Page 70 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings

“Thank you for staying, Staten. You damn sure didn’t have to put up with me or my father,” I acknowledged, falling in stride with him while we exited the facility into the cool evening air.

“Nah, he’s alright with me. I appreciate somebody that’s blunt,” he replied, sucking in some fresh air and shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweater jacket.

“He’s that if nothing else.”

“That’s where you get it from,” he pointed out.

“I am not that bad.” I bumped him playfully with my shoulder.

He chuckled before glancing at me as we continued into the parking lot toward our cars. I noticed he’d parked right beside mine.

“You was a savage with Rogue that first night you met him.”

“Your son was the savage,” I reminded him.

“True. You gave that shit right back though.”

We stopped at the back of my car, and he faced me.

“You good with driving back?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m a big girl.”

Staten studied me, sweeping me away with those coal orbs of his. I sensed there was something else on his mind. Heat spread over every inch of me as my heart threatened to escape my control. With the cusp of his hand, he swiped his beard. Tension brewed between us, the kind that crept up your spine and into your chest, sending a sea of butterflies swimming in your stomach. Usually the kids were able to distract me from it, but in this moment, that wasn’t the case.

“I was at the door when you were talking to him… about your mother and her accident.”

“It was a long time ago, but sometimes it still feels pretty fresh when he’s in that state,” I whispered. “I’ve tried to let it go, but when he doesn’t remember, it just makes it that much harder.”

“So, she had an accident then an aneurysm?”

“She was driving home one night, and there was some kind of car chase nearby there was gunfire. She ended up getting hit by one of the cars, and then the aneurysm came,” I explained, watching his face turn somber.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

He held up his wrist and checked the time.

“How about we go grab something to eat on the way back?” he suggested.

“Are you sure? Have you checked on Sol with the Terror Squad?”

“She just text me. They’re good. She ordered dinner and they’re playing board games and watching movies. I met with the school today and got them enrolled. Official start date is Wednesday, which means I need to do school shopping tomorrow.”

“I am kind of starving.” I scrunched up my nose as my stomach growled.

“Follow me. I know a spot.”

He went to his car, and I got in mine. About thirty minutes later, we arrived outside of a small restaurant on the side of the highway. Trail Bistro was in big bold letters on a sign in the parking lot, which was packed. Staten pulled in, and I was right behind him. I parked and my phone buzzed with a new text message from Plum.

Bestie: So what am I now, chopped liver? (sad face emoji)

Me: LOL. Been a day. Grabbing some food with Staten on the way home. I’ll call you when I get there.

Bestie: Staten? Home? (looking eyes emoji)

Me: BYE!