There’s no reason to drag this out and I’m not one to waste words. “I want to try to make things work with Lilly.”
Her whole face lights up, clearly pleased with this news.
“That’s great.” Her face settles into something more serious. “Where does that leave Stella?”
Uncomfortable with the question, I can’t meet her eyes. Instead, I run my hand over the back of my head and look at my feet. “I thought you liked her?”
“Oh, I like her fine. Not for you. But in general, yes.”
“Not for me? Why?”
She frowns. “Did you or did you not just tell me you want to make things work with Lilly?”
“Yeah, but I never heard you say you had reservations about Stella before.”
Clearly annoyed, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, for one, she doesn’t seem to make you happy.”
“That’s it?”
“Isn’t that enough?” She blows out a breath. “Honestly, I don’t think she’s interested in kids or having a family—which is totally fine—but that’s something you want,” she says a little gentler. “And now you have a son, so…”
I snort and shake my head. “You should’ve said so sooner, First Lady. Saved me some grief.”
“You guys don’t want me sticking my nose in your personal lives.”
“No, but we probably need you to.”
“Z, you’re older than me. If you make a mom joke, I’ll have to kill you.”
That cracks me up. I hold my hands in the air. “No mom jokes. I promise.”
“I get enough of those from Murphy and Teller,” she grumbles.
“I bet.” I laugh again. “You’re probably right about Stella though. And just so you know, I broke things off with her today.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“In person. I’m not a shithead.”
“Well, I’m sorry. That sucks.”
“No, it doesn’t. You were right. She made it clear she had no interest in kids.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh.” She seems to think about the situation a little more. “Maybe you hurt her feelings and she was trying to save face?”
I kind of doubt that. “Maybe.”
“Well, I’m proud of you. I’m sure that was a sucky conversation.”
I shrug. “What other sisterly advice have you got for me?”
Her mouth twists into a smirk and she tips her head to the side, pretending to come up with something. “Well, you need to set your anger aside if you want to make things work with Lilly.”
“I’m trying. Honest.” I squeeze my eyes shut and go over all the ways our situation is so fucked and my desire to un-fuck it all. “I want to help her out and do whatever I can, but she’s prickly.”
“How so?”
“I dunno, I tried giving her money. I feel like a deadbeat, you know? I’ve never—”
“Well, she didn’t exactly give you the chance to help out, Z.”
“Yeah, and I could be a dick and use that as an excuse not to do my part, but that’s not who I am.”
She rests her hand on my arm. “I know. So, what’d she say?”
“She was pissed. Tracked me down at CB to give it back.”
“Wait. Back up. How did you give her the money?”
“I was running late, so I left it on the kitchen counter.”
“Hmm.” She taps her finger against her chin. “Sophie used to joke that Lilly was a gold-digger because she only liked to date older men. But she’s always been really independent.”
The idea of Lilly dating anyone ever again makes my vision blur red at the edges.
“Easy, Z.”
“She can be as independent as she wants, I just want to take care of my son.”
“I know you do. And you will. You’re both going to have to learn how to communicate with each other. Talk about your expectations and plans for Chance.”
“I don’t want to interfere with anything. She’s a great mom. It’s obvious his health and happiness is her priority.”
Her face softens. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I feel left out, you know?”
She bites her bottom lip and her eyes blaze with anger. “Ugh. I’m still so mad she did this to you. Being a good mom also means not depriving her son of his father.”
“I appreciate that, Hope. But I also need…I want her to be comfortable here. I’m going to try to bring her up soon. Can you do your best to make her feel welcome?”
“Oh, Z.” She wraps her hand around my forearm. “Of course, I will. I’m upset that she hurt you, but if you’re moving past it, then I certainly can.”
I’m able to breathe again. Any other club or old lady might have told me Lilly was on her own and should expect an ass-whooping from the other old ladies. But that’s never been Hope’s style and that’s why we all respect her so damn much.
“Thank you. That means a lot to me. And just so you know, she’s upset about messing up your friendship too.”
“I wish she would’ve talked to me sooner. I would’ve helped her out and I really want to get to know Chance.”
“He’s so cool, Hope. Smart too. Must get that from her.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.” She taps my VP patch. “I don’t think you would’ve lasted this long as VP if you weren’t smart.”
“Nah, I’m just scared of your husband.”
She tosses her head back and laughs. “Bullcrap. He trusts you implicitly and you don’t seem to irritate him half as much as Wrath loves to.”
“Truth.”
Abruptly, her laughter stops, and she pins me with a more serious look. “I’ve known Lilly a long time. If things don’t work out for you two later on, I won’t abandon her. You should know that now.”
I chuckle, because it’s a perfectly Hope response and it doesn’t surprise or bother me at all. It’s why I like her so damn much and why she fits into the club so well. Girl’s loyal to her core.
“Either way, she’s always gonna be the mother of my son, so I appreciate it. That’s what I want.”
“Exactly.” She opens her arms and leans up on her tiptoes for a hug. “This is going to be great. All of our kids growing up together and never being alone.”
The wistful catch in her voice reminds me that she’s an only child. “I grew up with two younger brothers and hated every second.”
“This will be different.”
I can’t help smiling at her enthusiasm and hugging her back.
“I’m happy for the three of you.” After a few seconds, she releases me and stands back. “Anything else?”
“I think she has some…ideas about the club. When she’s here, can you show her that it’s family-friendly?”
She chuckles and nods. “I’ll make sure Heidi, Murphy, and Alexa are here. Maybe Charlotte can convince Carter to come up too.”
“He’s not a kid.”
“No, but he’s family who isn’t an official part of the club. That might help reassure Lilly.” She rubs her hands together. “Plus, with the wild things that come out of his mouth, when no one murders him at the dinner table, she’ll know Chance is perfectly safe here.”
“Sneaky.”
She smiles even wider. “If you can convince her to stay over, we’ll set you up in our old suite. Chance can have Alexa’s old room. Or we’ll move some things around so you’re all comfortable.”
I have to hug her again. This is more than I asked for. “Thank you so much, Hope.”
Someone clears their throat behind us, and I don’t need eyes in the back of my head to know it’s Rock.
“This is the second time this week I’ve found your hands on my woman,” he says.
I turn and the quirk of his lips betrays his grave tone. Clutching my chest, I widen my eyes. “Prez, are you making a joke?”
Baby Grace is resting in his arms, curled against his chest, and he runs his hand over her back before answering with a stern, clipped, “No.”
?
?Oh, geez.” Hope steps forward and gently takes her daughter. “Stop being mean to Z, he needed my help with something.”
“He needs help, all right.” Rock leans down and kisses her, then whispers something in her ear.
“I’ll catch you later.” She reaches out and squeezes my arm before hurrying off into the kitchen.
“I need a word with you.” Rock gestures toward the war room.
Seriously? “Prez, we were just talking.”
He frowns and slaps his hand on my back, sliding it to the base of my neck to steer me down the hallway. “You honestly think I don’t trust you around my wife?”
“No. So why you being all weird and shit?”
The guys in the living room are still rowdy and wound up. They call out to us, but Rock waves them off and pushes me into the war room.
The door clicks behind us and he doesn’t bother to take his seat, so I guess whatever this is won’t take long.
“You call things off with Stella?” Rock asks.
I frown at the question. Rock’s not one to usually involve himself in our personal lives unless we force him to by asking for his advice.