Page 45 of Exile & Lula

“I have cameras everywhere around the house,” I said and showed him on my phone. “There’s also security in the neighborhood. Plus, people here are just nosy.

“I rolled right up to your house.”

“Yes, but if you weren’t you, I wouldn’t have opened the door. If you were a threat, I’d have hit the alarm and run to my safe room.”

Exile’s eyes lit up at the idea of a safe room in the house. I took him to see the secret room in the back of my closet.

“I never thought of putting something like this in for Nova and the girls,” he said, looking over the setup.

We spent the next fifteen minutes talking safe room details before the security cameras showed Elle’s SUV pulling around the corner. Leaving Exile to admire the fortified room, I walked outside to meet Dillon.

My daughter hitched her backpack higher as she walked past her grandparents’ house to our place. My daughter held herself with such a steely confidence. I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful child.

Her dark eyes flashed to the driveway where Exile’s bike remained. I waited to see if she grew upset over his presence.

“We had a lunch date,” I said, meeting her outside.

“And how did that go?”

“He can only stay for a few more days. I’d like him to sleep here rather than at Rowdy’s.”

Glancing around me into the house, Dillon shrugged. “Okay.”

She started up the walkway to the house. “Elle said Cher might wake up soon.”

My chest instantly clenched at the memory of Cher’s body hitting the ground. I felt stuck as I replayed visiting the sisters in the hospital. Even though Stevie said she didn’t want visitors, I felt a need to see them. Maybe they’d be open to me stopping by tomorrow.

I finally walked inside the house to find that Dillon had gone to her room. She emerged a few minutes later to find Exile and me in the kitchen. Her gaze took in the sight of him.

“That’s my uncle’s shirt,” Dillon said and opened the fridge to find a snack.

“I didn’t think to bring clothes with me when I came to check on your mom.”

Dillon removed a bag of baby carrots and took one out. She looked us over and then bit into her snack.

“Why can’t you have one of the club’s prospects pick you up clothes?” Dillon suggested. “Mom said you were staying for a few days, right?”

Seeming unsure, Exile only mumbled, “I guess we could do that.”

“Wearing my uncle’s shirts is fine, but I assume you’re not changing your man underwear or jeans.”

Exile gave her a little grin. “I see your point.”

Dillon was a natural problem solver. She never embraced drama or let issues fester.

Over the next half hour, I helped Exile locate clothes to be picked up by the club’s prospects. I also checked Dillon’s homework as she flew through page after page. By the time my parents showed up at the front door, Exile’s clothes were chosen, and Dillon’s homework was completed.

“You’re still around,” Pax said to Exile, who only nodded. “Are you moving in?”

“No, but I’ll be here for another day or two.”

Pax glanced at me and then at Exile. My dad could be difficult to read in moments like these. Bebe was more obvious. She wanted Exile to get gone, so we could speak in private.

“Can you take Xena out to the yard?” I asked Exile. “She’s dying to relieve herself.”

We all looked at Xena curled up in her bed, sound asleep.

Exile smiled at me. “How can I say no when a dog begs that way?”