Page 22 of The Secrets We Keep (Sovereign Sons MC: North Carolina #1)

GRAYSON

I wake up with Sophie on top of me. Just like I have for the last few weeks. I don’t think I could ever grow tired of it, though. Sophie has brought peace back to my life. Where my mind was restless, she’s settled it . Her and my son.

My son. It’s still such a weird concept to grasp. Asher is great, though. Perfect even. He’s everything that I would have wished for in a son, and Sophie raised him all on her own.

Our relationship has only grown in the last few weeks.

We’ve tossed the football around a lot, gone fishing and to the arcade.

I’ve even taken him out on my bike, which Sophie wasn’t too fond of.

She changed her mind when she saw how much he loved it, though.

It’s all precious one-on-one time that I’m so grateful for.

Sophie burrows further into my chest, letting out a small moan. I smile and kiss the top of her head, wrapping my arms around her and enjoying the last few moments before our alarm is going to go off .

Today, Asher has a big day at school. I feel like I’m more nervous than he is, but I’ve never done this before. We’re going to school with him for their “meet the family” day.

He’s had a great first two weeks at school and has made quite a lot of friends.

He’s especially fond of Cane’s daughter, Paisley.

She’s the same age as Asher and they’re in the same class.

I’m glad that he made friends so easily, and I know that Paisley will make sure he has even more friends by the end of the year.

I frown when I hear rustling from Ash’s room but settle after a moment when it stops. My fingers trail lightly up and down Sophie’s spine, reveling in the feel of her tan, smooth skin. She moans softly before peeking up at me.

“Morning,” she murmurs sleepily.

“Morning, beautiful.” My lips meet hers in a slow and sensual kiss, like I’m learning every part of her again. Like I’ve been doing since I found out that Asher was mine. That she was always mine . But that moment is shattered when our bedroom door flies open.

We break our kiss and I pull the blanket up to cover Sophie. We find Asher standing at the foot of our bed, dressed with his backpack on. “Oh good,” he says with a smile. “You’re awake.”

We burst into laughter. “Why are you up so early, bud?” I ask after my laughter subsides .

“I’m excited,” he admits with a shrug.

Just then, the alarm sounds from our bedside table. I sigh before reaching over to turn it off and sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Why don’t you go into the living room and your dad, and I will meet you there in a minute? We’ll have breakfast before we head out. Maybe we can walk with Cane and Paisley?” Sophie offers.

“Okay!”

Asher shoots off in the direction of the kitchen, the door slamming behind him, and I stand from the bed with a smile on my face. “I love that kid,” I tell Sophie as I stretch and watch her rise from the bed.

She smiles. “When he’s excited, there’s no stopping him. Just like someone else I know.”

My heart warms at her suggestion. I love that Asher is like me, even though he hasn’t been around me for most of his life. The fact that my characteristics still won out is astonishing to me.

We quickly get ready for the day and find Asher in the kitchen with multiple boxes of cereal out and juice and milk out of the fridge. I guide Sophie to one of the stools and leave a seat between us for Ash. He already has a bowl of cereal sitting in front of his spot.

We eat and listen to Asher talk about how excited he is for everyone in his class to meet his family and how much he loves school.

He’s so much like Sophie in that respect.

I always hated the first day of school because it meant that summer was over, and I wanted summer to last forever.

I guess I know now why Sophie was so eager to get back to school, though. It kept her farther away from John.

After breakfast, Sophie tells Asher to go brush his teeth and then we head down to the common area. We find Cane and Paisley there. Asher runs over to them and gives her a big hug. Cane’s brow furrows as he takes them in, like he doesn’t like what he sees.

I elbow his side as I come up next to him. “They’re six, brother. I don’t think you have to worry about that for at least another ten years.”

He turns his scowl on me. “Why would you even say that?”

I smile and toss an arm around his shoulder. “I could see your protective father instincts kicking in.”

Cane has been the only parent to Paisley for her entire life. Her mother left the day that she delivered her. It’s left a permanent scar on Cane’s life. It affects every relationship. It affects how he raises Paisley and how fiercely protective he is of her.

“I don’t even want to think of her grown up, sending her off to first grade was hard enough,” he groans as he swipes a hand down his face.

I chuckle because it’s funny to see such a big, burly guy so emotional over sending his daughter to school. Not that I was much better. “Want to walk with us?”

He nods and we walk over to join Sophie and the kids.

I take Sophie’s hand and lead them out of the clubhouse.

Normally, I’d tell the kids that there’s no way we were walking to the school from here.

We’re a little way out of town so it just isn’t feasible most days.

Today, though, we leave early for the mile and a half walk to the school.

We’re starting a new tradition; as a family.

The walk takes us about twenty-five minutes with the kids, so we’re still a little early for school. We sign in at the front office and walk them down the hallway to their classroom. The kids are nearly jumping off the walls with excitement at this point.

We stop outside of Ms. Kincaid’s room, and I open the door for the kids who run inside, eager to see their teacher.

We find Everly Kincaid inside at the dry erase board, writing her name and “Welcome family” in bright letters.

She’s a little taller than Sophie with long black hair.

She turns around when she hears us and gives us a big smile, her hazel eyes shining.

“Welcome! Asher and Paisley, you look awfully happy today. Who did you bring with you?” She asks as she lowers herself to the kids’ levels.

“This is my daddy, Cane!” Paisley says as she smiles up at her dad.

“This is my mama, Sophie and my daddy, Grayson!” Asher introduces us proudly. My heart aches. He’s so proud to have us as his parents. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right.

“Well, Cane, Sophie, and Grayson, I’m Ms. Kincaid. I’m so happy to meet you all. You have wonderful children. Hey kids, how about you show your parents your desks until everyone else shows up?” Everly offers.

The kids rush over to their desks, and we follow behind them.

We spend the next hour and a half eating donuts with the kids.

They introduce us to all their friends. By the time we’re ready to leave, my heart couldn’t be any fuller.

Paisley gives Cane a big hug and Asher does the same for Sophie and me.

We tell them that we’ll pick them up after school and then start our walk back to the clubhouse.

Sophie catches me casting longing looks toward the school multiple times and Cane laughs at me.

“It’s not so easy dropping them off, is it?” He smirks at me.

“Shut the fuck up,” I grumble as I pull a smiling Sophie into my side.

“He’ll be perfectly fine,” she murmurs as she smiles up at me. I knew he would be because he was raised by the incredible woman in my arms, and she could handle anything that life threw at her.