Chapter 47
forty-seven
ELI
“Dad? Can I talk to you?”
My youngest son hobbles over to me on a crutch during halftime of the Stallions game. I glance behind me, where Essa’s in the kitchen with the girls, including Scout.
Pointing at my chest, I shrug. “You want to talk to me? Not your mom?”
“Yeah.”
My son wants to talk to me. Not his mom… I can’t help the proud smile that creeps over my face.
I clear my throat and point to the den. The only place that could be private. Though I’ll have to kick out some grandkids.
“Can I stay, Grandpa?” Andrew asks, big brown eyes acting hurt.
I give him a squeeze and set him just outside the door. “I’ll tell you what. When we’re done in here, you and I will do as many push-ups as the Stallions’ score right now. What do you think?”
“Alright!” he squeals and runs toward the living room.
Apollo shakes his head. “Tricking him with push-ups. Next, you’ll have him cleaning the bathrooms.”
“Worked on you, didn’t it?”
He grimaces. “Until I was eight.”
I point toward the leather sofa, and he awkwardly flops down on it, his cast aimed like a stiff branch in front of him.
“When are they taking that off?” I sit in the oversized chair along the far wall.
“Still got two more weeks.” He’s quiet. Too quiet.
“What’s going on?” I prod.
“Graduation is coming up, and I know that you and Uncle Adon wanted me to help out with the Kingston location until we can open a new franchise.”
I nod slowly, trying to control my face. “That was the plan.”
His neck tightens as he swallows. “But I was wondering if… I think I can qualify for a loan to get Karina.”
“Karina? Mom’s Karina? The restaurant?”
“Uh, well, um. Yes?”
“You’re telling me you want to reopen our family’s place?” Still. I’m trying hard to keep the emotion out of my voice.
“Yeah, Dad. I am. How do you—”
“I don’t know, Apollo. Your Aunt Piper has the bakery, and you used to love to play around in her kitchen, but do you think you could run a place like that?”
His chin juts up with pride. “I can. I know I can.”
Nodding slowly, I wink at him. “Okay. You’re your own man. I can’t stop you.”
His shoulders fall, looking disappointed I didn’t show more enthusiasm.
“It’s a mess in there,” I warn him. “Have you seen it inside?”
He nods and takes a deep breath. “I know what I’m getting into.”
That’s what makes me soften the way I wanted to. “Of course you’ll do it right. Mom and I will eat there every week. Would love to see it with the lights on again. I was a kid when it was last open. Your uncles, Adon and Rhodes, remember better than I do.”
Finally, a smile tugs at his lips. I’m reminded of how much I love my life. And my freedom. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll make you proud.”
My heart clenches. I get up and grab him, helping him stand. Arms around his middle, I squeeze tight. The way I always want to, but never can anymore, because he’s as big as me. “What do you mean? I’ve been proud of you. Never stopped.”
“I figured that I could run it for a couple of years until Scout graduates. Then, I’ll have to ask Nico or someone else to babysit the place for us while we’re wherever she wants to go for med school.”
“Nico, huh? Hmm…I don’t know.”
“Well, someone. I haven’t thought that far yet.”
I shake my head as I help him out of the room. “Sounds like you’ve got a problem on your hands already, but I’ll help where I can.” I grimace as Andrew plows into my legs. “But your old man is old now.”
“Thanks, Dad. I mean it.”
I squeeze his shoulder and head out to the living room as Essa and Scout both give me a look. All I do is nod.
Game on.
“Where are you going? I hate to be that guy, but you missed the turn.”
Scout shrugs. “Oops! Sorry. I’ll catch it on the next one.”
I focus on the road. “But you’re okay with the loan possibility?”
She smiles but covers it up with a furrowed brow. “I told you three times I was.”
My nerves force me to doubt her. What if I finally get Karina and she hates it? We’ve only discussed it a handful of nights now. That…and her thoughts of what to do if she goes off to medical school.
