Chapter 13
Harlow
Iwake up with thesunshine warming the skin of my cheek. With a smile, I stretch out my arms and legs, making overly dramatic sounds as I do, but fuck, does it ever feel good.
Life is good. I have yet to have a fucking D-Day, though. It's been two weeks since I had one of the best playdates in a long while. It was fun having someone join me, and the sex was fucking amazing, so that's a plus. I’ve wanted to go and see Rosie, but Cass has locked himself in the house with her. He needs to deal, and he's gone into papa bear mode. He doesn't want anyone around her right now, and I can understand that.
But he's gotta get it through his head that I'm Rosie's mother now. I don't care what he thinks. That little girl is mine too. I want her to have everything I didn't get to. A real, loving, caring mother figure who will die before letting the monsters in the closet get to her, not invite them in for fucking tea. There's something about that little girl that just makes you feel things, good things, happy, sunny, unicorn, and rainbow type of things. Normally, I would rather get hit by a bus than feel this shit, but with kids, I’ll allow it. With her, I'll even welcome it with my arms open.
There's a knock at the door, and I drag my naked ass out of bed. When I open it, not giving a fuck who sees me, I find Evie eye level with my tits. Her eyes are locked in on my nipples like a missile.
“Ahem,” I say, with a smile.
Her eyes flick up to mine, and a blush takes over her cheeks. “Umm, sorry,” she says, clearing her throat. “I didn't mean to wake you, but it's important.”
I open the door, letting her in, and head into my closet to slip on a robe.
“You didn't wake me. I was about to get up anyways, but the bed was so warm and comfy that I just didn’t want to. Maybe if you come over for a sleepover sometime soon, I'd have something else to keep me warm.” Her eyes go wide, and I chuckle.
“So, what's so important that you’re rushing over here at 8 am on a Saturday,” I say, getting out my already brewed, iced coffee, and making her and myself a drink. “Not like I don't enjoy the time I can get with my number one,” I wink, and she smiles.
“Well, since those guys came along, you haven't had much time for me.” She sounds a little hurt by that.
“Aww, are you jelly?” I ask.
“No,” she mutters, but I can see it in her eyes.
“Awwww, is my E a Jelly Belly?” I taunt.
“Low,” she warns, but it's too late; I'm already on her, tickling her until she's laughing so hard, I'm sure she's about to piss her pants. I ease up, and she gasps for air.
“Alright, alright. Really, what's up?” I ask, taking a sip of my coffee. Her smile slips.
“Tracy didn't come home last night,” Evie says, not meeting my eyes.
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, now don't get mad, but she went on a date last night with some guy from a dating app,” Evie cringes.
I let out an angry growl. “I'm gonna kill that girl! She knows how I feel about them going out without me now. Or at the very least she should have taken backup, and now she's not back. Did you call her, track her phone?”
“Low, they are adults. You know the agreement we all have. We give her 48 hours, and if she doesn't contact us, then we worry. I know you want to keep them all safe in your Queenie bubble, but that's not what they want. They love you and appreciate everything you have done. You gave them their freedom back; now they have lives they want to live. Men they want to marry. Kids they want to have. They can't do that with you breathing down their necks,” Evie laughs as I glare.
“I can try,” I mutter, taking a sip of my coffee.
She raises a brow and smirks at me. “Fine!” I huff. “48 hours and that’s it. Not a second more!” I say, pointing a finger at her. She nips at it playfully and then heads for the door.
“Come on. We got shit to do, like a club to run,” Evie says.
“Oh! And people to kill!” I cheer.
“Not today, you don’t,” Evie denies as I lock the door behind us.
“E. You're really slacking on the D-Day front. We already skipped one. We can't skip anymore, or I'm gonna go nuts,” I protest as I trail behind her.
“Babe, you’re already a nut. Hell, you're the whole damn tree, plus the family of squirrels that lives in it,” she laughs.
“True that,” I laugh with her.