Page 57 of Faking it with the Bad Boy Bikers

I laughed even as I cried. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

“That we love you?” Seth spoke from the open doorway. “Yes. We all love you, Nellie. We love you and we don’t give a shit who your father was. Or how big of a bitch your mother was. We didn’t sleep with you to do what your brothers wanted. We slept with you because you’re a hot woman who cast a fucking spell on us and we’re just men at the end of the day.”

“I think I love you, too. I just… I’m so confused with everything that’s happened. It’s been a long six months and I feel like I don’t have a grip on life.” I sniffed and tried to stop crying. “I’ve never been less sure of myself.”

“We can wait.” Seth’s face didn’t read as happy as he said the words. “Until you feel like you’re ready. We’re not going anywhere.”

I slowly crawled out of Henry’s arms and stood on the other side of the room from them. “I just need some time to sort things out in my head.”

Woodrow nodded as he stood up. “Like Seth said. We’re not going anywhere.”

Henry blew out a loud breath. “I’m just on the other side of that wall, Nellie.”

“We’re not going to leave you alone, though, Nell. You don’t need that. You need support and that’s what we’ll be until you’re ready for more.” Seth crossed the room in two large steps and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Come get us as soon as you’re ready.”

As soon as they left the room, I felt like I’d made a mistake. The room was so much colder without them. Would it be fair for me to start something with them when I was barely holdingmyself together? At least that’s how it felt. I felt like I was holding on by a thread in every part of my life.

“Mom!” Waylan popped into our room, her face a picture of frustration. “You were supposed to kiss them and be boyfriend and girlfriend!”

“Excuse me?” I stared at my daughter in awe as she marched over to me.

“Aunt Vera said you were going to get back together with the pack. I want three Dads. Everyone at school has a dad and I never had one. But I could have three and everyone else would have to shut up on bring your Dad to school day. I want three Dads, Mom. And Jolene told Aunt Maxie that you’d be crazy not to get with the pack. She said they’re hot, hot,—”

“Okay, Way. I get it. Maybe don’t listen to Jolene anymore.” I knelt down and held her shoulders. “You know I don’t have to be with the pack for them to care about you, right?”

“You need them, too, Mom. They make you happy like Grandma and Grandpa but even more. You’re sad without them.” She stomped her foot. “So, why aren’t you kissing them?”

I didn’t answer her in time and she threw her hands up.

“I’m going back downstairs to make cookies. You’re stressing me out.”

I stayed there, on the floor, staring at the spot my daughter had just been. She was fierce and brave and everything I wanted to be in life. I’d made her. I’d created her in my body and then raised her with all my heart and soul into the little girl she was. She was the spitting image of me so I had to be doing something right.

Nothing I could’ve done would’ve changed the way my parents loved, or didn’t, love me. Despite them, I’d managed to raise a daughter who knew her worth and demanded respect. I’d raised a daughter who loved herself. If I’d managed that after the parenting I’d had hoisted on me, I couldn’t be all that messed up.

Suddenly the idea of sorting my head out all alone sounded horrible. And pointless. I didn’t have to be alone and miserable. That wasn’t what anyone wanted.

I stumbled to my feet and rushed out of the room, just to run into Seth’s chest as soon as I turned to go down the hallway. I grunted as he gripped me tight.

“Took you long enough.” He cupped my face and lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me long and soft. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine. “Could I have stopped the kid? Sure. Am I sorry she was able to convince you to come to us when I couldn’t? Nope.”

I glanced down the hallway and saw Waylan fist bump Woodrow. She looked back at me and grinned before darting off down the stairs. “She wants dads.”

Henry stepped out of his room and nodded. “Yeah, we know. She told us about a week ago.”

Woodrow came closer. “Yeah, the pack is family, Nell. We love her, too. We want the whole package. You, Waylan, Papa Jack. We want to build a house in the country and get her a horse that doesn’t hate her. We want everything.”

“You’re crazy.” I took an uncoordinated step back. “How could you know you want all of that so fast?”

Seth grimaced. “I’ve been living day-by-day for a long time. Outside of running for sheriff, I didn’t consider my future much because I honestly didn’t think I’d have one. Seeing you and Waylan together that first night was the first time I thought about what could come next.”

“You fit us, Nell. I was alone for a long time until I met these two guys. They became family and then you came along, fitting in with us so snuggly it’s like you were always there. I take the signs where I see them and you’re meant for us.” Henry stepped forward and brushed my hair behind my shoulders. “Plus, my Grandma would’ve loved you.”

“If you need more of an answer after that, Nellie, you’re just fighting for excuses to keep space between us.” Woodrow stepped forward until he filled my vision. “I grew up in a fucking cult. I don’t know what a normal relationship looks like. If I’m to believe the therapists my Dad sent me to, though, I deserve love and whatever relationship works for me and makes me happy. I deserve this, with you, Nellie. Are you really going to tell me the therapists were wrong?”

I laughed, just like he wanted, and pressed my face to his chest. “Okay.”

“Okay?” He scoffed. “We pour our hearts out and you say ‘okay’?”

---