speak for myself, right?” She rolls her eyes then looks back at me. “The reason I ask is because I saw you not too long ago and you most definitely didn’t have any plans of having kids—nor were you currently even dating anyone. Last I heard, you and Olivia were still dancing arou—ohhhh!”
I look down at the perfectly innocent pack of diapers then back up at her. “Yes, his mom is Livvie. It’s—it’s a pretty long story.”
“I heard my mom talking about something that had to do with her when I was at her house the other day. Is it true she was shot a few weeks ago?”
“That’s part of the long story, yes.”
Chloe gasps. “Oh, my God, is she okay?”
Gabe interjects before it can become a full-blown discussion in the middle of the grocery store. “Actually, we’re about to have dinner at Chloe’s place if you want to bring them by. We’d love to have all of you over.”
I give Chloe a pointed look. “Maybe then you’ll explain the rumor I heard about you on some island last summer.”
Chloe blushes and Gabe looks rather smug.
Livvie brushes a hand down her dress and winces when the movement jolts her shoulder. I shift Cole to my other hip and wrap my arm around her waist to support her weight, even though I know she’ll manage just fine on her own. She looks up, her lips forming a little ‘O’ of shock. When I kiss those lips, it surprises us both.
The moment shatters when Chloe opens the door to her apartment. Her lips pull into a knowing smile when she sees the three of us. I glance back down at Livvie and find her cheeks stained red. A part of me that has long since withered away comes to life, warming me from the inside out.
I urge Livvie forward when Chloe gestures us in. We find Gabe in the kitchen, whipping up something that looks like Heaven and smells even better. Chloe walks past us and leans in to give him a kiss.
“Move over,” I tell him. “That smells so good, I might have to kiss the cook, too.”
The girls laugh and Chloe says, “Sorry, Ben. He’s all mine.”
Livvie settles down onto a dining room chair with Cole in her lap. Chloe appears with an ancient set of blocks that must have weathered both of our families combined and dumps them in front of Cole on the table.
As Chloe sits down to chat with Olivia, I leave them to commune with Gabe over beer. Both to escape the feelings that caused me to impetuously kiss Livvie again and to get a feeling for Chloe’s new boyfriend.
“Beer?” Gabe asks from the fridge.
“Sure, thanks.” I accept the cool bottle gratefully. “What’s for dinner?”
“Salad, stuffed shells and homemade brownies for dessert.”
“That sounds amazing, man. Thanks again for inviting us over.”
“No problem. Chloe’s gone on and on about her infamous family, so I couldn’t wait to get up here and meet all of you.” He finishes stirring some sauce in a pan and turns to me. “I was sorry to hear about your girl. Did they ever catch the bastard who did it?”
I shake my head. “Not yet, though not for lack of trying. My buddy Logan is a cop here. Thankfully.” I take a sip from my beer. “No leads yet, but we’ll find them.”
If it was the last thing I did, I would find whoever threatened my family. That was for damn sure. I may not have a clue as to what the fuck I’m doing with my life or how I’m going to be a dad to a kid when I could barely hold myself together, but I could at least keep them safe. I had to.
The phrase my family reverberates through my brain as I take another drink. Olivia laughs in the other room, and my eyes automatically flit to her. I remember the night we spent together and the way she’d laughed when I tried to convince her to make love with me just one more time, even though her body was still shaking from the last orgasm.
“So,” Gabe begins as he plates the shells. “I hate to ask this, but Chloe will eviscerate me later if I don’t at least try to get some information out of you.”
I can’t help but smile. It’s good to know she has him wrapped around her finger, though I do feel sorry for the fact that he has to face the little tyrant. “Sure,