Page 128 of The Fates We Tame

Once I have a cup of coffee in my hand, I sit on the sofa and open the group text.

Me:Brothers. I want to spoil my wife. She’s been through shit and it’s time I started building a life with her instead of bouncing from one issue to the next. I need ideas. What should I do? Where should I take her? What should I buy her? What works for your old ladies?

Given it’s only six thirty in the morning, I don’t expect a lot of answers.

So, I send another message to my mom.

Me:Just checking in to see how you are doing. I hope the nausea has stopped and that you managed to keep some food down. I’m thinking Soph and I might fly down to see you soon if you are up to it and the doc says it’s okay for us to fly and for you to have visitors. Love you.

After trading my phone for my coffee cup, I take a sip and lean back against the sofa.

Halo told me it was an incredible feeling, creating a house, and then it becoming a family home, like his did for him, Ari, and Lola…the opposite of what he envisioned. I look around the large kitchen made for catering for lots of people and the sectional sofa that can easily sit eight. I don’t know what I envisioned this house becoming, but I hope it becomes home to a large family with Sophia.

Even if it means I have to get used to La Cosa Nostra as in-laws.

My phone vibrates on the table, and I pick it up. Surprisingly, my whole muscle chain from my shoulder to my arm feels so much looser. Raheel has good hands, and I find myself wondering if I shouldn’t just pay the guy to come here every week.

Niro:Fight sex, weapons, and baked goods. Doesn’t matter what’s going on with Cat…bad mood, period shit, whatever. One of those three things will solve it.

I laugh at Niro’s reply.

Me:How very on brand! Why you up so early?

Niro:Baked goods. I was an asshole yesterday. Life went a little off-kilter. Cat understands, but making baked goods this morning shows I do too.

I think about what Niro just said. It’s in the showing. I need to show Sophia that we’re tight. I can’t simply tell her with words and it be enough.

Me:If those baked goods include cinnamon rolls, can you make a couple extra and I’ll ride over and pick ‘em up?

Niro:Done. I’ll message you.

Halo:Sex toys. Nothing says I love you like multiple Os.

Niro:Guess we all know why Halo’s awake.

Halo:One day you’ll have a one-year-old and realize you gotta fit fucking in around feeding and going to baby yoga.

King:You go to baby yoga?

Halo:Fuck no. But Ari does. And I can’t fuck her if she’s with twenty other moms at the corner of Memorial and Sunset.

Me:Weapons and sex toys weren’t what I had in mind.

Vex:Maybe they should be. Haven’t met a woman yet who hasn’t been relieved at the sight of a vibrator. They all secretly fucking love ‘em.

Vibrators aren’t a bad idea given our conversation on a previous night. If she wants to try everything, I could get some additional supplies. I love the idea that someday soon I could fuck her ass if she’s down with us trying.

King:Rae loves that restaurant on Emory and Bangs. Won’t let you in with your cut or any visible colors. I’d beat the crap out of the owner for that alone, but Rae loves their raw shit.

Clutch:Take her to a fancy shoe shop and tell her she can buy ten pairs of shoes. Not gonna tell you what Gwen did in return seeing King’s in the chat.

King replies with a row of vomiting emojis.

Clutch:Seeing you asked so nicely… Told her she had to fuck me once in every pair. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

King:I DID NOT FUCKING ASK.

Spark:Why the fuck is the chat going off at this time in the morning? You assholes woke Iris.