Page 16 of Wyatt (The Black Roses MC #5)

Chapter six

Maizie

“ T hat one. That’s the perfect first date outfit,” Mia says while I have her on a video call.

“You don’t think it’s too, I don’t know… casual?” I ask.

There are three outfits laid out on the bed, and I can’t decide between two of my favorites.

Mia vetoed one of the dresses right away.

Said it was “too much” for a date at a Thai restaurant and that it should be reserved for a third or fourth date in the city or something.

I laughed and told her we might not make it that far.

She was quick to inform me that if we didn’t go out again, it would be my decision, because any man would have to be a complete moron not to want to.

“No. The off-the-shoulder top is perfect. And those jeans look amazing on you. Plus, it’s a good idea to wear flats just in case you need to make a break for it.”

I laugh. “Jesus, Mia.” She might have a point, though.

“You never know. He could be a total dud. What if you need to escape through the bathroom window?”

“Oh my God. Has that actually happened to you?”

“The dud part, yes. The Great Bathroom Escape , no. But I’ve been on a couple dates where climbing through a window would have been preferable over going back to the table.”

I sit on the bed and let out a breath. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this. Maybe I should cancel and delete that app. This seems like a lot of work for something I could potentially be trying to run away from.”

“Oh, come on. I’m kidding. No one actually does that. Besides, how are you going to meet someone if you don’t try? A couple duds is par for the course.”

“You’re really selling this,” I deadpan.

“It’ll be fine. I’m sure Steven is going to be a perfect gentleman, and you’re going to have the best time ever.”

“What am I doing, though? I have a kid who needs me around. I shouldn’t be taking off to hang out with some random guy I met on the internet.”

“Maizie, Colby is fine. Auntie Mia is going to come over, and we’re going to bake cupcakes and watch movies. Then I’m going to read him four bedtime stories, and I’ll be his favorite again.”

I burst out laughing. “So my date is really only an opportunity for you to be number one on Colby’s list of favorite people?”

She gives me one of those looks that says I'm an idiot for thinking anything else. “Naturally.”

I shake my head and run my hand over my face, letting out a tortured groan.

“Listen, sister,” Mia starts, interrupting my internal freak-out.

“You are an amazing mom, but you’re also a woman.

You have every right to want to go out and meet someone.

Find a partner. Shit, if you want to go out, get laid, and never talk to the guy again, you have every right to do that, too.

Whatever you decide isn’t going to take away from being a great mom.

But you have to take care of yourself, too, and there’s no reason for you to feel the least bit guilty about that. ”

My eyes meet Mia’s through the phone, and she gives me her librarian stare—the one that says I need to listen to her and not argue because she’s the expert.

“Okay, okay,” I concede. “Enough about this date. You and Knox are coming to Colby’s game, yeah?”

My son started Little League this year. Even though I was never particularly into sports growing up, there’s something ridiculously adorable about watching a bunch of five-year-olds hitting a ball off the tee and trying to figure out where to run.

“We’ll definitely be there. Actually, I think everyone is coming.”

She has no idea what that means to me. Colby doesn’t have any family other than me—well, none that anyone knows about—so when my friends show up to support him, it makes me feel a little less alone in this whole single-parent thing.

“Okay. I need to get him ready. See you in an hour,” I tell Mia, and we hang up.

As I’m putting the outfits away that I won’t be wearing tonight, my phone rings again.

Elaine Dawson’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Maizie, sweetheart. How are you?” she asks in a cheerful voice.

“Fine. How are you, Mrs. Dawson?”

“What have I told you about calling me Elaine?”

“Sorry,” I say with a little chuckle. “Habit.”

“Well, break it, dear. You’re making me feel old.”

We both laugh. Elaine reminds me so much of my own grandmother. She was never one to stand on ceremony, just like Elaine isn’t.

“I heard young Colby has a baseball game today,” she says.

“He does. I was just about to finish getting him ready so we can head over there.”

“You know, it’s been so long since I’ve seen a game in person,” she says wistfully.

“Well, this isn’t exactly the big leagues. The kids still hit off a tee.”

“Everyone starts somewhere, and it’s a beautiful day for a game.”

“Do you want to go? I know Colby would love to see you.” Even though Elaine doesn’t know she’s Colby’s biological great-grandmother, she treats him like one anyway.

In the few times we’ve spent with her, she’s given him the kind of attention my own grandmother used to shower on him when he was a baby.

