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Faye comes out into the living room holding Fire and kissing her cheeks. “Look who woke up!”
Clover looks at me and shakes her head, and I can’t help but laugh. It sucks that this is what brought us all here together, but at the same time it’s really nice to have them here.
“I’ll get some wine,” Clover declares, and I walk with her into the kitchen. “Do you think wine will cut it? Or do you need something a little stronger?”
“Wine is fine,” I reply, amused.
“Decker fits in well with the family,” she absently comments as she reaches up to get some glasses. “Do you think your dad is telling him to not let you out of his sight?”
“I have no doubt. I feel bad that this is being put on him. I told Felix and you not to involve him.”
“As if he wouldn’t have found out. And then he would have been pissed that he didn’t know,” she says, flashing me a knowing look. “Admit it. And he wants to help, so let the man help. I don’t think you could even stop him if we tried. He obviously cares about you a lot, Cara.”
“I know.”
It’s just not the ideal situation when you like a guy. I’m a proud, independent woman, and I don’t love asking for or needing someone’s help. But Clover is right. I don’t think we could get him to walk away if we wanted him to. He’s here because he cares not just about me, but about all of us. I never once in my life thought I would find myself in a situation where Rhett wouldn’t be the one protecting me. Instead, Rhett’s the one who has gotten me into shit and Decker is the one helping me out.
It’s funny how life can change so quickly.
Clover pulls out two trays and places all the filled wineglasses on them like we’re at some fancy party. “Help me take these out. Then I’ll make a platter for everyone.”
I take one of the trays. “I love you, you know that, right?”
“Of course I do,” she replies. “No gang is going to take us out, don’t even worry about it. And guess what?”
“What?”
“Looks like I got my wish after all... You are stuck hanging out with me and Fire until this all dies down.” She laughs, evilly.
And I can’t help but laugh along with her.
Laugh or cry, right?
“Can I interest you in some wine to make light of the need for this gathering?” I ask Decker, who is now standing alone with my mom.
“No thank you, I’d like to stay alert just in case,” he replies, smirking. “But I’m sure this beautiful lady here will have one.”
“I will,” Mom replies, taking a glass and having a quick sip. “I like him.”
I roll my eyes at him buttering her up and her absolutely loving it, and then walk away to offer everyone else a drink.
Dad, like Decker, declines the offer. “What’s going on with you two? You and Rhett only just broke up. Do you think it’s a good idea to get involved with someone so soon? Especially an ex-cop.”
“We aren’t together, Dad,” I say. His words mirror my own thoughts—well, not the ex-cop part, but the fact that I’m only recently single. “He’s a friend.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Cara. Why do you think he’s here doing anything he can to protect you? You two haven’t known each other that long. It’s not that I don’t like him—he seems like a good man—but that doesn’t mean that you should move on so quickly,” he says, eyes scanning mine.
I pick up one of the wineglasses and take a big gulp. “I know, Dad. And I know that he likes me, and yeah, I like him. But like I said, we are just friends.”
He nods slowly. “I know that in the end Rhett wasn’t always good for you, but he does love you still. It would hurt him to see you move on so fast.”
I finish the rest of the wine and put the empty glass back on the tray, gritting my teeth. “I love Rhett, but he wasn’t thinking about me when he was sleeping with other women, so I don’t think I need to consider his feelings right now, just my own.”
If Rhett were any other man, what’s the bet Dad would have kicked his face in? But this is the golden child and future leader of the MC. I’m sure Dad spoke to him, but the man is still standing, which would be a different story if someone who wasn’t a member of the Wind Dragons treated me in that way.
Double standards?
Yeah, I fucking think so.