She misses the next turn. And the next. I check behind us, and a weird feeling comes over me. “Did you drink too much at my parents’?”
The corners of her lips quirk as she turns up the new Tyla Silk album until it blares through the speakers. I get distracted enough to start belting out the lyrics along with her. At least I’m on pitch.
“Hey!” I yell, and she turns down the volume as the car pulls up to a familiar spot. “This is Karina! My Karina.”
She laughs, heartily and full. “Well done, stallion. It is Karina. Let’s go.”
“What the fuck?” I blink heavily in the fading daylight. “Is the power on inside?” A spark of light flickers behind a crack in the newspapers covering the shop windows.
“I’m not sure.” But she looks every bit sure.
She grabs my first finger, then hands me the crutch from the backseat with a knowing smirk.
The pain is a lot less now. But I can’t wait to get cast off and return to working out and playing soccer. I’ve gained about ten pounds of fat in the last few weeks. And it all went straight to my gut. Scout says some of it went to my ass.
I spanked her for that.
She leads me toward the glass double doors and rummages in her coat pocket, then produces a key.
“Scout…what did you do?” I ask, pointing an accusatory finger at the lock.
Scout only grins nefariously, then opens the door. My heart pounds against my rib cage as I spy what’s inside.
Not what, but who…
My parents. Scout’s parents. My brothers. Hers. My sister, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Valen and his appointed, Olivia. Oz and Adal. Some Marauders and some Deltas.
And they’re all looking at me.
“Surprise!” they cheer.
Dad approaches and slaps a hand on my back. “Welcome to Karina! You’re the new owner. Well, you and Scout are. Congrats!”
“Who did this? How? What?”
Dad’s smile cracks until his eyes are lined with tears. “We knew. Always did, and there’s no one else who would be better suited to bring this place back than you. We just… We got some help getting it for you.”
Warmth fills my chest. “All of you?”
Scout grabs my hand and squeezes. “The main investors are your parents and mine, but there’s also a silent investor.”
Valen throws up his hands as if he’s said it a million times. “Not silent. Not an investor. Gift giver.”
“Fucker!” I yell, but can’t help but smile. The fact that he’s even out in public is amazing. And showing up for me, gifting me a restaurant. “Did you do this?” I whisper into my wife’s hair, pulling her close to my side.
She nods. “You deserve it. You deserve everything.”
I press my forehead to hers and gather her lemon-flavored lips enough to whisper, “I love you. Thank you.”
“Cake! Ice cream! Let’s celebrate!” Mom calls out as tears stream down her cheeks.
Everyone moves toward the walls, where makeshift buffet tables have been arranged. Along with plastic folding chairs. The first meal here in a long time.
Dr. Turner-Whittemore gathers me into a tight hug. G gives me a pat on the back.
“We’re so proud of you. Both of you,” Scout’s mom says.
I shrug, not knowing what to say. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Leo bumps into me, shakes his finger in my face with mock seriousness. “No excuses. Not a day late on rent. I’m serious.”
“Got it.”
Scout shoves him away with a friendly push and a warning in her stare.
After arranging myself into a little chair, I stuff more cake in my face. Chocolate, of course. But it dawns on me, the one worry I have about bringing Karina back.
“Who are we going to have running her while we’re away?”
My wife turns to me with her eyebrows raised. “Huh?”
“When you go to wherever for med school—”
Her hand reaches for my thigh, and she gives it a squeeze. “Northview needs me. And I’m not leaving. We’re staying. This is where I belong and where I want to be.”
I shake my head, wondering how I thought of myself as less than. Even poor compared to the others at NU…
Tonight? I’m the richest fucking person in the world.
Scout shrugs. “Because the Seven always know what’s best for us.”
For a moment, she holds my gaze, then breaks into laughter. It trickles over into my chest until we’re both chuckling so hard, we have tears in our eyes.