Chapter 23 #2
“Thanks,” I said dryly. “But I’ll be looking after Imogen.
Though I may take her to the gym and see how the boys get on at boxing.
I think half the town’s turning out to watch.
” I looked down at Immie, still chewing on her carrot stick.
“What do you say, pretty girl? You wanna go see a bunch of young guys punch the snot out of each other?”
“Rara!” she babbled.
“It’s a date then,” I replied, holding my hand up for a baby high-five.
Immie tapped my hand enthusiastically, and we all cheered her, which made her clap her hands together and give us all a big, toothy, baby grin.
“I’m gonna go get my yoga gear on,” Gabby announced, swinging her ass off the stool.
“I need to grab my shit too,” DJ muttered.
“Can you stop saying shit?” I asked exasperatedly.
Deej sauntered over and kissed the top of my head, grinning. “Sure, I can,” he promised, even though we both knew he’d be cussing again within minutes.
I watched the kids head toward the stairs with a small smile playing around my lips, and my mind deep in thought.
“They’re good kids, Rosie,” Donovan told me, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “I love how just being around them makes you so happy.”
“They’re great,” I agreed. “But I still worry about how all this shit with their dad is affecting them.”
Donovan stopped what he was doing and turned me into his arms, pulling me close. “They’re resilient, baby. You taught them that.”
My heart hurt, and suddenly I was tired of fighting.
It was all I’d ever done, and it was exhausting.
I’d gone from getting pregnant by accident when I had no clue what I was doing to marrying young, and then divorcing and becoming a single mom, and having to battle to keep things on an even keel with Evan for years.
Then my mom got sick, and the latest fight with my ex-husband.
The worry was eating at me. It was too much.
“How can I get everything the right way up again?” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. “Just for once, I want my life to be easy. All I seem to do is fight. I need peace.”
Donovan’s thumbs brushed away my tears, and he leaned down and rested his forehead on mine. “Remember what you said to me, baby? You just roll with it and try to hold on to what’s real. That way, when the world tilts back to its rightful place, you tilt with it, no worse for wear.”
I stared into his beautiful blue eyes and thanked God that at least I had this; at least I had him.
Donovan brushed my hair back from my face. “I’m here, Posy. Hold on tight.” His arms wrapped around me, and he pulled me close for a hug.
For the first time in years, I let myself lean into someone else’s arms and not brace for the worse. I closed my eyes and breathed in Donovan’s spicy cologne, mixed with the hint of herbs and garlic he’d been chopping.
Just for a few seconds, I let myself believe that everything would be okay.
—————
Two hours later, I headed into the gym with Imogen on my hip and a fake smile plastered across my face. I didn’t have the luxury of letting myself fall apart. I had a business, kids, a boyfriend, and a looming court date to deal with.
I just felt so tearful and mentally exhausted from the constant nagging worry that I wasn’t doing enough.
Maybe I needed to be more in control of what was happening behind the scenes of the court case, because being kept in the dark wasn’t helping my state of mind.
Atlas, Donovan, Ned, and even Colt would never let me down, but I needed to put my mind at rest because my head felt like it was about to explode with all the negative shit crowding it.
Although it wasn’t yet seven, a crowd of teenage boys already hung around the entrance to the gym, wearing shorts, tees, and sneakers. As I approached the door with Imogen on my hip, one of them sprang forward and reached out to open it for me.
I beamed a smile of thanks, then faltered as I recognized the kid from the photo Gabby passed around earlier. “Hey, you’re Maverick, right?” I asked.
He flashed a white grin, his electric blue eyes sparkling in the twilight. “Yeah. Nice to meet you,” he said in a surprisingly deep voice. “And you’re DJ and Gabby’s mom?”
“Rosie Woods,” I told him. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, Mizz Woods,” he responded casually. “I don’t know Gabby too well, but DJ’s cool and he’s always saying how rad you are.”
I smiled at him again and jerked my chin inside the gym. “You’re here to join the boxing league?”
“Yeah.” He gestured toward the kids he’d been standing with. “We all are. This is the most exciting thing to happen in Hambleton since my dad moved me here. All the dudes from school are stoked.”
“Where did you move from?” I inquired.
