“Because when Jasmine called me and asked me to pick this thing up”—he held up a plastic bag—“I thought it was for her. We just had a baby.”
“Right. And aren’t you supposed to wait six weeks before you have sex? It’s only been, like, two, hasn’t it?” Aros asked in confusion.
Chains groaned. “She was very persuasive!”
“Holy shit. Okay, well, no, it’s for Soleil,” Aros clarified.
“Well, I know that now, asshole. I’m dropping it off to you,” Chains snapped.
Aros snickered.
“Just for that, I hope she is. And I hope it’s twins, and they don’t want to sleep at night.”
He stomped off, then I heard his bike rev and take off.
“Charming fellow, Chains,” Calix remarked with a grin.
“If it’s twins and they don’t sleep, I’ll come help take care of them,” Hayden offered, and I smiled.
“Aww, thank you! You’re still so sweet.”
Calix snorted. “For you maybe, but I can promise you that you’re the only one.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Hayden grumbled good-naturedly. “I’m always a nice guy.”
Calix busted out laughing. “Oh, that’s rich. You’re the grumpiest asshole I’ve ever met. Well, Venom might have you beat.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Aros warned as he smirked.
“So, where are you living? We never got around to that,” I asked, changing the subject with an eye roll.
“I’ve been in Italy, but it’s time for me to move. We can only stay in one place for so long,” he explained. He chewed on the inside of his cheek. Another tell that I remembered. He was hesitating.
“Where are you moving to?”
“Well, I was kind of digging this town called Ankeny,” he drawled.
It took a second for it to sink in. I squealed and jumped up to throw myself at him. I practically tipped over his chair.
My life had taken a complete one-eighty. I’d gone from not knowing who I was, and having nothing, to having friends that I considered family. I’d gained my brother back and I had the man I loved.
Maybe I’d been through a lot of horrible shit, but it made me into a stronger person, and I was now so blessed.