Page 99 of All Our Ghosts

Cole chuckles. "At least you finally admit it."

I look over at O'Neil. "What the hell does that mean?"

"C'mon man, you've been glued to that woman since the night you met her." Cole grins. "I've never seen you go caveman with any of the other girls. Kade spends two days here and you're pulling her pigtails any chance you get." He nudges me when I don't respond. "You serious about her?"

"Fuck man," I groan, "it's been a little over a month." I trail off and then sigh knowing Cole is right.

"What happens when her car is fixed?" He asks.

"She said she doesn't want to leave." I grin. "And I don't want her to go."

He nods. "Right, so what's your endgame with her?"

"Why does there have to be an endgame now?" I ask.

"Because a girl like Kadence deserves a happy ending, Pal, and you do too."

I look back over to Cole who shoots me a pointed look. I never imagined myself with a happy ending, let alone settling down into a white picket life with a woman I loved. But as the music swells and I glance back at my girl, my Sunflower, the clearer that picture becomes. I can start over with her. Be the man my father never was and have my own family, one that I grow with the love of a good woman.

"Maybe it's time I clean up Becca's house," I blurt before I can stop myself.

"Nash, it was always your house too," Cole reminds me. "And as much as that place is haunted with the reminders of Becs..." he lets out a long, heavy breath, "whatever you need help with, I'll be there. The real question is are you doing it because it's time for you or because you want to give her something more?"

I consider his question. "Both."

"Don't fuck it up then," Cole chuckles.

I reach over and squeeze his shoulder, realizing that he is also still dealing with the loss just as much as I was.

"Kade was right." I chuckle. "She called me a sap earlier but, man, I think you're right there with me."

He shrugs me off, throwing his head back to laugh. "Jesus, we are fuckin' sappy tonight."

KADENCE

Holden trails his fingers along my bare back, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake despite the fact that I'm wrapped around his warm body. If someone had told me that I would enjoy waking up naked next to a man again, I would've laughed in their face. This though? Listening to the sound of his heartbeat, no pressure to do anything I don't want to, just... intimacy.

We've only been awake for a little while, the sun barely peeks through the slightly parted curtains, and yet there isn't another place I'd rather be. After the barbeque two days ago, we had gone back to our regular routine, no longer holed up in this room. I spent time working in the office while Holden worked on his bike. He told me about their meeting with another club and the idea of it weighed on me. I feel safe at the compound and I don't want to leave the little haven but just as Holden said, I knew it was safer with them than spending my time here worried sick.

"When do we leave?" I ask quietly, curling my fingers against his chest.

Holden lets out a soft groan. "In a few hours. Cole wants to get to Santa Barbara before dark."

I nod at his response, trying hard to ignore the worry that seems to still sit like a heavy ball in my stomach.

"It'll be fine," he says, pressing his lips to the crown of my head. "Meetings like this are normal."

I tilt my head to look up at him seeing that he's already watching me. His stubble has grown in a bit creating a dark shadow along his jawline and it reminds me of the soft burn on my inner thighs. My hand slides to his cheek, the hair there tickling my palm. "I can't imagine they're going to like having someone's girl hanging around."

"Hey," he rasps, curling his thumb and forefinger around my chin. "You aren't just someone's girl." That smug smile I've grown to love a little too much spreads across his features. "You're my girl and that is reason enough for you to be there." Holden leans down pressing his lips to mine. "Besides, getting some time with you outside of the compound will be nice."

"Oh yeah?" I ask, propping myself up on my elbow while his hand trailing down my back moves to tangle in my hair. "We're trading one compound for another." I grin.

"You assume I don't have plans for you."

"And what might those plans be?"

He shrugs. "Well, we're staying for a few days over there but I may have thought of a couple things to do."

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