Chapter 12
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Van
Date night has arrived and I’m a bundle of nerves.
As I look at my reflection in the mirror and remember that kiss he planted on my lips, they begin to tingle.
“Damn, girl. You’ve got it bad,” I say to my mirror image.
I would berate myself for falling for him, but it’s not as if I’m never going to see him again once I leave town since I’ll be residing in the same city as he does.
“Ma ma ma ma,” I hear Gagey mumble from the living room and a smile spreads across my cheeks. I know at ten months old he can’t communicate and most likely doesn’t understand he’s saying my name as he babbles, but I have convinced myself that he’s calling out for me.
“Coming, baby boy,” I say loud enough for him to hear me.
As I enter the room and look down at him in his playpen he greets me with a gummy grin.
“You done with your milk, kiddo? Ready for some bananas?” His tiny fists fly through the air before he lifts his hands up in a ‘pick me up’ motion. “Yeah, my boy loves his fruit.”
I lift him up and soar through the room with him acting as if he’s flying, making airplane noises until I settle him on my hip and head to the kitchen. He plants sloppy kisses on my cheek.
I grab the puree package from the last batch I made and squeeze it until it starts flowing into the straw attached to the top.
This invention has been a lifesaver for me.
Being a single mom, I sometimes have to feed him on the go and it’s less messy than me trying to travel with a spoon and feeding him as we walk.
As he sucks on it and fills his tummy, I pack his diaper bag and make sure I’m stocked on his teething supplies, diapers, wipes, and toys.
When the doorbell rings, I glance up at the wall clock and realize I’m further behind schedule than I thought I was. “Dammit,” I mutter as I run over, unlatch the chain, undo the lock and swing the door open. “Sorry, I’m running a bit behind.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry, Van,” Riptide sighs. I scrunch my nose because I don’t understand why he’s apologizing until he scoots to the side and I see three grownups and a little girl standing behind him.
“Is our date a group thing?” I ask, a little disappointed because I was looking forward to spending some alone time with him.
“Absolutely fucking not,” he balks.
“Date night. No kids,” Icer grunts. “Elodie and I came to stay with little G, and these two tagged along.”
“We’d like to see our daughter every now and then, Icer,” Indiana scolds.
“Mine,” Icer declares, lifting Elodie up and cuddling her to him.
“Actually, big man, that one belongs to me,” Zoey states, pointing her finger toward her beaming daughter.
“I share when I have to,” Icer claims. The entire exchange has me snickering.
“I told them we were bringing little man with us, but Icer threw an epic fit,” Riptide tells me.
“Did not,” Icer insists, glaring at Riptide. “Just thought it’d be nice for Elodie and little G to spend time together. I’m a good uncle.”
“You are,” I quickly insert. “Are you sure, Icer? He’s in a good mood right now, but he can sometimes be a handful when it gets closer to bedtime.”
“That’s why we tagged along,” Zoey divulges. “Icer is a damn good uncle, but Elodie was older when he came into her life. I thought it’d be a good idea to have someone with him who knows how to handle a toddler.”
Icer elbows his way past Riptide and holds out his free hand. “I don’t need their help, they’re just busybodies who always try to intrude on my time with the kids.”
“Damn, brother, that’s just fucking wrong,” Indiana rebuts. “I shouldn’t have to schedule time on the calendar to see my girl.” Elodie begins giggling, enjoying the adults fighting for her attention.
Riptide asks, “Are you good with this, Van? If not, I’ll kick these assholes to the curb.” I nod my head yes because I’m lost for words—unbelievably touched by the fact that Icer wants to have some quality time with Gagey.
“You two are wounding my pride here,” Indiana teases. Elodie, thinking her dad is sad, pats Icer on the pec and reaches out for Indiana. “That’s right, beautiful. Tell Uncle Icer that you’re a daddy’s girl.”
“I’m both,” Elodie states, puckering her lips and leaning forward. Indiana looks like the cat who got the cream when he smirks at Icer and meets his daughter in the middle. “Love you.”
“Love you more, baby girl,” Indiana says, and if I had to swear under oath, I’d say there was a stray tear gathering in his eyes as he repeated those words. These bikers are hard on the outside, but once you crack their shells, marshmallow oozes from the center.
“You ready, Van?” Riptide asks, reaching his hand out for mine.
“I am,” I reply, slipping the diaper bag off my shoulder and letting it drop to the floor of the entryway before passing my son over to Icer. “Let me slip on my shoes then we can go.”
“Sounds good,” Riptide tells me before turning his attention to Icer, saying, “We’ll be back after dinner.”
“Burned,” Zoey giggles.
“It’s as if we’re not standing right here,” Indiana adds.
“I see you, do you see me?” Zoey asks Indiana. I snicker as I slip my sandals onto my feet. I’ve seen this reel they’re reenacting on social media a few times with different actors. But there’s something about it taking place in real time that has my giggle meter going off.
“I see you,” Indiana proclaims.
“Alright, you two,” Riptide snaps, shaking his head. “You guys are acting like the three stooges.”
“I call Moe!” Indiana and Icer say at the exact same time.
Riptide turns in my direction with pleading eyes, and begs, “Save me.”
“I’m ready,” I laugh, snapping the last buckle at my ankle. “Feed me!” As soon as I reach him, he grabs my hand and laces our fingers together, all but dragging me out the door. “See y’all later!”
“Bye!” they call back as we sprint to the truck. “I wish I’d called first and asked if it was okay with you that they sit for little G.”
“Why?” I ask as he opens the passenger side door and lifts me up and places me on the seat.
“Because then, we could’ve taken my bike. Have you ever ridden before, Van?”
“Not a long ride. I’ve been around the block a time or two, but nothing worth mentioning. Do parades count?”
“You rode during a parade?” he asks, scanning me from head to toe with admiration, whistling. “Would’ve loved to be in attendance for that.”
“It was for charity,” I explain. “My company supported a riding club and they were trying to get funds for the Toys for Tots foundation. A few of us got to sit on the back tossing out candy. It was fun, but I don’t think we went any faster than five miles per hour.”
“Damn good cause,” Riptide mumbles as he fastens my seat belt, reaching down, he taps my ankle and says, “Watch your feet.”
I place them in the center of the floorboard as he shuts the door. I may not wear a crown on my head, but I feel like a queen with the way he’s taking care of me.
The ride was spent playing twenty questions. And as our drive winds down, I feel as if I’ve known him my entire life.
“Ever been here before?” he asks as he pulls into the parking lot of a local steak house.
“No,” I answer, unlatching my seatbelt. “I didn’t travel a lot so I mostly stuck to my hometown. We have a restaurant similar to this though.”
“Rio suggested it. Told me it’s one of Issy’s favorite places to eat when they hit the town. According to him, they serve nothing but Angus beef. Shit, I’m sorry, Van. I didn’t even think to ask if you would like something like this.”
“I eat meat, Riptide,” I convey. “I’m big on protein. I just watch the amount of fat I consume when I eat it. I have to keep the ole ticker as healthy as possible. It lessens my chances of getting my mom’s heart disease.”
“Sounds reasonable,” he says, smiling at me. “I’ll get your door.”
“Okay,” I whisper as he swings his legs out, jumps from the seat, closes the door, and rounds the hood. I give myself a little pep talk because my heart hasn’t fluttered for a man since Gage. I feel out of my element here.
As he lifts me up and out of the truck, his hands wrap around my waist and a prickling sensation travels through me. It’s as if his touch zaps my entire skeletal and nervous system. I’m not sure what that means, but I can’t wait to find out.