggs caught her with ease, my heart racing, and spun her around the living room. Holden was there, hugging Riggs on the side as the man I loved lifted Mariah to his hip.
“I see we’re ready to go.”
“We want to see Jackson kick ass!” Mariah called out, and Riggs pressed his lips together, doing his best not to laugh.
I leaned toward my kid. “What did we say about that word, Mariah?”
“That ass is a donkey.”
Holden began to laugh as Jackson came out holding his cleats, his shin guards in place. I didn’t let him wear his cleats in the house as they tended to get caught in the carpet, so he usually put them on once we got to the fields. He had on his tennis shoes for now, and that would have to do.
Jackson gave a put-upon sigh. “Don’t say that, please. They think it’s cute now, and then you’re not a little kid anymore, and they get all angry when you use those words.”
I narrowed my eyes at my oldest. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
Jackson shrugged, the light in his eyes dancing. “What? It’s the truth.”
“Perhaps. Now, let’s get going. Do you have your water?”
“Yes!” all three kids said at the same time.
Riggs grinned. “I have my water, too. We’re taking your car, right?”
“Yep. You’re piling in with us.”
“And you can sit with me,” Mariah whispered. She patted his cheek and looked like she had fallen in love with him.
Same here, little girl.
“He’s going to want to sit next to Clay,” Holden said.
“Duh,” Jackson added. “They’re boyfriends.”
“Well, he can be my boyfriend, too,” Mariah added, and I froze. We hadn’t talked to the kids about exactly what was going on between Riggs and me, mostly because that would entail Riggs and I talking about what was going on between us.
I cleared my throat. “Mariah.”
“No, I got this,” Riggs said and looked between the kids. “Yep, I’m dating Clay. So that means you’re stuck with me. Sorry. However, you’ll have to help me figure out how to be this boyfriend of a dad thing. Okay?”
“Clay’s the best dad,” Mariah added, her smile sweet. I swallowed hard at her words, trying not to cry.
“He is the best,” Holden added, and Jackson nodded.
My eldest smiled. “We usually call him Clay. Because he was Clay before, and we like it. Plus, other kids don’t get to call their dads by their first name. So, we’re special.”
I held back a laugh at that, wondering how I’d gotten so lucky, even when I didn’t always feel it. “Okay, then. I guess we should go.”
“You can sleep in his bed if you want,” Mariah put in as we loaded the SUV.
Riggs tripped over his feet, keeping his hold on her. “What?” he asked, his voice high-pitched.
“My friend Kathy’s mom has her boyfriends sleep over. Just one at a time. I don’t think the guys know about each other, though, because it’s all very secretive. It’s fine because we’re keeping the secret.”