Chapter 4
Ricochet
Twin tornadoes landed on my bed and began jumping around. Groaning, I pulled the covers over my face. “Go away,” I grumbled.
“Can’t!”
“Mama says you gotta get up for breakfast.”
I sighed as Sean grabbed my blankets and pulled. Giving him a mock glare, I lunged forward and pulled him down onto the mattress. His laughter spilled out as I tickled him without mercy. His sister jumped on my back and gave an impressive right hook to my ribs for a four-year-old.
“Stop! Please!” Laughter made the words almost unrecognizable as Sean begged for mercy.
“What are you doing?”
All three of us froze and looked up. Gwen stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips, a scowl fixed on her face. I could see the laughter dancing in her eyes, though.
“Nothing,” I said, feigning innocence.
Her eyebrows raised. “Nothing?”
“Nope,” Grace said.
“Nothin’,” Sean continued, finishing her sentence.
We disentangled ourselves while she watched. “It’s time for breakfast. Wash your hands,” she told me then sailed away.
I waited until she was out of ear shot before muttering, “It’s like being in the military all over again.”
“Will you tell me about it?” Sean asked, an eager look on his face. At eight years old, he’d been interested in anything military for years, especially since his Uncle Gage had been in.
Fighting against the automatic wince, I ruffled his hair. “Of course I will. But later. Better get downstairs before your mom comes looking for us again.”
We trudged downstairs and I sat at the table. The scent of pancakes and bacon hit me like a ton of bricks and I realized I was starving.
Gwen dropped a plate in front of me. “You look like you’ve lost weight.”
She didn’t ask the question, but it was there in her words. Is everything okay? She knew all about me being discharged from the military and why, and she’d done everything she could to help me with the guilt and sadness of losing Jack. But she didn’t know what had just happened.
Years had passed, but nothing really changed for me. I was just existing. The memory of green eyes brought me back to meeting Jordan yesterday. Something had shifted, though I didn’t know what or how that might impact me, but for a few minutes there’d been warmth instead of numbing cold.
Shaking my head, indicating I didn’t want to talk about it, I looked down at my plate. I poured syrup on my pancakes and ignored the way she stared at me for a few moments before letting it go and turning away.
“Oh. By the way…”
I looked over at her as I shoved a huge bite of food into my mouth.
This was the first time I’d felt hunger since before the attack on the cult’s compound the other night.
Focusing on Gwen, I realized she looked nervous.
Chewing, I watched her struggle to find a way to say whatever she needed to.
That’s how I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever it was.
“I invited Trent over to dinner next Friday night.” She gave me a forced bright smile, her eyes flicking over to the kids as though to remind me they were there.
Setting my fork down with exaggerated care, I narrowed my eyes on her. “New boyfriend?” I knew exactly who she was talking about, but a brother could hope she wasn’t going back down that road again.
Gwen rolled her eyes and turned back to the stove to flip a pancake. “Ex-husband,” she replied, playing the game.
“Why?”
Sean looked up, watching me with a solemn expression. He didn’t seem to be thrilled about his dad coming back into their lives either.
“He didn’t want anything to do with any of you before,” I reminded her.
Her head snapped toward me and she gave me a piercing glare. “He’s making an effort. He said he realized he didn’t want to go through his life without knowing his children.”
I shot another look at Sean. His mouth tightened, then he bent his head and stared at his plate, refusing to look up. The kid took after me in too many ways. Grace was more like Gwen. Sweet, kind, and forgiving.
“What does dinner have to do with that?” I asked her, softening my tone a notch.
She sighed and brought her own plate over to the table. “He’s making an effort now. I have to give him a chance to prove himself.”
“Bull-”
Her sharp look had me swallowing the rest of the curse.
“Men don’t change. People don’t change.”
“Maybe not, but ever since he’s gotten this new job, he’s really been trying.”
“How long has it been?”
“Six months.”
I snorted in disbelief and picked my fork back up. “What job?”
“He’s working with the District Attorney.” Her gaze implored me to be understanding.
Grinding my teeth together, I said nothing about Trent or his new job for the remainder of breakfast. As much as I wanted to give my opinions, she was right.
The kids didn’t need to hear me bad mouth their father.
Even if he was a dick and they knew it. As soon as we changed the subject Sean brightened up, joking and laughing about something funny that had happened in school.
“Speaking of school,” Gwen said, cutting off his tirade, “go finish getting dressed so you don’t miss the bus.”
I watched as they raced up the stairs. “Seems like he’s enjoying school more.”
“It’s so much better out here. This is only his first year at this new school. It’s smaller than the one he was going to inside the city and I think that’s making a difference for Sean. They’re happy here.” She smiled and reached over to cover my hand with hers. “Sorry I dropped that on you.”
