Page 46 of Haven

Dec fucking snorts water through his nose, he laughs so hard. “Dry humping?”

“Asshole,” I grumble.

“Is that what you were doing at sixteen?” he asks.

“At sixteen, I had no fucking clue what a healthy relationship looked like. All I cared about was my sister, football, and getting my dick wet.” The order of importance varied from week to week.

Declan fucking laughs again, so I go in for the kill. “Dude, your girls are almost sixteen. You really want to think about what we were doing at their age?” I thoroughly enjoy his pained, disgusted face, as it turns green and kinda queasy. “I wasn’t real picky about where or who. And I’ve already wanted to kill some little shitstain who was mean to Lindy. Not sure how you’re handling all that with two of them who look like little versions of your wife. You’re so fucking screwed, man.”

“Fuuccck...” He sucks in a pained breath. “You had to go there, didn’t you, asshole?”

Okay, so my responding smile is cruel. I know it is. But man, when you’re as close as Declan and I are, you know exactly what buttons to push. “I’ve been sleeping on my woman’s couch for almost a week. My dick is basically chafed from the dry humping. Though, I’m thinkin’ the blue-ball frustration will definitely fuel some good fucking anger for the game this weekend.” I shrug and finish my burger.

“Girls are supposed to make you nicer, Dix.”

“Must be why you’re such a softy, Dec.”

He shoves a fry in his mouth. “The fuck I am. I’m gonna need my boys to keep me out of jail when the girls start dating. Why the hell couldn’t my sons be born first?”

I think about how I scared the shit out of every boy and man who even looked at Madison until she met Hudson. Then I shut that shit down real fucking fast.

Maddie’s safe. We made it out of the viper’s den of those foster homes, and she came out un-fucking-harmed.

“I feel bad for those girls when your oldest boy gets just a little older. He’s gonna be such a little asshole.” I don’t bother trying to hide my laughter.

Declan and Belles have five kids.

Five.

Three boys and two girls.

I never thought I wanted any.

I’m still not sure.

I was raising Maddie long before our mother died.

When our mom was good, she was real good.

But when she was bad... Drugs fuck everything up.

Childhoods.Entirelives. Whole worlds. All fucked.

And our mom lovedthemmore than she ever lovedus. I was in first grade when my sister was born, and I made more bottles and changed more diapers than our mom ever did. I got up with her in the middle of the night. It was me she came to when she was scared. It was my job to keep her safe. From Mom. From the men Mom would bring into the apartment who she tried to pass off asuncles. From every disgusting foster family they placed us with. I know there’s good ones out there, but we never got them.

The idea of having my own kid... I’m a strong motherfucker.

But even the strongest of us can be broken.

* * *

After lunch, I walk down Main Street to Ever After Event Planning. The bells chime overhead as I push through the glass door, and my woman walks out of her office looking like a wet fucking dream. A tight black skirt comes down to just below her knees, highlighting every sexy curve of her long, toned legs. A white blouse stretches tight across her chest with the top few buttons undone, just enough to give a hint of cleavage. Black glasses sit on her pretty face, and her long hair is piled on top of her head. And her pouty lips are painted crimson red, begging to be kissed. To be fucked.

Damn...

“Hey baby.” I plant my feet on the carpet so I don’t cross the room and pin her against the wall like I want to. Lindy’s not here, and there’s gotta be a door with a lock somewhere.

Her face pinches, and she looks away, clearly not thrilled I’m here. “I told Sam not to call you.”

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