Page 94 of Sunshine

“Gary and I didn’t have kids for a reason. It was me. I kept pushing him off when he talked about having them.”

I watch disappointment shadow Case’s face, then quickly continue.

“But not because I didn’t want them. I was afraid that I’d be horrible like my parents were. Too caught up in their own life to even notice me. But also, on some level, I knew Gary wasn’t it. He wasn’t my one great love.” I look to the parking lot pavement, kicking a rock to the side.

“I kept telling myself there was no such thing as real romantic love but deep inside I knew that was just a lie I toldmyself to keep my heart safe.” I look up and he’s holding a helmet in his hands. Behind him is a motorcycle. Not the one he rode past the cottage every day to annoy the hell out of me, but a different one.

“I can call us an uber if you’re uncomfortable.”

In answer I take the helmet and pop it on my head. He grins, putting on his own skull-cap helmet, swings his leg over and holds the bike steady for me to get on.

“So, there’s room in your big fancy sunshiney life for a biker and his genius daughter?”

“Do you want more kids?” I ask before climbing on.

He doesn’t hesitate, he doesn’t try to read what I’m thinking, or what I want his answer to be. “Hell, yes. How else am I going to turn that house into a biker club?”

I laugh. “You better mean bicycle club.”

“Do you?”

I climb on his bike.

And since that as an answer might be too cryptic, I add, “I would love to start a bicycle club with you, Case Callen.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Reece

I look at my daddy and Tess. They look jubilant—that means happy—as they glance at each other. They keep doing it when they think I’m not paying attention. It’s the same thing Uncle Jeff and Aunty Lulah do.

I roll my eyes at my baby cousin as if to say, “Adults, am I right?”

My baby cousin is in my arms and I lean close to his face. “I’m going to have a family just like you,” I whisper. He doesn’t speak yet. He’s not even a month old. He doesn’t even smile, except he does, but Aunty Lulah says it’s gas. She says he’s too little to smile with purpose. But he makes an adorable purring noise and squishes up in my arms when I hold him.

“They haven’t told me yet, Jamie, but I know.”

I sneak a look at Daddy again. His hand is pressed next to Tess’s as if he wants to be holding it but doesn’t want anyone to know it.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, gumdrop?

“Is the court stuff over now?” I look down at Jamie again, and in my conspiratorial whisper, I say, “It won’t be long beforeyou’re moving to the east coast too. I’ll bet we’ll be neighbors. Your daddy is already looking at houses. And your mommy really likes Tess. I can tell. Your daddy says she needs a good support system and it’s better if they move now, because soon she’ll be taking you toMommy and Megroups and stuff. And that’s the best way to make connections.”

“How would you like to go for lunch with me, so we can talk?”

“That’s a superb idea, Daddy, but I already know you won.”

“Won?”

“You won me.” I shrug as much as I can with Jamie in my arms.

He laughs, so does everyone else and it makes me giggle too.

“You’re the best prize too, gummy bear. But how do you know?”

“I can see it in your face. You’re elated.”