“What?” Tammy couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. What a question.
“You and Jayden.” Belle shrugged. “Banging.”
“Well … I…”
“Just… I ain’t never seen him so happy. He’s smiling and stuff, didn’t know he had teeth.” Belle laughed and took a sip of her water. “I figure you’re good for him, whatever it is you’re doing.”
“We’re close, yes … and…”
Belle raised her eyebrows at Tammy.
Tammy laughed and enjoyed the release of emotion. “Yes, we’re close that way too. But only just. It’s taken a while, you know, after Gary and everything.”
“Always best to get back in the saddle, that’s what I say. I had an ass wipe ex too, not as bad as yours, but when I hooked up with Wyatt, I moved on, put my ex in the history folder.”
“It feels right,” Tammy said. “But my father would freak. He never liked the fact his brother was an MC member, so he’d like me with one even less.”
“That bother you? What he thinks?”
Tammy thought for a moment. “As it happens, no. He believed all the lies Gary fed him about me being a lazy wife. And then ultimately, he wasn’t there for me when I needed him most. But Hudson was. I’ll never forget that. Not as long as I live.”
“And you shouldn’t. Fathers should be there for daughters. Mine’s behind bars, so he’s got an excuse, but he did instruct my brother Rigor to look out for me.”
“Oh, where’s your brother? Was he at the compound when I was there?”
“No, he’s president of the Phoenix chapter of the Barbarians. Tell you the truth his, and some of the other guys’, watchful eye over me was getting a bit much, if you know what I mean. I like it here with Wyatt. He’s all the man I need in my life.” She drained her water. “Thanks for that, but we need to scoot. We’ve got another drop at Maxi’s to do, not that I’ll be hanging around there. Skylar will just be after gossip.”
“She will?”
“When you come across her, which I’m sure you will, just remember she’s all bark and no bite.”
“Note taken.”
Belle stood. “Wyatt!” she yelled. “We need to go.”
He raced into a sliding kick, sand puffing into the air, and sent the ball toward Zak, who booted it so high Jayden could head it back to him.
“Great shot,” Wyatt called. He stood and looked at Belle, raised his hand.
“Thanks again for the drink,” Belle said. “It was good to see you.”
“Please visit anytime. Maybe we could get takeout or something?”
“I’d like that. Chinese, I’ve been craving that, it’s the sticky orange sauce that really hits the spot.” She laughed. “Didn’t even really like it before, but that’s pregnancy for you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jayden paused in the doorway of Zak’s bedroom and took in the sight of the young boy. Curled up under a rocket duvet cover, hugging his little rabbit, he was the image of peace. Something about his sleeping face tugged at Jayden’s heart in a new, intense way.
Zak was so small, so delicate, yet a blank page that remembered everything, good or bad. It pained him that he’d seen the rotten side of a man, yet at the same time, Jayden was in awe of the fact Zak had tried to defend his mother against someone so much bigger than he.
Zak has more honor and morals than his father will ever have.
“Is he asleep?” Tammy whispered. She put her hand on Jayden’s shoulder as she stepped around him.
“Yeah, out of it. All that beach soccer.”
“He enjoyed himself.” She crept in, stooped, and brushed Zak’s hair back from his brow. She gave him a soft kiss there.