Page 59 of Demo

Tires on the drive caught her attention as she was washing the dishes after putting the boys to bed. Paige frowned, wondering if Demo had forgotten something. He’d left for the night about a half hour ago.

The first time Demo had come over in the morning to drive the boys to Cindy’s and her to work, he’d been angry that she’d unlocked her front door prior to him arriving. He’d texted he was on his way and Paige had figured that was the courteous thing to do since she might be busy with the boys when he arrived. But she’d learned quickly that it was not thesafestthing to do, and Demo was all about her safety.

She’d offered him a spare key, but he’d refused that too. Somehow, he’d instinctively known she wasn’t a hundred-percent comfortable with the idea and had only been offering because she thought it was the polite thing to do. Feelings and sex aside, Paige was not ready to move their relationship along any faster. For both her and the boys’ sakes, she liked how things were for now. Maybe in a few months, she would reconsider.

Hell, maybe in a few months there would be a For Sale sign on her front lawn.

Therefore, Demo sometimes had to wait for her to get to the door after arriving. He claimed he didn’t mind, as it kept her and the boys safe and gave her peace of mind. Still, on some of the days that it took her longer to get to the door, she felt a bit guilty.

After drying her hands, Paige headed to the front door to wait as he parked and then headed up the porch steps. Demo didn’t ring the doorbell or knock. He always sent her a text when he had arrived in case the boys were still sleeping, as they were now.

Without waiting for a text, Paige opened the door—and then froze. It wasn’t Demo standing on her front porch.

Demo parkedoutside the clubhouse and strode inside. It was only nine-ish at night. He would have loved to stay at Paige’s but could tell she was exhausted. He tried to get her to sit down so he could wash the dishes, but she flat-out refused. Stubborn woman. Demo figured the least he could do was leave so she could get to bed earlier. He loved their sensual late nights together, but not at the cost of her getting a good night’s sleep.

He wanted his presence in her life to make thingseasieron her, not harder.

There wasn’t much going on in the clubhouse these days after dark. The members with kids were already in their individual homes and the singles were atDemon’s. Demo wasn’t sure he liked a quiet clubhouse. He didn’t miss the partying itself, but maybe the atmosphere. He wasn’t really sure.

Wandering down the hall to the apartments, he spotted Pumpkin pacing with SJ in his arms. Demo approached his friend.

Pumpkin gave him a chin lift but did not stop his pacing or jostling. When Demo peered over his crooked arm to see if SJ was asleep, Pumpkin said, “You can talk. Kid can sleep through anything once he’sactuallyasleep. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to want to sleep in his crib right now. Cries every time I put him down but goes right to sleep when I hold him.”

Demo frowned. “So how areyousupposed to get to sleep?”

“No clue. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know,” Pumpkin answered dryly. “If he keeps it up, though, I might have to go to the ladies. I can’t keep working the heavy machinery at the shop on only a couple hours sleep.”

Pumpkin worked at Grumpy’s auto garage. He was a CDL driver and drove their tow trucks or flat beds as needed.

Demo leaned back against the wall next to his apartment door frame. “Do you miss it?”

Pumpkin raised an eyebrow. “Sleep? Fuck, yes.”

Demo snorted. “I meant being single. This time last year, this place would have had a party raging all night. Now it’s empty and quiet, and it’s not even ten o’clock yet!”

Pumpkin continued his pacing. “I miss some of it,” he said carefully. “Hell, you saw me those first few days after Bear told me I was going to be a dad. I didnottake the news well.”

That was an understatement if he ever heard one. If Angel hadn’t talked Pumpkin off the ledge, Demo wasn’t sure what Pumpkin might have done.

“But,” Pumpkin went on, “more than missing how it was, what I don’t like the most is how it feels like the club’s divided right now. The singles versus the couples. We all have different priorities now. It’s not all fun and games anymore.”

“Not necessarily a bad thing,” Demo commented, thinking about Paige and the boys.

“It’s not,” Pumpkin agreed. “It’s just different. The club’s expanding and we’re hitting some growing pains right now until we figure out what our new normal is.”

He had a fair enough point. Hell, a month ago, Demo would have never dreamed or considered that he was going to be counted amongst ‘the couples’.

“Why do you ask?” Pumpkin inquired, still pacing. Demo saw his eyes narrow. “Why are you back so early? Is everything okay with Paige?”

“Everything’s fine,” Demo insisted with a wave of his hand. “She was exhausted and I felt bad about keeping her up so late all the time when she has work in the mornings. I was just thinking as I walked into the clubhouse that it was too quiet.”

Pumpkin nodded. “I do miss the noise. You know how people make soundtracks of city noises when they move out to the country? Maybe I should make a recording of a good party and?—”

Usher’sYeah!interrupted Pumpkin’s grand plan. It took Demo a minute to realize that the noise was coming from his pocket. He pulled out his phone to see that Paige was calling him.

“Scotty get ahold of your phone?” Pumpkin chuckled.

No doubt. The goofy teen was always changing the club members’ ringtones on them. He used to only do it to Lucky’s and Sissy’s phones but had expanded to the other club members since teaming up with Lila.

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