Page 35 of Knight Life In Vegas

“Still,” Ava said softly, “once she does, you’ll be able to comfort each other. She doesn’t know how to get in contact with the other ones, so you’re all she has.”

Fuck me. These two were entirely too good at pointing out logic that drove to the heart of the matter.

“If you haven’t been able to work properly, maybe you should consider spending some time here,” suggested Bryce. “It’s not ideal, but you could do a lot of things remotely.”

“Do you want me to talk to Charlotte?” Ava asked.

“I can manage my own affairs, thank you. I just need her to be willing to speak to me.”

“Let me have a chat with her and I’ll see if she’s okay with you going to see her. No guarantees considering she didn’t want to see you here, but maybe she’s feeling calmer back at home.”

Ava disappeared to do that while I sat with Lucy and Bryce.

“It’s important to me that you know I’m not visiting more often because of her,” I said eventually, breaking the silence that had descended. “I’m grateful you’re giving me another chance and I want to be clear I’m here to see you and your family, today notwithstanding. I’ve been working with Autumn to make sure I have plenty more time in my schedule to make trips out here.”

Bryce looked at me curiously. “Thank you for clarifying because it definitely seemed like you were only here for Charlotte.”

I grimaced. “I know it doesn’t seem like I’ve been trying, and probably doesn’t seem like Ieverhave, but I swear I have been. I know I wasn’t good enough to you, and I’m determined to do better.”

Bryce nodded stiffly. “Let’s save that conversation for when you’re in a better space.”

“Fair enough.” Guilt and relief settled over me in equal measure. Coming to terms with my faults as a person—and a parent—were never easy, but I no longer had the luxury of avoiding that. If I was going to be in my son’s life and engage with his family and his children, he had to be aware of certain things. I would tell him all of it when we were both ready.

Ava returned not too long later. “She agreed to talk to you, but you have to let her lead things.”

“I expected nothing else. I don’t want her to be uncomfortable if it can be helped.”

“Be careful with her,” Ava said quietly. “I know you’re hurting too, but Charlotte is really special to me.”

“I promise I’ll be as delicate as I can.”

That wasn’t any guarantee no one would get hurt. We had so many complications with our situation that I wasn’t sure it was even possible for any of it to go smoothly, but I would try.

My phone beeped.

“I sent you her number and her address. She’s meal prepping right now and said she would have time to talk. Both of you should be able to scent each other so she can confirm the match.”

“She wants me to go overnow?”

“That’s what she said, yeah.”

Fuck me. I wasn’t truly prepared to face her again, but if this was my only opportunity, I had to take it. I returned Lucy to Ava and stood, collecting myself as best I could.

“Are you all right to drive?” Bryce asked. “One of us could take you over.”

“I can manage, but thank you.”

“If you want to go over with a peace offering,” said Ava, “she loves peanut butter cups and purple roses. The boys will eat their weight in jelly beans if you get them some too.”

“Good to know.”

My son’s other packmates watched me curiously as I departed, having kept their distance for our conversations. I plugged in Charlotte’s address and set off, stopping briefly at the nearest grocery store. It felt a bit cheap considering how much money I had, but I had to work with what Ava gave me and finding appropriate boutique options would waste time I didn’t have.

When I arrived, I circled the lot, finding no visitor parking and having to settle for the street. Charlotte answered only a few seconds after I buzzed, letting me into the building and greeting me at her apartment door with a somber expression on her face.

Her sweet lemon meringue scent struck me like a brick to the face, all my instincts roaring to life. My knees nearly buckled beneath me.

“For you.” I held out the flowers and treats awkwardly, her eyes widening. “And these for your children.”

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