Page 35 of Fox (Road Rebels MC 4)
“I don’t think the patrons of our bar would enjoy blood in their drinks tonight.”
“You bartending?” I asked.
“Yep. Through the weekend. That’s what I get for taking all of last week off,” he said.
“But it was my birthday. I think it was worth it.”
“With the memories we made, it definitely was.”
Fox popped up from underneath the covers before he settled himself along the lines of my body. I parted my legs for him, allowing his body to sink between them. I ran my hands along his chest, my fingertips taking in the deep ripples of his strong muscles. Fox reached for my left hand and brought it to his lips, his fingers tracing the massive diamond ring on my finger.
“You sure you wanna be stuck with me the rest of your life?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t have bought you this ring if I didn’t,” Fox said.
“You know we don’t have to rush this. We don’t have to get married before the baby comes.”
“You mean you don’t wanna rush off to Vegas, book a stale-smelling chapel, and tie the knot this weekend?”
“How romantic,” I said as I rolled my eyes.
“We can have whatever kind of wedding you want. If you want it big, we’ll go big. If you want it small, we’ll do small. If you want it now or later, we’ll schedule it whenever you want. The only thing that matters to me is that you and our son are healthy, happy, and safe.”
I rose up from the pillow, capturing his lips with mine as his hand cradled my head.
I loved Fox. I loved him with every fiber of my being. And in the process of getting to know everyone, I had grown to love them all. Sydney. Emery. Hawk and Snake. Gemma and Laiken and Mac, and even Talon. I cherished them. They had become the family I had always wanted.
The family I thought I had in the first place.
I could trust them. Go to them. Talk to them and ask them for advice. They were fortresses when it came to keeping secrets, and there was never a time when anything got back to Fox. Even when I called Laiken up crying because I was pregnant so soon after my father being put in jail, she never once went and told Fox. She comforted me on many lonely nights until I could work up the courage to tell him.
I was thankful for that. Thankful for the respect she gave me in understanding I couldn’t go to him with it. Not at that moment. She might not have agreed, but she understood. She respected my decisions, which was more than I could say for my father.
Or my mother, for that matter.
“I love you,” I said in a whisper.
Fox pulled back from my lips as his eyes danced between mine.
“I love you, too,” he said.
“When do you go to work tonight?”
“Gotta be there by seven to help set some things up. Why?”
“Just wondering. Do you want me to cook dinner before you head out?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll grab something on the way.”
“You sure? I don’t mind pulling something out.”
“I know you don’t, but we do need to talk about something.”
“What?” I asked.
“We need to figure out what to do about your apartment.”
Fox dipped back down beside me and pulled me into his arms. It was a subject I was hesitant on addressing. I didn’t know why it was so hard for me to let go of that apartment. After all, I wasn’t living there. I wasn’t residing there. I hadn’t stepped foot into the place other than to get more clothes since my father’s sentencing.
But for some reason, it was hard for me to let go of that lease.
“I know, I know. It’s a waste of money,” I said.
“It’s not that,” Fox said.
“Then what is it?” I asked. “Why can’t I let go of this thing?”
“Because it’s the one last thread you have to your former life. You know, your family.”
“You’re my family.”
“You know what I mean, Harlow. Baby, what happened last month was hard. You lost your father and your mother in the same day. That apartment, it symbolizes all that. Not just all the bad, but all the good times you had with them, too.”
“Why did my mother abandon me? I just can’t believe she chose my father over me.”
“I know,” he said. “I don’t know how mothers can do that to their children. But I think it’s time. I think it’s time to let the place go and find a way to move forward.”
“Without them.”
“If they want to come back into your life, we can sit down and have a conversation with them. I’m not thrilled about the idea, but they’re your parents. And if they come back, they’ll be grandparents to our son. I can put my own prejudices aside long enough to speak with them like an adult. But for now, I think it’
s time to relinquish the apartment.”
I sighed as I felt tears brewing behind my eyes. As much as I knew he was right, it was still a struggle to fully shut that door of my life.
“I could pull the money out of my savings account to break the lease. I’ll lose the security deposit, and I’ll have to front two or three months’ rent, but it’ll be cheaper than riding out the rest of the lease,” I said.
“I can help you do that. I’ve got plenty of money underneath my belt. And we can move the things you want to keep in here-”
“No,” I said.
Fox held my gaze steadily as I drew in a deep breath.
“If I’m doing to do this, there’s going to be no evidence of it. No furniture being transferred, no beds being reused, nothing. Most of the stuff in that apartment my parents purchased anyway. It will do me no good if the point is to get rid of the influence.”
I felt Fox’s lips connect with mine as my body pressed into his. I felt his arm thread around my waist, pulling me close to his strength. I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him deeper as our tongues collided.
It never ceased to amaze me how comforting and calming his touch could be to me.
“Whenever you’re ready to go speak with your landlord, I’m ready to go with you,” he said.
“We could do it this afternoon, if you’d like,” I said.
“Whatever you want. So long as we’re on the same page with the apartment, I’m following your lead.”
“Then let’s get up and get dressed. We could go talk to them now then get some lunch.”
“Whatever you want,” he said as he kissed my lips. “Whatever you need.”
“All I need is you,” I said.
“And you have me, Harlow. Forever.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Fox!
Kisses <3
Savannah
Turn the page for Rider (The Fallen Reapers MC)!
Rider (The Fallen Reapers MC)
by Savannah Rylan
Chapter 1
Rider
