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“I’m working on it. I was carrying some baggage I didn’t even know I was carrying. And things have changed but I’m building me from scratch again. I think it’s going to be okay. I’ll make me better this time.”
“You were pretty special before. Can’t wait to see all you achieve this time.”
“You’re one of my best friends. I hope that’s okay with you. I love you, and I’m so very happy for you and Shaun. I’m glad you have him, and I’m even glad he has you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m proud to be your friend.”
The bell on the door jangled, breaking them out of their conversation.
Remi glanced behind himself, inclined his head at the couple entering the shoppe, before he turned back to Bailey. “I’ll see you later, okay?” he said, backing toward the door.
“You better,” she called out as he waved and stepped outside.
Chapter 21
Remi pulled into the parking lot and immediately saw more than a few cars he recognized. Lunchtime at the work site very often meant Vince's, and obviously, today was no exception. He parked, strode up to the door and pulled it open. The moment he stepped inside, he realized that more people were there than he anticipated. Barron, Havoc, Lucien, Kiernan, and Shaun were seated at the bar, elbows deep in burgers, onion rings, and a varying array of shakes and root beers. But at a table on the far left of the room were Kaid and Delilah.
Since Kaid and Delilah were watching him expectantly, he went to their table first.
“Uncle Kaid, Aunt Delilah,” Remi said.
“Hello, Remi. It is very good to see you up and around,” Delilah said.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s good to be up and around,” Remi replied.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to offer you my deepest apologies for my behavior. I was offensive, selfish, and completely out of line. It was not my intent to be disrespectful to you or anyone else. I can’t take it away, but I can certainly make every effort to make amends by way of my actions, and I’m doing so.”
“Thank you for that, Remi. I appreciate you taking responsibility for your actions. It can be a hard thing for a lot of adults to figure out how to do,” Kaid said.
“Yes, sir. There is no excuse, but I am truly trying to make apologies, and prove that I’m not that broken, pitiful excuse for a male.”
Kaid surprised him when he stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. “The best of us are often the product of having beenbroken at one time or another. Me among them. It takes a strong male to recognize that he needs to take control of himself, and make strides to improve himself.”
“Thank you for saying that,” Remi said.
“Don’t let him just leave it at that,” Vince said, coming up behind him carrying a tray. He placed Kaid’s and Delilah’s meals in front of them, handed Delilah a fresh ketchup bottle, then looked at Remi directly. “He shot a hole in my damn ceiling in the middle of his being broken. I mean, a hole, Remi! It was raining in my damn bar!”
Remi chuckled.
“Go away, Vince,” Kaid said, patting Remi’s shoulder before sitting down to enjoy his food.
“Before you do, let me apologize to you for making a spectacle of myself in your place of business. I’m so embarrassed, and even sorrier for my behavior.”
“We’ve all done some things we regret, son. Just learn from it. That’s the best we can do.”
Remi nodded. “I want to thank you, too. You called Brandt to come get me and take me home safely. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’d have driven myself and I’m sure it would not have been good. Someone could have been killed because I was having a pity party. Thank you for taking care of me and calling my Alpha.”
Vince hugged him. “You’re welcome. You’re a good kid. Always have been, you just got a little lost.”
“So, I’m guessing we don’t rate high enough for an apology?” Barron shouted across the room.
Remi grinned. “I’m getting there!” he called out, without looking toward Barron and his own generation. He looked at Kaid again. “I asked my parents if I could stay with them for a little while as I get on my feet again, but I’m thinking maybe I should have asked you first since it’s your property.”
“No. Not at all. I have no say in what happens in any of the families who belong to my clan other than making sure they don’t do anything that will cause grief of any kind to the rest of the clan. Their business with their children is up to them. Now, having said that, if you’d asked, and they’d turned you down, I’d have offered my spare room to you, because in my eyes you’ll always be that little dark haired, dark eyed male that faced off against your daddy and my Delilah to protect your momma when you weren’t sure of the rest of us. You, Remi, saved your momma in a way that none of the rest of us could. And for the record if you didn’t get your head out of your ass soon, I was coming to help you remove it from the shadows so your momma wouldn’t be upset by you anymore.”
Remi nodded. “Thank you, Uncle Kaid. For all of it.”
Kaid gave him a single nod. “I’m glad to hear you’ll be at the shelter, too. Now, go see your people so I can eat my onion rings before they get cold.”
