Chapter BOONE
BOONE
I kept my pants on for most of the girls’ two-hour nap. By the time they stirred in bed, Nova and I were cleaned up and fully dressed. While I prepped the grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, Nova went to make sure Skylar and Lyric were still interested in sleeping over.
“Maybe we should wait until next weekend when we have our clothes,” Nova suggested as the girls left the bedroom.
Hurrying over to the spot at the window, Skylar insisted, “We can sleep in our clothes and wear them tomorrow.”
As I heated the griddle, I suggested, “Or I can get someone to run to your house and pick up overnight items. I bet Lula would be happy to pack them for you.”
The girls looked to Nova, who had settled down since we talked. When she nodded, they clapped their little hands and whispered to each other.
“Next weekend, my mom is bringing Beef Jerky to Little Memphis. You guys need to help me win back his affections. He’s been angry with me since I went to jail.”
The girls frowned at the “jail” part. At the pool, I’d explained how I got locked up for stopping a bully in a bar. They felt so bad for me that they wanted to send the boogeyman after the sheriff who arrested me.
Once lunch was ready, I turned one of my wide chairs toward the windows and adjusted a side table near them.
“You can look outside while you eat,” I said, winning smiles from the girls.
Nova and I ate at the kitchen island. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, even when I was supposed to locate someone to bring overnight supplies.
“If no one in the club wants to throw us a bone, we have prospects and people who run errands for the club.”
Nova watched me with affection. “Back in Baton Rouge, Dan had people to do his peon work. I always felt lazy calling someone.”
“It’s not about laziness,” I said and kissed her head. “It’s about using your time wisely. Besides, you’re doing these errand boys a favor by paying them for easy work.”
Smiling lovestruck at me, she murmured, “You make everything sound so reasonable.”
Nova remained in a great mood for the rest of the evening. Even when Goldie, Farley, and Rowdy showed up with the overnight stuff, she didn’t lose her confidence.
Eventually, we took the girls to the complex’s game room, where they stood on chairs and tossed basketballs into the hoop arcade game.
Just before we headed to dinner, my mom finally responded with a threatening text.
“I want to talk to them on the phone, or else I’m riding north.”
Relenting to Yarrow’s threat, I brought the girls outside and explained how my mom had already met them quickly at the wedding. Now, she wanted to talk to them again since she knew how much I liked their mom.
“Are you going to be our daddy?” Skylar asked me.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “My mom will be your grandma. She’s so excited to get to know you, but I said she had to wait until next weekend to visit.”
“Can we go see her now?” Lyric asked, ignoring my rational ideas.
Chuckling at how the girls were all-in on this new life, I called my mom. “We’ll only talk to her right now. We can see her next weekend.”
Yarrow answered immediately. Her blue eyes lit up when I squatted next to the girls and pointed the phone at us.
I introduced Skylar and Lyric, who immediately started talking over each other.
Skylar mentioned Beef Jerky. Lyric talked about Ramen.
Nova laughed at how they were rambling about swimming and basketballs.
“We ate grilled cheese,” Lyric finished off. “Where are you?”
“I live in Rawlins.”
“I don’t know what that is,” Skylar said. “Can we go there?”
“Soon,” I promised, winning a smile from my mom.
“You’re coming here,” Skylar said and leaned closer to the phone. “You’re Boone’s mom. That’s our mom.”
When Skylar pointed at her, Nova quickly ducked into frame and waved. “Hello, Yarrow. I look forward to meeting you. Well, we met really fast at the wedding, but I look forward to meeting for real, I mean.”
“Is she high?” Yarrow asked me.
“No, she’s excited.”
“That’s good. I can’t deal with fast talking. Once I make her feel less nervous, she’ll talk slower.”
I grinned at Nova, who was trying to decide if she had done something wrong.
“We’re hitting up an Italian place for dinner,” I told Yarrow. “Why don’t I have the girls take pictures with their food and send them to you? You can talk to them through the week, so it won’t be scary when you meet.”
“Why would it be scary?” Yarrow asked and frowned at my dad nearby. “No one is scared of tiny, little girls.”
“I meant the girls might be scared of you.”
“Why me?” Yarrow cried. “I’m harmless.”
My dad laughed in the background while I chuckled next to the girls.
Ignoring our laughter, Skylar said, “You’re going to be my grandma. Boone is my daddy now.”
My mother’s expression broke my heart. Tears filled her blue eyes as she nodded.
“Yes,” she said and gave the phone to Blackjack.
“Why is she sad?” Lyric asked me.
“She’s excited to come see you. She also misses me.”
Lyric nodded and looked at Blackjack. “I’m Boone’s dad.”
“I know,” Skylar said. “You look like him.”
“He looks like me.”
“What?” Lyric asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Blackjack said and chuckled. “We’ll be in town next weekend. Beef Jerky is coming with us.”
My dad won the girls’ hearts as soon as he lifted the dog into view. Beef Jerky sniffed the phone, sending Skylar and Lyric into hysterics.
“I love him,” Lyric told me after the call. “He’s my friend.”
Heading out of the condo building, I said, “I know the dog is cute, but I hope you like my mom and dad, too.”
“I wish they were here now,” Skylar said and took my hand. “I hate waiting.”
“How about you?” I asked Nova. “Do you hate waiting?”
“No, because I’m having fun right now,” she said as she held my hand and Lyric’s. “I want to enjoy every single minute, even if I have to wait longer.”
The girls nodded in agreement with their mom. They seemed confident as we left the complex.
Soon, though, their eyes grew huge as we walked a few blocks along the center of town to the restaurant. Little Memphis was hopping on a Saturday night. I’d considered taking Nova’s SUV, but the longish walk would wear out the girls.
My plan worked, and they crashed early in their bed. Nova rewarded my efforts with enough sex to leave me exhausted. The girls weren’t the only ones to sleep throughout the night.
“I’m going to miss the elevator,” Lyric told me as we prepared to leave on Sunday evening. “I’m going to miss the pool.”
“Can we come back next weekend if your mom and dad are here?” Skylar asked, frowning up at me. “I can sleep on the couch.”
Lyric nodded. “Me too.”
“My parents won’t want to take your room,” I said and cradled their hands while we walked to Nova’s SUV. “I’ll find them another condo to sleep at.”
The girls seemed so sad about leaving my home. Nova also looked bummed. I couldn’t have asked for a better first weekend at the condo. Holy hell, the girls even said I was a good cook!