Page 70 of His Flawed Ride

“Shane? Are you even listening?”

Snapping back to reality, Annie is by the back door, fully dressed and I’m still in the doorway.

“Sorry, I zoned out for a second.”

She grins. “Where’d you go to?”

“It doesn’t matter. So, do you like the place? Will it do for now?”

She smiles. “Yeah. It’s perfect.”

“I’ll bring your things over later.”

“You will definitely stay here with me?”

“Sure.”

I have somehow found myself sat in the bar with Annie nestled in at my side and my arm around her.

“Yo, Shane! Join me at the bar!” Grim hollers.

“I’ll be back,” I tell Annie and slip away.

Grim already has two beers in when I join him.

“As soon as I leave you get yourself an old ladyandknock her up.”

“Nah, it’s not like that.” I look over my shoulder, Annie is talking with Stevie. “To be honest, brother, I don’t fuckin’ know what’s going on anymore.”

I explain the situation, it doesn’t become any clearer as he listens, nor when he sighs.

“How the fuck are you gonna handle a baby on your own?”

“Fuck knows, I’ve got no choice but to find out.”

“Trust you to get caught out from a one-nighter.” He laughs, then continues, “But once your kid is born and you hold it inyour arms, when they look up at you, something changes in you. You’re a good guy, Shane, you’re gonna be fine.”

“I’m trying to take it day by day. Anything past that, I start to freak out.”

“How are you doing after Harper’s mom killed herself?”

Frowning, I ask, “Why ask?”

“I heard you had a thing with her.”

“I’ve had a thing with most women around town. I don’t know, it’s sad, but I ain’t gonna lose sleep over her.”

His laughter takes me back. “I forget how laid back you are.”

“Yeah, cause you left, brother. How’s it going being back on the mountain? Not regretting it yet?”

“Fuck no. It’s like a different place there with Nora and Spencer. It’s no longer suffocating.”

“Can having an old lady really change your whole life?”

“I can’t speak for everyone, but it did for me. I wouldn’t change a fuckin’ thing.”

Leo joins us and signals for a beer before saying, “I just got off the phone with the sheriff. Harry’s parents have withdrawn the missing person’s report. Apparently, the sister wasn’t happy.”