“Nebraska. My dad ran the family ranch there, but now he’s here to oversee the running of the new equestrian center and stud farm my grandpa’s opening.”
“The girls in town will love it,” I said pointedly. “Sunshine Stone especially loves horses. I bet she’ll be all over that.”
A spot of red stained his cheeks, and he gave me a huge grin. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Mizz Woods.”
Mav’s eyes danced, and it struck me how good-looking he was.
He was already hitting six feet and was broad in a sinewy teenage boy way with striking light blue eyes, tan skin, and perfectly messed-up curly dark blond hair.
His smile was confident, his teeth flashing white against his tan.
It was no wonder that Gabby was so excited for Sunny because I had no doubt the girls went crazy for him.
Mav pulled the door wider for me to enter the gym, so I hitched Imogen higher on my hip and sailed through, immediately spotting Donovan already in the ring with his boxing gloves on.
His arms were leaning across the ropes while he discussed something with DJ, Kai, Bowie, and Atlas, who were listening intently.
His stare found mine immediately, and he grinned over. “We’re just going over safety protocol before we let the kids in.”
Atlas turned and greeted, “Yo, Sis.”
Bowie gave me a chin lift.
I gave them all a low wave and then jerked a thumb in the direction of the parking lot. “They’re already gathering. Apparently, this is the most exciting thing to happen in Hambleton since... well... ever.”
Bowie checked his watch just as women’s voices filtered in from a room at the back of the gym.
“Classes are done,” Donovan called out, undoing his boxing gloves with his teeth and pulling them off before parting the ropes and jumping down from the ring. “Guess we can let the guys in now.” He came over and kissed my cheek before taking Imogen from me.
DJ gave him a nod and headed for the door just as a cry of, “Mommy!” went up, and the sight of Gabby racing toward me, all arms, legs, and flowing dark hair, entered my line of vision.
She flung herself at me, sending me on the back foot. “Yoga was rad!” she exclaimed. “You’ll have to come next time.”
“Sounds great.” I pulled back, smiling at her, while not meaning a damned word I said.
I hit the gym regularly because I loved food and refused to live on lettuce leaves. I had curves, but I was also fit and strong, and I was proud of my awesome ass. Still, the thought of having to do yoga as well as working out didn’t fill me with good vibes.
I looked over Gabby's shoulder to see Layla, Cara, and Kennedy approaching.
Excited chatter and laughter filled the room as a steady stream of teenage boys filtered into the gym from the parking lot, followed by a handful of adults. DJ made his way back over with Maverick by his side.
Maverick's eyes immediately fell on Sunny, and he grinned. “Hey, Sunshine.”
She blushed prettily and replied, “Hey, Mav. Are you looking forward to the boxing?”
He held her gaze and answered, “Yeah. My dad taught me to spar some, but he’s no professional.” His eyes slid to Donovan and then to Bowie. “It’s cool you’re doing this for us. Appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, son,” Donovan said with a nod of acknowledgement
Layla approached with the girls and did a double-take when she saw Maverick. Her eyes slid to meet Sunny’s, and they sparkled with excitement.
Mav Meadows had obviously been a hot topic of conversation already, but then, knowing Gabby, she would have told the girls all about Mav’s interest in Sunny before they even hit the yoga studio.
“Okay,” Bowie yelled, clapping his hands and raising his voice over the fray. “Everyone, line up over by the ring. We’ll get you sorted into groups and talk through the basics.”
A thrum of adolescent energy surged through the gym, and sneakers squeaked across the wooden floor as boys jostled and joked, eager to impress.
I held my arms out for Imogen, waiting for Donovan to transfer her back to me, and then I steered Gabby to the side of the room, eager to watch DJ in action.
Kennedy found a stack of mats, and we moved to sit on them as we watched the guys show the kids how to warm up and then how to position their hands so they felt minimal impact when they got to punching.
Imogen crawled off my lap and curled up on the springy gym mat, her thumb immediately going to her mouth as she watched her dad go through some moves.
Layla nudged Sunny. “Mav’s cute.”
“Yeah,” Sunny breathed. “He’s on the football team too, and he does track.”
“I spoke to him outside,” I told her. “He seems to have a great attitude.”
