Page 58 of Shockproof

Reconcile.

And they did.

They coparented – and in some waysstillfucking coparent me at almost forty – so goddamn well they should’ve written a book about the shit. Everything from diets to dating to the decision about how to handle my deployments was done togetherwithLinda. Ma never saw the woman as a threat but just another person to protect me. To light a candle for. To have in our family to guide and love me whenever I needed it. And Kolby? She loves the little shit too and has always respected that we were raised differently.

I’m lucky.

On one hand, I missed out on so fucking much, yet on the other, it ended up giving me so much too.

“What are you in town for?” Arley inquires as we drop down into the seats beside Dad and Linda.

Ma waits until she’s properly seated in the seat to my right. “My gentleman caller.”

Her words drop my jaw but have my woman croaking, “Like a sex worker?!”

There’s no stopping the stunned expression from being shot to Angel Cake.

“What’s a sex worker?” Ma ponders out loud on a quirked eyebrow. “Are those what the women on the picture app are doing?”

Arley cocks her head in confusion. “Picture app?”

“Instagram,” Linda interjects, joining the conversation.

“Oh!” the woman I’ve sworn to protect with or without a contract that tells me to do so squeaks. “No! Those are mainly just thirst traps.”

“But I’m not thirsty.”

“This is gettin’ off course,” Dad chuckles and lifts his beer. “Gabs is not seein’ a male hooker-”

“Is hooker gender specific?” Angel Cake needlessly wonders.

“She’s in town visiting her boyfriend.”

“Your. What?!” I boom loud enough to crack the ice.

What. The. Fuck. Is going on?!

“That’s what I said, Ace.”

“That’s notquitewhat you said, Gabs.”

“Well, it’s what I meant.”

“Which isn’t what you said.”

“Excuse. Me.” Sitting up completely straight has me removing my arm from around Arley. “Could someone please fuckin’ clarify this shit for me?” The ticking of my jaw is difficult to ignore. “Now.”

“Oh, look, Kolby’s on the ice!” Linda uncomfortably gestures, hoping to redirect everyone’s gaze to him. “Woooo! Let’s go Kolby!”

“They call him WonderWahl,” Arley verbally points out only to then physically do the same causing her charm bracelet to sway. “See on that sign over there. And there. Oh! And there!”

His mother’s shoulders drop in a melting fashion. “I’m not used to seeing so many of his fans like this.”

“Let’s go, Wahl!” is shouted from someone below us and I momentarily stop scowling to smirk.

I am proud of the kid too.

He’s come a long fucking way.

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