Page 16 of His Flawed Ride

“Red,” he tells me and then picks up the next. “Blue.”

I grin. “That’s right. Who’s a clever little man, huh?”

For the first time he smiles at me with ease.

“How about after dinner, you paint me a picture I can take home with me?”

He nods enthusiastically and I glance up to see Harper watching us with her own smile.

“He’s a beautiful boy, Harps.”

“He is,” she agrees, adding, “From the moment he was born, he became my everything.”

“I know that feeling.”

“When did it leave? Cause I can’t imagine a time when he’s not the absolute world to me.”

It was only a matter of time before she broke the façade of politeness. But to this question, I know the answer.

“It was when you didn’t need me anymore.”

I can barely look her in the eye.

“I never stopped needing you. You made it so I had to not need anyone.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t the one who made you that way, I’m just saying, when I saw how you relied on yourself, I…”

“Dinner’s ready!” JJ hollers and we both share a sigh of relief.

In the dining room, there are more photos hanging on the wall. Mostly of Gunner with various family members, but theone that becomes my favourite instantly is the one of him and Harper sat on a swing. Their matching smiles is almost a fuck-you to me that my fuck-ups haven’t ruined their lives.

The table is set for four with Gunner positioned at the head of the table. Harper and JJ sit either side of him and I pull out the chair beside my daughter.

The food smells amazing and my mouth waters at the homemade lasagne. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten homemade anything.

“So where have you been, Lily, that took you away from your daughter and your grandson?”

I bite down on my tongue and roll with the venom in his tone. Harper kicks at his leg under the table but he doesn’t break his stare with me.

“I stopped with my cousin for a while then I went…”

“We’re not doing this now. We’re eating then we’ll talk,” Harper grates out.

To change the conversation or from the awkward silence returning, I say, “I can’t believe these houses. I mean, it makes sense, the guys spend so much time here.” I’m rambling.

“It was Dad’s idea, then when Leo got out of prison, it ran away with itself and now it’s home.”

“Leo went to prison?”

Precious Leo Jackson? The light of Cas and Alannah’s eye was caught doing something he shouldn’t. That shit surprises me.

“Yep, but he’s been out for a while now.”

“That’s crazy.” I know better than to ask what he went away for and it seems my daughter knows better than to let her mouth run away with itself.

“Nothing crazy about it. It’s completely normal how much you miss when you run out of town,” JJ quips.

Ignoring him, I ask, “How is everyone? I’m still in shock Cas gave up the gavel.”