Page 46 of The Paths We Cross
He turns and walks back toward the taped off space.
“Fuck,” Axel mutters. “I can’t believe someone killed Jennifer.”
“I know,” Everly says. “I didn’t like her, but she didn’t deserve that.”
“Let’s just get our shit and get to the clubhouse,” I say as I start leading her toward the house. “It sounds like we need to call Lenny.”
33
EVERLY
We spend the next week at the clubhouse so Rowan can heal without having to worry about keeping us safe. I know that he would rather be at home, but this was what was best for everyone.
I was waiting on Rowan hand and foot the first two days we got home and then he snapped. We had our first real fight. It wasn’t because of anything either of us had done, it was because I was hovering over him. Even though he told me that we were okay and that he wasn’t upset with me about going to see my mother, I couldn’t let it go.
His snapping at me made me realize that I had to. I couldn’t let something like this destroy our relationship.Rowan isn’t Travis.He doesn’t keep things from me. He doesn’t hide his feelings or lie. If he says he’s not mad; he’s not mad.
Rowan tried to have make-sex with me, but I put a stop to it, much to his chagrin. The man has road rash and a concussion, but he wants to have sex every day. He’ll survive without until his wounds heal a little more.
Luckily, things have been quiet.Almost too quiet.After Jennifer’s murder, it’s like the Devil’s Knights dropped off theface of the Earth. No one has seen them around town or on the outskirts.
The same goes for my mother. She tucked tail and ran when the club showed up to that abandoned parking lot. Who knows where she went or if she’ll come back. I’d be fine never seeing her face again, though.
I have six more weeks on my maternity leave and I can’t believe that Hazel is already six weeks old. Part of me is dreading going back to teaching, but the other part is so excited. I get to make a difference in kids’ lives every day and this world needs that now more than ever.Especially this town after the last few months.
Silver Springs means more to me than I ever thought it would. This town and the club welcomed me when I was at my lowest. I didn’t know how to keep going. I thought everything had been taken from me, but the truth is, the world was waiting at my feet.
I walk into our bathroom and find Rowan pulling the bandage away from his leg. It took the brunt of the damage when his bike crashed.
“It looks like it’s healing up nicely,” I say as I move to stand by his side.
He looks up at me with a smirk. “Nice enough for you to fuck me?”
I shove him playfully and help him clean and redress the wound. The doctor said that he only needs to wear the bandages for a week after he repeatedly told Rowan how lucky he was that it wasn’t worse. I had to convince him to see a doctor after he left the hospital in such a rush but that was a fight that I wasn’t going to lose.
I leave him to finish getting dressed when I hear Hazel start to cry from next door. I walk into her room and over to her crib, smiling when I look down at her. Her dark has stands on end, like she slept like a rock.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I murmur as I pick her up and rock her gently. “Are you hungry?”
I take a seat on the bed and pull my breast from my shirt, adjusting Hazel so she can eat. She latches on immediately and sucks down her breakfast, making sweet sounds while she does. I could watch her like this for hours.
Rowan walks into the room and leans against the doorframe, watching as Hazel finishes her meal. I move her to my shoulder and pat her until she burps.
“I’ll get her ready so you can finish,” Rowan offers.
I stand and pass her over to him. He leans down and gives me a kiss before I go back into our room to get ready. When I’m done getting dressed, I walk into the living room to join Rowan and Hazel and then we walk downstairs to get breakfast as a family.
The clubhouse has been packed for the last few days because everyone close to the club is staying here. The guys had to bring in a few tables, so everyone had somewhere to sit when we ate. Chef has been busting his ass in the kitchen, and the club girls have been a huge help to him.
I didn’t know how I would feel about Ana, Lacey, and Lucy when I first met them, but they’re actually great girls. They don’t cause any trouble for the guys who aren’t single and they’re nice to the kids and to the women. Even though they’re called “club sluts,” the guys don’t treat them like sluts. They treat them like they’re part of the family.
Hazel and I take a seat at the table with Grayson, Asher, and a very uncomfortable Sophie while Rowan goes to grab us food. She feels like she’s ready to pop and doesn’t think that she’ll make it to full-term. Grayson has been doting on her and it makes me excited to have another baby with Rowan. One where we can be so open with our affection for one another.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking about another baby when we’ve just had Hazel but seeing them together makes me think of how Rowan and I would be. Not to mention, Asher has been such a good big brother already. He helps his mom and constantly asks questions. I’m so lucky that Hazel is going to grow up in this family.
“How are you feeling today, Soph?” I ask as I take the seat across from her.
“How do I look?” She grumbles.