I knew she was talking about Trent. “No problem. I’m the one who decided to come visit with only a few hours’ notice. I don’t expect you to change your plans for me, Gwenny.”
She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “Thanks, Gage. It means a lot to me to have your support.”
My jaw flexed as I bit back an angry response.
“I don’t think you should get involved with him again.
He was a complete asshole to you while you were married and through the divorce.
He somehow managed to get you and the kids kicked out of the house for fuck’s sake.
” It was the reason I’d bought this house.
Gwen hadn’t had the money to buy her own place and I didn’t want her renting a home in some scummy area of the city, so I’d bought this house out in Picture Rocks.
Got them all outside the city limits and further away from Trent.
Working for the DA, is that how he got the upper hand in divorce court? Did he have those connections back then?
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet, Gage. We’re taking it slow because of all that. But he really seems to have changed.” She gave me a hopeful smile.
It took all my self-control to bite back my response to that. It would only cause a fight. “We’ll see.” It was all I could settle on that was neutral. “I’ll make sure to be somewhere else next Friday night.”
“Oh. No. I was hoping you’d have dinner with us.”
My brows shot up. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“It is if you behave,” she told me.
I stood and began clearing the table. She came to help me and I shook my head. “I’ve got the dishes. You help the kids.”
“Gage.” She was standing by the table, looking hesitant. “Are you okay?”
Yesterday I would have told her no. Today?
Somehow meeting Jordan yesterday morning had switched on something inside of me.
It was as surprising as it was unexpected.
Not that all my problems were solved. They still lurked deep down, but at least I was looking forward to something.
The thought of seeing her again was weighing on my mind, chasing away some of the guilt that ate away at me.
“I’m working through some shit,” I told her. I never lied to my sister. She’d know if I was anyway.
She nodded. She also knew when I was done talking about something, so she left that alone. “Please promise me you’ll behave at dinner?”
I appreciated her letting her line of questioning drop enough to agree to her terms. “I’ll do my best.”
She grinned at me, the same smile Grace usually had on her face, and hurried upstairs.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep that promise.
I despised Gwen’s ex. Didn’t consider him much of a man.
He’d wormed out of taking care of his family and made it that much harder on my sister.
All that after he was the one who’d asked for a divorce.
They’d met in college and from day one, I hadn’t liked him.
I’d done my best to keep my opinions to myself while they were married.
Once they divorced? It was open season on the man all the time. Not that I saw him much.
One wrong move and he was going to regret coming back into my family’s lives.
I’d make sure of it. Turning back to the sink, I filled it with hot soapy water.
Movement caught my attention and I watched as Jordan rushed out of her house and jumped in her car.
The tires squealed as she backed out of the driveway.
My lips twitched in amusement as I watched. Maybe her brand of chaos was what I needed in my life. Someone who was always rushing around, late, and wasn’t so rigid with their time.
The military had created that within me. Even if the kids hadn’t woken me up earlier, my eyes would have popped open on their own. Sleeping in wasn’t a luxury I enjoyed anymore. Just like I’d made my bed before coming downstairs, making sure the corners were tucked just right.
I dipped my hands into the water and began washing the morning dishes.
My day needed to be filled. Idle time wasn’t something I was used to, though I didn’t have to be at work for an indeterminate amount of time.
I worked on a construction crew. George, one of our MC brothers, owned the company.
Smoke and Hell would often help out if we were short-handed, despite having their own jobs.
I’d already spoken to George about taking some time off and he’d been all too happy to let me do my thing. A few of our other brothers would end up helping him out since he’d lost me for the unforeseeable future. There were quite a few of our brothers who were handy with a hammer.
George wouldn’t complain, though. Just like the brothers who took over for me wouldn’t say a word.
This is what we did for each other. As much as I loved Gwen and her kids, if I didn’t have the MC, I wasn’t sure where I’d be.
My brothers were a big reason I was still here.
I knew it without a doubt. Together both sets of my family kept me tethered here, even on the days where it seemed easier to let go.
Looking over my shoulder, I drained the sink and left the dishes in the rack to dry.
I grabbed a beer from the fridge and went out onto the front porch.
Sitting in the swing, I opened the bottle and stared at the desert surrounding the house.
There were only a few houses scattered in this area.
Jordan’s and one other sandwiched Gwen’s home in, but the rest weren’t in sight.
It made for a nice, scenic place to live.
Gwen and the kids rushed out of the house. She paused, eyed my beer, and gave me a disapproving look as she bundled her kids into the car.
“Have a good day at school,” I told them.
The kids waved and Gwen tried to see how long she could keep eye contact as she climbed into her vehicle. I didn’t feel any shame, just raised the bottle in a toast to her.
Her laughter was cut off by the closing of the car door. I kicked back and watched them drive down the road.