"Sorry." I smiled, leaning against the doorfra.
"How was your weekend?" she asked, handing one end of a sheet.
"It was good ’til Mav got a call, and now, he’s off to the compound."
"Is he patching in?" Mom asked.
"You don’t know?"
"I suspected, but you know your dad doesn’t share."
I sighed, handing her my folded end of the sheet. "He really doesn’t tell you anything?"
"Well, no, but he doesn’t share unless I needle him, and he feels he can tell sothing."
I rolled my eyes. "See? I don’t think I can do that."
She set the sheet on the folding counter and then faced again. "What does Mav want to do?"
"He wants to patch in."
"I see."
"But he wants to think about it because he doesn’t want to do it unless I’m a hundred percent in."
Mom gave a sympathetic smile.
"Adulting’s hard," I whined.
Mom chuckled. "Right?"
"How do you handle it?"
"Your dad was in the club when I t him, sweetness, so it’s all I’ve ever known." She crossed her arms and leaned against the dryer. "Daddy shares enough with , though, and I think the other guys are like that with their old ladies, too. At least, in our imdiate group. The older ones, probably not so much."
"But what’s ’enough’?"
She shrugged. "I can’t answer that for you, honey."
"Yes, you can," I countered. "I give you permission."
Mom grinned. "The fact Mav’s asking you to think about this shows —and it should show you—that he will always consider your feelings in the decisions he makes. So right there, honey, that’s a good thing."
"Well, he’s a good guy."
"I know." She reached her hand out. "Do I get to see the ring, or did you say no?"
"Oh!" I squealed. "I forgot about the ring!" I held out my hand, and she oohed and aahed over the setting and diamond, hugging tightly.
"I am so unbelievably proud of you, sweetness." She cupped my face, and I didn’t miss the tears in her eyes. "You’ve taken your dreams by the balls and made them happen, and you deserve this."
"Thanks, Mama." I hugged her again. "I love you."
"Love you too, baby girl."
"So... should I say yes or no?"
"You’ve already said yes."
"To the patching in... I’m going to marry him, obviously."
She laughed. "Can’t answer that one for you, Lil."
"Dammit!"
"I love most things about the club, if that helps. The secrecy doesn’t even bother that much. I was kind of used to it in a roundabout way, being so close to your uncle Brock and being kept out of all of his super-secret mission stuff." She cupped my chin. "I have a feeling Mav won’t make a whole lot of moves without you, so whether he’s in or he’s out, you two will be the sa couple you’ve always been."
"I guess that’s true." I smiled. "You’re kind of smart, you know that?"
"Don’t tell anyone. Bimbo’s my M.O."
I laughed. Bimbo was so far from my mom it wasn’t even funny. "Okay, I’m going to read for a bit. Want to cook tonight?"
"I would love for you to cook!"
"I’m on it."
"Thanks, honey."
I headed downstairs and grabbed my bag then made my way to my room. I had a lot to think about, so instead of reading, I sorted through my clothes until it was ti to start prepping for dinner.
Six o’clock rolled around, and Dad still wasn’t ho (neither was Maverick), so Mom, Hunter, Case, and I ate without him. My brothers scarfed down the mac ’n’ cheese I’d prepared, which always made feel good. I loved to cook, but I loved it even better when people enjoyed it.
"You boys are on dishes," Mom said when Hunter jumped up to grab seconds.
I heard the garage door open, and I made a run for it. Yanking it open, I peered out to see Dad walking his bike in. "Is Maverick with you?"
"Hi Dad, how was your day? I missed you this weekend," he deadpanned and slid the kickstand down.
I smiled, stepping into the garage and hugging him. "Hi, Dad, how was your day? I missed you this weekend. Is Maverick ho?"
He chuckled, kissing my cheek. "Yeah, baby girl. He was right behind ."
My phone buzzed just as I followed Dad back into the house.
Maverick: I’m ho, baby doll. Want to co here?
: Yeah, give five.
"I’m running next door," I called, pulling on my shoes.
"I’ll walk you," Hunter called back.
I wrinkled my nose but knew arguing would only delay the inevitable. "Thanks."
Hunter appeared before and slipped on his shoes then followed outside. At seventeen, he was almost as commanding as Maverick had been at his age, but my brother was not a jock. He was firmly in the nerd camp with his freakish computer hacking ways and disinterest in sports of any kind. I wondered what kind of girl he’d end up with.
"You don’t need to walk twenty-five feet next door, Hunt."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I do."
"You’re so ssing with the system, little brother."
"I get that won can do anything a man can do, Lil, and that we’re equals, but the truth of the matter is, most n are bigger and stronger than won are, so I want to make sure you’re safe."
I sighed. I couldn’t really argue with that logic. Especially when it ca to . I was barely five-foot-four, and although I was strong because dancing made that way, I’m not sure I could take down a man Hunter’s size, let alone soone bigger.
Maverick stepped out on his porch and gave Hunter a chin lift. "Thanks, man."
Hunter nodded in response. "No problem."
"Love you, Hunter," I called.
He grinned and headed back ho. I climbed the stairs and walked into Maverick’s hug. He kissed my head and gave a gentle squeeze then ushered inside.
"How did it go?" I asked, slipping my shoes off.
"Good."
"And..."
"And it went well, baby doll."
I sighed. "Okay, okay, I’ll drop it... for now."
He chuckled. "Thanks. Wanna co show Mom how good that ring looks on your finger?"
"Yes!" I said, excitedly.
Leaning down, he kissed gently. "Needed that first."
"You can have that first anyti."
He grinned, taking my hand and walking into the kitchen where everyone was eating. "Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t an to interrupt dinner," I said.
Cassidy gave a dismissive wave as she rose to her feet. "You aren’t, honey."
"Hey, Lil," Ace said.
"Hey."
Liam gave a chin lift, and I bit back a giggle. He was such a mini Ace. "Hey," he said.
"Lily!" Tillie said, excitedly. "Do you like my hair?
"Ohmigosh, I love it, Till." Maverick’s little sister had purple streaks on the underside of her blond hair, and it looked really cool.
"Are you hungry?" Cassidy asked.
"I just ate actually." I hugged her and then glanced up at Maverick. "Did you eat?"
"Not yet."
"I’ll co back," I said.
He held firm. "No. I’ll grab sothing later."
"Or you could eat with your family, and I can co back or sit with you while you do."
"Let see the ring," Cassidy ordered while Maverick grabbed himself a plate.
I sat beside Cassidy and slid my hand toward her. Tillie wanted to see it next, so I obliged.
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