Page 29 of Keg's Revelation

I looked at Raven, and she gave me a half smile and then stroked her hand over Ry’s hair. He stared at me as if waiting to see how I would react.

“I had no idea...you never said his full name. I didn’t ask.” I ran my hand down my face, then around and rubbed the back of my neck.

“Are you mad I have your name?”

I turned in the chair until I faced him, then placed my hand on one leg above his knee. “Not in the least. I’m sorry my silence made you think otherwise. It just kinda hit me. You know?” I squeezed his leg.

“Yeah. It kinda hit me, too. Well...not when Mom yelled at me... Before...when.”

I chuckled. “I get it, Ry.”

“So, will you let me sit on your bike?” Ry asked, and Raven burst out laughing.

“Ah...no.”

“Come on, I promise not to scratch it.”

“I remember a kid who looked just like you telling your mom something about knowing how guys don’t like their rides touched.” I lifted my brows in question.

“Yeah, you’re my dad, so you should let me.”

The kid was a riot and his moods changed faster than I could keep up. Impassive, curious, indifferent, funny, even a little jealously surfaced over his sister getting on my lap.

“Nice try, kid.” I chuckled. “You need to work on your game if you’re going to hang with a bunch of bikers.”

I received a full-fledged smile that if you took away the braces, it reminded me of my dad’s. Wild Bill was going to love this kid.

“I get to hang out at the clubhouse?”

“Some. We have cookouts and celebrations that the families attend. We handle business there, and a few of the single guys live there, so there will be times you’re not allowed to be there.”

“Like when you have parties and the women who don’t wear much clothes are there?”

Yeah, fatherhood was definitely going to be an experience. I was beginning to appreciate my dad a whole lot more. This kid would keep me on my toes.

“Oh my God, Ryker. I’m taking the television out of your room!”

I laughed at Raven’s expense, and she lightly smacked my shoulder.

“Why’d you hit me? I didn’t say it.”

“You’re encouraging him.”

I gave her a ‘what the hell’ look. “I don’t know how you came to that conclusion; I didn’t say anything.”

“You laughed!”

Ry and I both laughed and laughed harder when Raven glared at us.

“Oh, come on. Look at what you’ve missed the last twelve years.” Raven’s eye filled with moisture, and it hit me what I’d said. I stood and then bent until we were eye level. “It was a joke. A bad joke. I was trying to get you to laugh with us. I hadn’t meant it as a dig.”

“I know. It’s just...standing here watching the two of you together. Laughing and picking on each other. I-I hadn’t realized how much alike you both are.” She looked between Ry and me. “I’m so very sorry that I cost both of you time together.” Raven grabbed Ry’s arm and pulled him up, then wrapped her arms around him. Hugging him. I stepped closer and encumbered the two of them with my arms.

“Starting now, it is done. No more should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. We focus on tomorrow and the next day. Understand?” I released them from my arms and stepped back.

Raven kissed Ry’s forehead before letting him go. “Yes. If you can do that, so can I.”

“Good. How about you, Ry?”

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