Ire glanced at Misty. “No idea.”
She launched off the bench and marched away, shouting, “Fuckers!”
The three of us laughed.
“I’m out.” I threw up my hand and took my beer to my room. Maybe I’d do some online shopping, buy some things for my girl and my son.
If Storm meant what he said, and I had every reason to believe he did, I’d have my family back before I knew it.
2
Dodge
My whole body was stiff. Fear paralyzed me while Birdie slept in my arms. My biceps were flexed, my shoulder muscles hard as iron. When Maddy had told me at the party a few days ago to spend some time with her to learn how to care for a baby, I didn’t know she meant to hold Birdie while she slept.
Don’t get me wrong. Her squishy little body felt good in my arms. She smelled sweet and made the cutest faces. For the last fifteen minutes, I imagined my son making the same expressions and sounds. It made me cry inside. My son should’ve been my first experience with a baby.
I flicked my eyes at Maddy as she moved about the kitchen. She loved to bake. When the mood struck, she spoiled the club with all kinds of treats. Before her, we only had cake or cupcakes for someone’s birthday, and there were usually store-bought cookies in the pantry for my cousins and Sugar’s twins. She and Tina didn’t like to bake.
I didn’t get sweet treats as a kid, so I never knew what I was missing. I was lucky to get a home-cooked meal once a week. With Maddy here, baking up a storm when the wind changed, my brothers and I ate it up. We devoured everything she made. Even Prez enjoyed his wife’s goodies.
“Which is your favorite, Dodge? White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?” She raised three bags as if I understood what she was asking. Weren’t they all good?
I looked down at Birdie like I’d find the answer on her forehead. Whenever someone asked me what I liked, I didn’t know what to say. Questions had often been used to trick me by my mom and her latest boyfriend. If I answered wrong, I was punished. I’d learned quickly to never complain, accept what I got, and my feelings didn’t matter. Most of all, I learned everything could be used against me.
“Um, don’t know.”
“How do you not know?” She rounded the island and came to where I sat at one of the tables. She dropped a kiss on Birdie’s head. “What’s your favorite cookie?”
“I like them all.” Not true. I wasn’t a fan of walnuts, but I would never admit it.
She twisted her lips like she didn’t believe me. “Okay, of the cookies I’ve baked, which is your favorite?”
“I like all of them.” Just some more than others. The loaded oatmeal cookies had walnuts, but I managed to power through when offered one and thanked her for it.
Maddy crossed her arms over her chest and pushed her hip out. “You’re not making this easy for me.”
“Sorry.” I grimaced, my heart rate picking up. Upsetting Prez’s woman was the last thing I wanted to do. Maybe hanging out with Maddy and the baby was a bad idea. Usually, I kept to myself to avoid feeling vulnerable. It was stupid. I was a grown man, able to protect myself. But after years of abuse, I’d come to realize my mind had a way of fucking with me, making me think otherwise.
Birdie stirred, twisting her head and stretching her arm. My muscles locked up and I held my breath.
Would she wail for her momma or settle back down? Would Maddy come to my aid if she screamed? My heart raced faster.
“She’s so precious.” Maddy placed her hand gently on the top of Birdie’s head. And just like that, the baby calmed.
Relief flooded my chest, yet I couldn’t breathe normally. I held it in.
“Wow,” I whispered, my chest tight. “One touch and she went back to sleep.”
“It’s taken weeks to figure out her habits and what she likes.”
“Habits?” I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Yep. Babies have habits just like grown-ups. Birdie likes for Storm to rock her to sleep after I’ve fed her.” She smiled brightly. “He talks to her about club life, his brothers, and me. His voice seems to soothe her.”
“I can’t imagine Storm doing that.”
Maddy sniggered. “I know he doesn’t show it much, but he’s a softy, especially with his daughter. There’s nothing sexier than a man holding a baby.” She winked, nodding at her baby cuddled in my arms. “Speaking of which, if you’re not going to tell me which cookies to bake, I’ll go ask my man.”