Page 40 of Puck My Life

I approach from behind, sliding my hand up under his shirt, sliding around his stomach, and lean my chin on his shoulder.

“Trust me on this, my beloved. There is something else.”

Raynor covers my forearm with his hand and leans his head back. “I don’t want her to go.”

I press closer to him. “We’ll figure out what she wants and fix it.”

“What if it is a baby? What if it is love?”

I kiss his neck. “We love her. We can give her a child.”

“Yes, but we aren’t in love with her. I’ve wondered sometimes how it would have felt living here with us all these years. She does a lot for us. Cooks, cleans, takes care of us, and we live our best lives and dreams, while she just exists on the fringes of our lives. I’ve wondered if she would leave us one day.”

“She is our family. Our best friend. She’s part of our pack. Why would she need anything else?”

“Why?”

I whip my head around and find her standing in the doorway, her eyes hard like I've never seen them.

“Why would I need anything else? Because maybe I would like to have sex. Maybe I would like to be intimate with a person. Fall in love. Come home to a clean house!” she screams.

“You never said anything before!” I shoot back at her. The thought of her having sex with anyone makes me want to tear the house apart.

“I’m saying it now. I’m saying this…is not enough for me. Deacon, I want more. I want to follow my dreams.“

“What are your dreams?”

She gapes at me. “How can you not know that? I’ve been telling you since I was fourteen?”

I try to think, but I’m coming up blank. But I just honestly can’t remember. I could have told her a minute ago, but, right now, my mind is blank.

“You want to,” I lick my lips, feeling distinctly uneasy, “have a baby?”

“NO!” she shrieks and stalks into the kitchen, sitting down at the table. “I want opportunities and chances. My dream has always been to run my own café. A little, tiny piece of heaven that sells cakes like Maria taught me and gives people a nice place to sit.”

I stare at her like she’s grown a second head. “You’ve never told me that.” It’s a lie. She has told me that, but she’s talking to me, she’s cracking. I am almost gleeful.

She scowls and swipes at her cheek.

She’s crying? Oh, no, this is serious.

“I told you. I told you so many times. You drew me a sketch that I still have. We named it together. It’s called Neverland. You chose the name, Deacon.”

I blink at her, trying to settle the hollow in my chest from seeing her tears. “I don’t remember that.” Of course, I remember that. I still have the sketches I did.

“I helped you get here. Your dreams are right here for you to take. You don’t need me.”

“Yes, we do!” Mal protests.

“No, you don’t-”

“We need you!” Raynor almost shouts.

“You have a girlfriend. Hell, you’ve had a whole lost parade of girlfriends who can help you. Plus the Scented Scorpions will help out if you need.”

“Why now?”

She tenses. It’s just a small movement, but I lock onto it like a shark scenting blood in the water.