Page 67 of Callow

“I don’t think they’re in any sort of danger,” Fallon said as he slipped his phone into his pocket. “They have no connectionto the club. The only reason you’ve been targeted is, I think, because Daphne was at the drop when the shooting went down. They’ve probably just assumed you were the kid of one of the club members.”

“Okay good,” I said, relieved not to have to worry about them too.

“But, for the time being, no play dates,” Fallon said, clearly fucking with Daphne. And getting the reaction he was looking for when she narrowed her eyes at him.

“You have kids, don’t you?” I asked, smiling at him.

“Fucking with them brings me a lot of joy,” he said, chuckling. “It’s my way of paying them back for keeping me from sleeping for the first year of their lives. Alright, if we’re all set here, we got some shit to do,” he said, nodding toward Brooks and the two of them wandered off together.

“I’ll just go grab some shit to bring to your place,” Callow said.

“Mom, why don’t you help him?” Daphne asked, making Croft have to fake a cough to keep from laughing.

“Callow is a full-grown man. I’m sure he’s capable of packing his own bag,” I said, shaking my head at Callow.

“Give me five,” he said, running a hand across my lower back on his way back toward the hallway.

“See? Aren’t you glad I talked you into the queen-sized bed when you got rid of your old one?” Daphne asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“How would Callow fit in a full?” she asked.

“Callow will be sleeping on the couch,” I said, even if a part of me would love to have him beside me, holding me through the night.

“Why?”

“What do you meanwhy?”

“You’re seeing him, aren’t you?”

“Oh, kid,” I sighed. “This is not the time or place for that talk,” I said.

“I’d be fine with him staying in your room. I’m not a little kid,” she said. “I know you have sex.”

“Oookay. We’re going to let this drop,” I insisted.

“I wasn’t born of immaculate conception,” she added, not ready to let it drop.

“I know. I was there,” I said.

“Gross. But it’s normal to sleep with your boyfriend.”

“Daph, he’s not my boyfriend,” I told her, even if my heart squeezed at the idea.

“He kind of is. You’re just being weird about admitting it,” she said, so sure of herself. “He’s going to come sit at your work all day, every day. Guys don’t do that for girls they don’t like.”

“He’s going to sleep on the couch tonight, Daph,” I told her.

“But not tomorrow night. Got it,” she said, walking away before I could object again.

Besides, maybe he would eventually transition into my bed. I didn’t want time to make a liar out of me.

Callow appeared a few moments later, wearing a leather jacket over his sweats and carrying what had to be his old military duffle bag.

“All set?” I asked.

“Yep. We’ll take your car since I only got the bike,” he said, making his way to the front door.

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