“I’d love to. Thank you for inviting me. How about you pick me up in thirty minutes? I’ll go early with you so we can scope out the future all-star players together.”

“Uh…sure. Sounds great.”

“Wonderful,” she says in that cheery tone again. “See you then.”

She hangs up, and I stare at my phone. That woman is a master, and I kind of love her for it.

When I pull up to Elaine’s house, Colby undoes his car seat straps and hops out of the car to greet her on her front porch.

She was already waiting outside, enjoying the fresh air and warmer temperatures in one of her rocking chairs.

Colby holds her hand as she walks down the steps.

I don’t think she needs the extra support, but I’m teaching him to be a gentleman, so this is great practice.

And of course, Elaine absolutely eats it up.

They make their way to the car, and Colby opens the passenger door for her before getting in his own car seat.

“Hello, dear. It’s such a gorgeous day for baseball,” she greets, her voice chipper.

I smile and nod. “That it is. I’m glad you can come with us.”

“Of course, dear. Thank you again for inviting me.”

I have to stifle that laugh that threatens to escape. She knows damn well she angled that entire conversation earlier so she could get an invite.

“You strapped in, bud?” I turn and inspect Colby’s car seat harness before putting the car in drive.

“Yup,” he says with an enthusiastic smile on his face.

“Alright, here we go,” I say as I pull around the circular driveway.

On the way to the game, Elaine starts talking to Colby about the finer points of the game. She tells him the stats of her favorite players and talks about her favorite moments from the games she’s gone to. He soaks up the attention like he does every time we spend time with Elaine.

“Maybe you and your mom could come to a game with me this summer. I still have season tickets,” she says.

“I want to go to a real baseball game, Mommy,” he exclaims.

“We’ll definitely do that this summer, buddy,” I answer as I pull into the parking lot of the Little League field.

The sight in front of me warms me to my very soul. Motorcycles line the parking lot, as well as a couple of familiar trucks. The Black Roses have shown up en masse for my kid.

We pile out of the car, and Colby grabs his baseball bag, lugging it over his shoulder.

“Want me to carry that?” I ask.

“Nope. I got it,” he says with a wide smile as he walks over to say hello to everyone.

Arthur Lewis, or Gramps as most of us call him, strides over to us and holds out his arm for Elaine. “It’s a beautiful day for baseball, and I get to spend it with a beautiful lady at my side.”

“Oh, Arthur, you are an incorrigible flirt,” Elaine says as she slides her hand in the crook of his arm.

“You make it easy, Elaine.”

I smile as I trail behind.

“Told you everyone was coming,” Mia says when I meet her at the gate, along with Lucy and Charlie.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all coming out to support Colby.” My friends are the absolute best.

“We’re family. Of course we’re here,” Lucy says, giving me a hug.

I walk over to Colby, who is getting high fives and words of encouragement from all the brothers.

“Kick their asses, kid. And remember, if the other player is crowding the base, just run right into him. That’ll teach him,” Jude instructs my son, and Lucy shoots him a withering look. “What?” he asks when he turns his gaze to her.

Lucy chuckles and shakes her head. “Nothing.” She looks at Colby. “Don’t listen to him,” she says, pointing at the Englishman.

“I don’t think they even keep score at this age,” Charlie says.

“Maybe not, but there’s nothing wrong with showing the other team who’s boss,” Jude replies.

“Right now we’re working on teamwork and good sportsmanship, right, son?” I ask Colby before shooting Jude a look.

“Yup. And we do our best and cheer for everyone,” he answers.

“What kind of bull—” Jude starts.

“It’s what’s important to teach five-year-olds, asshat,” Knox says, wrapping an arm around Mia and pulling her closer to his chest.

“Okay, guys. I’m going to take Colby to his team before you impart any more words of wisdom to my son,” I say, laughing as Colby and I walk over to his coach.

Colby runs over to greet the other kids, and the coach smiles as I approach. “We don’t usually get this kind of turnout for T-ball,” he says.

I turn and look at all the bikers and their old ladies—at my friends who have become our family.

“Yeah, we’re lucky to have a big family.”

Then a shot of fear runs through me. The same fear that I’ve felt since I saw Nolan just a few weeks ago.

Would we be so lucky if they knew the truth?

Watching the way Colby lit up when he hit the ball and everyone cheered for him as he ran the bases filled me with so much happiness I could’ve burst.