a sip of his beer, acting like a know-it-all.
“What are you talking about?” Mom asked while we all sat back down, only I moved around to sit beside Wade.
“As soon as I met the guy, I knew something was going on between those two. It’s all in the eyes.”
Zion scratched his nose with his middle finger. “Whatever, old man. I’ve been too busy to notice anything.” Zion looked to Wade. “Anyone else know?”
“West and Kylo,” I said.
“Country and Death. Country because he’s prez, and Death because he noticed some things as well.”
“What the fuck did I miss? Christ, I feel like I’ve been blind.”
“Anyway,” Dad started, and all of a sudden, I got scared because he was looking at Wade. “Tell us a bit about yourself, Wade, since you’re dating our son.”
“Dad, no,” I said.
Zion rubbed his hands together and grinned evilly. “Yes.”
Mom waved her hand in front of her. “Wait, I have a question. As Zion pointed out before, Wade, you’ve slept with a lot of women. Did you practice safe sex?”
“Mom!” I cried.
Dad groaned. “Dear God, Lucy.”
Zion just laughed his butt off and pointed at Mom. “Good one.”
I grabbed Wade’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. “Please excuse my strange and very intrusive family. You don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to.”
Wade leaned back in his seat and smirked. “It’s all right.” I went to say something, but then his hand landed on the back of my neck, and he rubbed there. I blinked and got distracted from his touch.
Wade kept his hand there and said, “I’ve always practiced safe sex. I was born into a family who never really wanted a kid, so I made sure to not have a kid with someone who would have been just a one-night hookup.”
Everyone stared at him.
He shrugged. “Just keepin’ it real. My parents didn’t care what I did, if I was fed, or where I was. When I hit eighteen, I got out. I found a place, a club of great men who became my family. They taught me more about life than my parents ever had. A year later, my parents died in a car crash. I can’t say I was broken up about it because I wasn’t.”
“Of course you weren’t,” Mom said. “And if they were still around, I would be on their front step, cursing them black and blue for doing such a thing.”
Wade tensed beside me, surprised by Mom’s outburst. He cleared his throat. “Ah, thanks.” Mom smiled warmly at him. His hand tightened on my neck.
“What do you do with your days now?” Dad asked.
“I’m part owner of the Polished Pussy clubs. I assist there on a rotating roster with Saint, Country, and State.”
Zion snorted. “We manage the shit outta that club with a couple of assistant managers when we’re not in, like now. And then, with the other two startin’ to take off, we’re run off our feet so we’ll have to look at hirin’ more managers. Plus, with the changes we’re makin’, the money will be rollin’ in.”
Suddenly, Wade blurted, “I’m lookin’ at gettin’ my own place soon. Right now, I live at the compound, but I want a place to call my own. Somewhere Lucas will feel comfortable to be, and it’ll be in a safer area.”
My heart felt like it was pumping so hard to get out of my chest and jump out at Wade to curl up in a purring heap in his lap.
I dropped my fork and turned to him.
“Shit, we’re about to see more PDA. Mom, get a gag bag ready for me.”
“Shut it, Zion,” Mom said, and her voice sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
“You are?” I asked Wade softly.
“Yeah, babe. Can’t live in the compound forever.” His hand left my neck to tuck some hair behind my ear, then he placed it back. He was grinning at me and I wanted to kiss him so much.
Dang it all.
Wade met me halfway and right there in front of my parents, we shared a sweet, soft kiss. We only pulled away when Zion started gagging.
Still having his gaze, I told him, “You know I’m not happy because you’re getting a house, right? I don’t want you to think that. I just think it’s the sweetest thing ever that you thought of me with the choices you made.”
“We’re together, yeah?”
“Well, yes.” I nodded.
He tipped his chin up at me, as if that was answer enough. Then he added, “At least