Page 21 of Scythe’s Salvation (Imperial Knights MC: Roanoke, VA #2)
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Tamara
“If you don’t calm down, I won’t be able to do the lines under your eyes,” I chide Chance who is hopping from one foot to another.
His uniform is gleaming, and I groan when I realize that the pants will never be that shade of white again.
While I took the hints from several other moms on the team who have older children that’ve played for years and scotch guarded his pants several times, I know how hard grass stains are to remove.
He has a bunch of jeans that still bear faint marks from his rambunctious play.
“I’m just excited, Mommy! Do we have everything we need?”
I snicker since that should be what I’m asking him, but I already know his bat bag has his glove, his bat, some batting gloves, and his cleats inside, and it’s already in the back of my SUV.
I have a cooler in there with plenty of drinks for him, including his favorite blue Gatorade, as well as orange slices to help keep him hydrated.
My tote bag has more sunblock, as well as two protein bars in case he gets hungry.
I also have change for the concession stand since we’re not the first game, but we have to arrive so damn early.
Thankfully, Scythe plans to meet us there because otherwise, I’d be making a million trips to my vehicle to get everything out.
“I just need to put my hat on,” I tell him. “Can’t let myself get a sunburn.”
“Then let’s go!” he exclaims, running for the side door that leads into the garage.
Shaking my head at his antics, I double check that the front door is locked as well as the back door before I follow him out.
Right now, I’m glad I have an app that’ll allow me to set my alarm once I back out of the garage and close the door.
While sitting in the driveway, I get that task done then head to the ballpark while I mentally prepare for a hot, sticky day.
I’m so preoccupied with Chance and his chattering excitement, I never notice that a non-descript black minivan is following me.
That’s going to come back and bite me in the ass.
“Strike two!” the umpire calls. I watch Chance step back and take a deep breath.
“Focus, Chance,” Scythe yells. When Chance’s gaze turns toward where Scythe’s standing at the fence, he continues. “You’ve got this. Take another breath, then get in that batter’s box and show them how to do it.”
Scythe’s been a godsend for Chance’s confidence. He’s taken him for extra batting practice, and whenever we go by the clubhouse, he has Callum and Chance out there either hitting balls to them or pitching.
I watch my son as his shoulders and spine straighten before getting in a batter’s stance and he does what Scythe suggests.
I feel like I’m barely breathing as I watch the ball leave the pitcher’s hand and arc toward my boy.
When Chance takes a step forward, swinging his bat, I find myself on my feet as I watch the ball go toward center field, where a little guy is running as fast as he can to catch it.
Only he misses and the ball hits the top of the fence and bounces over.
“Home run!” the umpire yells, circling his finger over his head to cheers from the bleachers.
Thankfully, I have my own chairs that come with cup holders.
Those bleachers get hot which I found out during several scrimmage games.
So, yeah, I promptly went and bought several chairs at the sporting goods store.
As I scream for him to run, I watch the two little boys who were ahead of him cross home plate then wait for Chance to arrive.
“Game!” the umpire says. “Ten run rule.”
I grin as Scythe walks toward where the opening is to the player’s dugout while I gather everything I brought to make it easier to transport back to my car.
I can hear him telling the team they did a great job as he helps Chance make sure he’s got all of his stuff.
My heart swells, though, when I see them walking together and notice how animated Chance is as he looks up at Scythe.
Watching their bond growing makes my heart smile and I’m so focused on the two of them that I nearly go on my ass when Chance plows into me.
“Mommy! Did you see? We won the game!” he screeches, temporarily making me wish I had hearing aids so I could turn down the volume or something. I think he might’ve ruptured an ear drum which I must have said out loud since Scythe starts laughing.
“Here, let’s help your mom up,” he suggests, holding out his hand. “You okay?” he asks once I’m back on my feet.
“I think I’m temporarily deaf,” I admit, grinning up at him. “They were awesome, weren’t they?”
“Yeah, they were. Did you get his hit on video?” he questions.
“What do you think?” I sass waving my phone in his face. “I have all his big life moments on video so someday, when he gets married, I can make one of his biggest hits.”
