Page 89 of In Spades

I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest. How had I gotten so damn lucky?

20

WILLIAM

Life was good, I thought as I pulled out of my driveway and headed toward Havelock.

It had been a couple weeks since Kristin first introduced me to Logan, Kylie, Hunter, and Zoey. Ever since the first night, she’d been okay with me dropping by a few nights a week to have dinner with them. Unfortunately, our intimate activities were still limited.

The surprise I had up my sleeve wouldn’t remedy that entirely, but it was a start.

I glanced at the three bouquets in the passenger seat of my truck. Kristin melted over simple things like flowers, and I loved seeing her glow like that. So, I brought new ones every time I came over.

Hopefully, they would bamboozle her into accepting the other surprise I had in the bed of the truck. She responded well to little gifts, but I knew she would pitch a fit over bigger stuff.

I had been biding my time until I felt like we were on solid enough ground for me to pull a stunt like this without asking first. Hopefully, the kids would be on my side.

After a twenty-minute drive, I pulled into the mobile home park. I did a three-point-turn and backed up to the front door.

The screen door shrieked as it flew open and smacked the side of the house.

“William Matthew Solomon,” Kristin hollered as she stepped outside. “You better not be doing what I think you’re doing.”

I tried to suppress a laugh. She looked so adorable when she tried to be stern with me.

The kids piled up behind her to see what she was yelling about.

“Dude, she full-named you.” Hunter laughed. “You’re in big trouble.’

The October air was crisp, and the trees had turned to brilliant oranges. Pumpkins dotted the recently repaired steps leading to the door. One night before dinner, I brought some tools and lumber over. Hunter helped me replace the old planks.

I grinned and hopped out of the truck, flowers in hand. “Hello to you too, beautiful.”

Kristin’s mouth formed a hard line. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“Bringing my girls some flowers.” I fought hard to keep my tone innocent as I handed her the biggest bouquet. “Why? What do you think I’m doing?”

Zoey wiggled her way to the front of the pack. I knelt and handed her the smallest bouquet. It was just a few daisies and some baby’s breath the florist had lying around, but it was the perfect size for Zoey’s tiny hands.

Kylie looked over Kristin’s shoulder. They were about the same height, and in a few years, she would look just like her big sister. Lord help Kristin when Kylie found an interest in dating.

Whenever Kylie talked about boys, it provoked a protective impulse in me. I kept that to myself, though. It wasn’t my place to tell Kylie what to do, so I just tried to lead by example.

“And for you,” I said, handing Kylie her flowers.

Her face lit up with the biggest smile. It made me feel on top of the world.

Kristin told me on a near-daily basis how happy the kids had been as of late. I wanted to believe it had something to do with me being around.

A guy could hope.

I looked at Logan and Hunter. “Y’all ready?”

“Ready for what?” Kristin hissed, eyeing the back of my truck.

For the moment, I ignored her. I knew I was about to piss her off, so I erred on the side of asking forgiveness instead of permission. She’d thank me later.

Hunter grinned conspiratorially. Logan looked the same as always. Unimpressed.

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