Page 106 of Starting Over

“What the fuck is that?” Jack yelled.

“It’s my dog. His name’s Tucker.”

“Is that a pit bull? You brought a pit bull into the clubhouse with children?”

“Jack, are you being a breed snob?” Maureen accused, her hands slamming onto her hips.

Before he could answer, Charlie, Chrissy, and Tabby ran in from the hallway. They took one look at the dog and squealed.

The dogs ears perked up and he barked.

Not waiting for a command, he ran over to the girls. Stopping just before he reached them, he laid down, rolled over, and gave them his belly.

All three girls dropped to their knees and piled on top of the dog, who just simply laid there, enjoying the attention.

“You were saying, Jack?”

Jack scowled and walked over to the dog. Reaching down for Charlie’s hand, the dog flipped over on his feet in front of Charlie and bared his teeth at Jack.

“Tucker, no!”

Maureen rushed over, getting between Jack and the dog. Placing her hand on the dog’s head, she murmured, “Friend.”

Taking Jack’s hand in hers, she brought it over for the dog to smell. “Friend,” she repeated.

After sniffing his hand, the dog sat down. “Pet his head, Jack, and tell him good boy.”

“Good boy? He snarled at me.”

“He thought you were a threat to Charlie. He was protecting her,” Maureen said, trying to convince Jack. “Pet him.”

Hesitantly, Jack reached over to pet the dog’s head. The dog rubbed up against Jack’s leg, almost as if he was trying to apologize. When he looked up at Jack with his big brown eyes, Jack relented. He kneeled down and rubbed the dog’s face with both hands.

“Good boy,” Jack said in a baby voice. “Where did you get him?”

“Banshee gave him to me the other day.”

Asshole. That must have been why he was at her house. I looked over at the man as he sat at the bar. Narrowing my eyes at him, he simply shrugged.

“Ok, everyone. We have some exciting news. We found out the sex of the baby today,” Blade called out to the room.

Beck was practically bouncing with excitement.

I leaned against the wall, watching as Blade opened the envelope. My daughter held onto his arm, trying to read it before him. Warmth spread through my chest. There was no better feeling than seeing your child so happy.

Tearing my eyes away for a moment, I looked at King. He wasn’t watching Blade and Beck. His eyes were on Grace. What was he thinking? Why was he keeping his distance? I saw the way he watched her any time she was within view. Hell, I was pretty sure everyone saw it. But no one said a word. At least not to him.

“It’s a boy!” Blade yelled, and I turned to my daughter, giving her a smug grin. I winked at her, and she laughed.

I knew it would be a boy.

“Do you have a name picked out?” Ellie asked.

Beck looked at me and nodded. I stood up from the wall when she walked over. She stood in front of me with tears in her eyes.

“I never had a dad growing up. Never thought I would have one. I thought about changing my last name after I found you, but...” She turned to look at Blade. “Someone reminded me when I get married, I would have a different last name. So...”

Turning back to me and rubbing a hand over her growing belly, she continued, “I decided, if this was a little boy, I wanted to honor the man who gave me life but just became a part of it. So his name will be Silas Declan Spade.”

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