It was like Maverick could sense we were talking about him because he glanced over and sent Sunny a little smile and a chin lift.
Kai, who stood next to Mav, caught them flirting, and his jaw hardened as he looked between the two teens.
“Oops. Someone’s jealous,” Cara sang.
Kennedy laughed. “Good. I love my boy, but if he’s going to pass Sunny over for the likes of Sienna Barrington, then he has to expect some payback.”
I laughed softly. “You heard about that?”
“Kady,” she replied. “She came home full of it.”
“So did Gabs and DJ. Donovan’s so invested that he makes sure he’s there when the kids get back from school so he can hear the next installment of the daytime drama we call Heartbreak at Hambleton High. At this point, it's an addiction.”
Cara and Kennedy laughed.
“Where is Kady?” I asked.
Kennedy angled her body toward me. “Carbine’s home for a few days, so she stayed behind for a guitar lesson.
There’s talk of her going to LA next summer to intern at the new Saint’s Rapture studios.
The band started a record label. They’ve not signed anyone yet because they want to take a few years to write and record their new album first. Saint’s pregnant, so she wants to enjoy motherhood and still write, but do it in her own time.
After what happened with their crazy band member, they deserve to go at their own pace. ”
“How’s Iceman doing?” Layla asked.
My ears pricked up.
I loved Ice. We’d had a flirty banter thing going for years, though nothing ever really happened between us on account of him yanking Atlas’s chain all the time, especially when Sophie first came on the scene.
Then I left town to look after Mom, and he went to Virginia with Hendrix to start the new Speed Demons chapter, and it died there.
We still messaged now and again, and he sent me filthy memes, but that was as far as it went.
Still, I liked Jake. He was a great guy, and I was happy that he’d found someone.
Plus, some of the crew had met Saint and had nothing but great things to say about her, so I was glad he eventually ended up with a decent woman.
It worked out well for both of us because I couldn’t imagine being with anyone other than Donovan now.
“When do you go to Idaho?” Layla asked softly.
“Next week.” I grabbed Gabby’s hand and gave her a smile. “We have to take the kids out of school for a few days. Luckily, Principal Landry has been great about it.”
“Dad just wants the kids to get all this business with Evan out of the way,” Cara explained gently. “It can’t be easy on them or you.”
My throat burned with the threat of tears, so I fixated on the training going on across the room. I didn’t want to cry in front of Gabby; it would worry her.
“Girls,” Cara murmured. “Would you go over to the grocery store before it closes and get me some chips. I’ve got a pregnancy craving that won’t quit.” She fished some cash out of her gym bag for the girls and waited for them to head out before taking my hand. “What’s wrong?”
The back of my eyes stung.
I reached out to soothe Imogen's soft little cheek. “I don’t know. I’m just feeling down. This court case has got me so damned worried that I’ll lose my kids, and I can’t seem to get out of my funk. Everybody’s telling me not to worry, but how can I not?” I swiped at the tear rolling down my cheek.
“Ro, you’re not a crier,” Cara pointed out.
“I know,” I exclaimed quietly. “But they’re my kids.”
“What’s Donovan said about it?” she asked.
“He’s been supportive, and he keeps telling me not to worry, but how can I not? I feel like I’m coming out of my skin.”
Kennedy slipped her hand onto my back. “You’re not losing your kids, Ro.”
“I need to talk to Dan,” I said decisively. “Maybe if I knew some details about what you had on Evan, it would put my mind at rest.”
A smirk spread across Kennedy’s face. “We’ve been planning something, and we didn’t want you involved.
Not even Donovan knows everything. The way we’ve gone about things isn’t strictly legal, and if the judge found out, we’d be fucked.
You can’t talk about it in front of the kids, either, and your reactions have to be authentic in court. ”
“I know, but I can’t go on like this,” I argued. “I’ll take the risk and use my acting skills.”
“Okay.” Her voice dropped, and her eyes flashed wickedly.
“Come closer, babe. We’ve got a plan, and it’s gonna blow your mind.
” An evil grin spread across her face, and her voice was pure ice as she murmured, “By the time we’ve finished with your shithead ex, he won’t be able to show his face in public, let alone court. ”