Page 33 of Grim

“Okay. That would be great.”

We both continued eating, and it wasn’t long before we were all stuffed. I helped Grim clean up the mess, and then we all made our way back into the living room. We watched a little TV, and when it started getting late, I went over to Luna and said, “It’s time to get ready for bed.”

“But I’m not...”

“It’s time for bed,” I interrupted. “We have a busy day ahead, and you need a good night’s sleep.”

Her bottom lip perched into a pout, but she didn’t argue. She simply got up and made her way into the bedroom. As I followed her out, I turned to Grim and asked, “Are you still up for some lessons later?”

“Sure thing. I’ll check my liquor cabinet and see what I have on hand.”

“Great. I’ll be back in a bit.”

I gave Luna a quick bath and put her in her pajamas, then put her into bed.

It was funny. I’d been staying at Grim’s house for over a week, and from the start, I’d felt oddly safe. I’d thought it was because Skid was there watching over us, but as I sat there across from Grim, I realized it wasn’t him at all.

It was Grim.

All Grim.

He was this big, bad, tough biker, and while he clearly handled his own, there was an unexpected warmth and kindness in his eyes, especially when he looked at Luna. I was almost jealous that he didn’t look at me the same way.

Luna was still a little wound up, so I laid down with her and pulled her close. “Did you have a good night?”

“Um-hmm.” She looked up at me and smiled. “Grim has good pizza.”

“Yes, he does.” I toyed with her hair as I said, “I’ve really made a mess of things, and I’m really sorry. I’m going to work really hard to get us back on track, and when I do, we’ll get us a cute place that’s all ours. You’ll have your own room and your own things, and we can have pizza any time we want.”

“Can we have a kitty-cat?”

“Yes, we can have a cat and whatever else you want.” I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you so very much, and I’m going to do everything I can to give you the life you deserve. It’s going to take me some time, so I need you to be patient. I also need you to be sweet and respectful while we are here. Grim has been really nice to let us stay here, and I don’t want him to...”

I stopped talking when I looked down and found that Luna had drifted off to sleep. My heart swelled at the precious sight. I couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than I loved her. She was my everything, and I had every intention of making good on my promises—no matter what the cost.

Grim

I’d spent years living in this house alone.

I liked it.

I didn’t have to worry about pleasing anybody but myself, and that’s the way I’d planned on keeping it. But there I sat, listening to Jenna and Luna talking in the guest room. Their voices filled the empty places in the house, giving me a sense of comfort I didn’t expect. Having them there made my house feel like a home—a feeling it’d been missing since the day I’d moved in.

I closed my eyes and reveled in the strangeness of it all, and when their voices grew quiet, I knew it wouldn’t be long before Jenna would return. She would be expecting her lesson, so I got up and made my way into the kitchen. I’d just started pulling the liquor bottles from the cabinet when Jenna walked in, and the sight of her nearly took my breath away.

She’d changed into a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved t-shirt, and her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, revealing her warm smile. In another time or place, I would’ve tried to work the old magic and make a move. But I was no good for a girl like her. So, I’d do what I’d promised. I’d help her get on her feet, and then, I’d cut her loose.

As she approached, she motioned her head towards the bottles of liquor and said, “Wow. You have quite the setup.”

“Can’t practice without the goods.”

“This is true.” Her smile widened. “So, where do we start?”

“With the basics.” I reached for a bottle of vodka. “For starters, you gotta know the good stuff from the cheap stuff, and you gotta know the right time to use them.” I took a moment to name off some of the more expensive brands and then listed some of the cheaper ones. “Just because It’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s always better. Lots of times, it’s just the opposite.”

“How am I supposed to know the difference?”

“After a few drinks, you’ll figure it out.” I poured a shot of vodka into a shaker, followed by a splash of soda water. I did my best to move at a slow, steady pace so she’d be able to follow without much confusion. “When you mix a drink, you don’t want to overdo it with the pour. Needs to be an exact shot. You want to taste the alcohol, but you don't want it to overpower the drink."

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