Page 37 of Riding Hard

I press my lips together because his laugh is easily contagious, and this seems somewhat serious. My son isn’t a fighter. He doesn’t even get mad, or at least I’ve never seen him that way. Even as a toddler, he never even threw a tantrum. Cade has been the most even-tempered baby.

“Kid said something, and I backed it up.”

Well, at least I know he’s mine for sure, because that is something I would say, one hundred percent. I lift my hand to my forehead, and my head falls back slightly as I close my eyes and attempt to remain strong and not burst out into laughter.

“I’ll be right there. Don’t say shit to anyone.”

Ending the call, I look over at Two-Pump. He’s watching me, his eyes dancing and a huge smile playing on his lips. Motherfucker thinks this is hilarious, and he doesn’t even know the best part yet.

“He just told me that a kid said something and he backed it up.”

Two-Pump doesn’t even try to hold in his laughter. It bubbles up his throat and out of his mouth with a boom. His shoulders shake and everything. It is contagious. Completely and totally.

“He’s yours,” he says between laughs. “Go get your kid. Come to the clubhouse when you’re ready. We won’t even talk to her ’til you get there. I’ll let Dare know that you’re handling your little Mayweather.”

I roll my eyes, chuckling as I start my engine. Fucking hell, I can’t believe that I’m headed to the elementary school because my kid got in a fight. I shouldn’t be, but fuck me, I’m proud as shit right now.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

JULIETTE

Standing in the middle of my new living room, I spin around and close my eyes. I can’t believe that this is mine—that this is real. This is probably the nicest place I’ve lived in, ever.

I’ve always picked the cheapest place on what would be considered the not-so-desirable side of town, and while this isn’t bougie by any means, it’s really nice. And a pool. It’s got a pool. I won’t be saving much money by living here, but I hope I won’t have to run off in the middle of the night, either.

A one-year lease has been signed, I’ve forked over the cash, and now it’s mine. I couldn’t believe it when he said it was mine and there were no background checks or anything crazy. I have a feeling that was more because of Elodie than anyone else.

She’s now in the corner talking to the showing agent, or landlord, whoever he is. “She’s trying to get a job cleaning the pool house and common area,” Alex murmurs from beside me. “She’s trying to shift away from residential cleaning to commercial and have a larger staff so she doesn’t have to work as many hours herself.”

“She’s really smart, and you guys are both seriously amazing for being so young and having this business. I haven’t done shit, and I’m the same age.”

Alex snorts. “It’s all Elodie. I’ve always just been along for the ride. Plus, circumstances are absolutely not the same. You’re here, and you’re going to do big things… and a big guy, so it’s gonna be great.”

I snort because he’s right. Slade is big. And being with him is absolutely great. I want to do it again and again and then again. I want to try it in a million different positions. I want to taste him, all of him, every single inch.

“Stop thinking about that good dick,” Alex calls out.

“Okay, are you guys ready?” Elodie asks as she joins our little group of two.

“Juliette is ready… ready for a dick date, that is.”

Elodie’s eyes widen at the same time her lips curve up into a grin. “Well, let’s go pick up your car and head to the clubhouse. The guys should be filing in from whatever the hell they do during the day.”

I don’t protest because I want to see Slade. I just hope that he wants to see me, too. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I look down at the screen and flinch when I see no new notifications.

“You getting rid of that thing?” Alex asks.

“I’m getting rid of it,” I whisper.

“Before we go to the clubhouse, I’ll come with you and get you set up on a pay-as-you-go phone. We’ll go to Walmart.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I say.

He reaches out and wraps his fingers around my bicep, squeezing gently. “I know I don’t have to do it, Juliette. I want to, because if he’s tracking you through your phone, I don’t want him to come here and get you.”

“Alex,” I whisper.