“Well, that was definitely a big one,” he teases. “Now, bud, how about we get all of this stuff loaded up so we can go with RiffRaff, Jilly, and Callum to get some pizza and ice cream. I understand you’ve got a sleepover planned.”
“Yes! And RiffRaff already said he’s taking us out on the ATV so we can go fishing!” Chance exclaims. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
“Now that we’re alone,” Scythe says as we walk into my house, “I think we should talk.”
Death knell. Those words always mean bad things in my experience. As my heart sinks, I motion to the couch then flop down. I’m shocked when he sits right next to me; I was expecting him to be on the other side of the room.
“What do you want to talk about?” I morosely ask.
“Hey, hey now, Tam,” he murmurs, tilting my chin so I have to look at him. “I think you got the wrong impression. It’s not a bad talk at all, I promise.”
Suddenly, the breath I was holding escapes as I wheeze in an effort to take in another one. “Sorry, those words don’t have good expectations in my experience.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, baby,” he says, smoothing back the wisps of hair that have escaped my ponytail. “What I wanted to discuss was us and what this means moving forward.”
“Okay,” I drawl out, my gaze never leaving his.
“For starters, I plan to spend the night with you. What that means for us is once I’ve been inside of you is you’ll be mine.
My ol’ lady. No takebacks, either. I also want you to know I’m clean.
I get tested regularly because of what I do for a living since there’s always a chance I could get cut while using my tattoo gun.
Plus, it’s been months since I’ve been with anyone else. ”
I slowly nod as what he’s saying sinks in.
“I’m on birth control. After I had Chance, my uh my periods went a little wonky, so the doctor suggested it to help get things regulated again.
Since it does, I stayed on it.” I don’t totally know what being his ol’ lady entails, so I ask him that very thing, curious to know how he’ll respond.
“Being an ol’ lady in our world is a position of honor and respect.
It’s as strong as a marriage is in the civilian world, with the exception that typically only death ends that relationship.
There are a few extenuating circumstances, of course, but honestly, those will never be an issue for us.
But I also want my rings on your finger, and someday, I want my babies in your belly.
I think Chance will make a great big brother, don’t you?
” At my nod he adds, “And if there’s any way possible, I want to adopt that boy and make him legally mine. ”
My. Heart. Melts. “Really?” I whisper. One of my biggest fears since having Chance was that no man would ever treat him as if he was theirs. Yet, here’s Scythe, literally offering me the world and he has no clue that’s what he’s done. “You keep making me fall more and more for you,” I admit.
“That’s my plan since I’m head over heels in love with you already, Tamara Fruge,” he replies, leaning in to kiss me. It’s a short, almost chaste kiss, but the fire in my blood heats up anyway. “Now, do you have any questions?”
“Will we have to move to the property at the clubhouse?” I ask. I love my little slice of heaven but I’m willing to walk away from what I bought and slaved over to follow him anywhere.
“Nope,” he replies. “In fact, your house is perfect. Plenty big enough for more kids, and it’s close enough to the clubhouse if we party too hard and need to stay there.”
I giggle a bit as he holds out his hand and helps me stand. “Good. I mean, I’d go, of course, but this is the first thing I did that was all on me. I had no help, no cosigner.”
“As long as we’re together, we’re always gonna be home, sweetheart,” he states as he leads me down the hallway to my room.
“Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m hot and sticky from the ballfield.
Since you don’t take time to pamper yourself, I want you to take a bubble bath.
I’ll grab a shower in Chance’s bathroom. ”
Now he’s spoiling me? Or is he building up the anticipation?
As my heart rate increases, I start setting up my bath.
Usually, I’m a five-minute shower girlie, unless I have to shave.
Then it’s maybe ten or fifteen. The last relaxing bath I took was when Amara had Chance for the night.
I drank half a bottle of wine, did several face masks, took a long-ass bath, and lotioned every single spot on my body.
This time, though, I’ll just make sure I’m shaved.
I snicker as I add a bath bomb then head into my room to find something to slip into afterward.
I mean, as a single mom who, for the longest time, scraped pennies together, my wardrobe is sadly lacking. Shrugging, I grab a pair of capri yoga pants and a tank top with a shelf bra inside. If nothing else, I’m going to be comfortable.