Page 53 of Rebel

“It’s what we do, whatever it takes.” His eyes were glued to the road, glancing into the mirrors every few seconds just to make sure we weren’t being followed. “How are you doing?”

His question surprised me. “I’m fine, thanks.” It was the polite answer. The expected answer. “I’m working and safe. Resting easier knowing that Livvy is safe.”

“Yeah, I get all that, but I’m asking howyou’redoing.”

“Fine,” I answered with a heavy sigh. How else should I be? My life has been turned upside down my circumstances beyond my control.

“Rebel needs time to adjust to the news. He’s not mad at you, he’s just been blindsided.”

I didn’t bother with a response to that. My feelings about everything were constantly flip-flopping. Like earlier I was pissed at him—and Mia’s words seemed to validate this. But then I tried to look at it from his point of view and I was overwhelmed with guilt. I turned to the window and watched the city fly by, my thoughts heavy. Sure there was a point in time I thought maybe Logan and I might become something more, but that felt like a lifetime ago. Now I just hoped we’d get to the point where we could successfully co-parent.

But first, I had to let Livvy know there was now a man she could call daddy.

***

The clubhouse buzzed with activity, full of laughter and music the moment I opened the door. I scanned the room in search of Livvy, but the sound of her giggles gave her up immediately. She sat on Logan’s lap with her head tossed back, laughing at something. It was another beautiful snapshot that only hurt a little.

Knowing she was safe and happy, I went to what was now our temporary shared bedroom to change clothes and wash my face. I was hungry though. There was food at the clubhouse, but only sometimes, so I grabbed a beer while I weighed my options. I leaned against the bar, watching Livvy and Logan together with my heart in my throat. It was everything I ever wanted for her, to have a father who was completely enamored with her.

“They’re so cute together,” Laura, Hawk’s old lady, said as she leaned against the bar beside me, watching me as I watched my daughter with her father.

“Yep.” All around here, Livvy was surrounded by family. Logan’s family. They laughed and drank together, played games, and gave each other a hard time. I couldn’t help but feel I didn’t belong—I was an outsider. But Livvy did. This was the other side of her family. These people loved her and would protect her. They would keep her safe. “Very cute.” The love between them was palpable and the minute I told Livvy the truth, it would probably grow into something uncontainable.

Livvy spotted me, stopped what she was doing, and took off at a full run in my direction. “Mommy!”

I put my beer on the bar and squatted down to receive my little girl. “Hey sweet girl. How was your day?” I hugged her tight and let my eyes slide closed. These moments wouldn’t lastforever, and I was determined to hang onto each and every one of them.

“It was so much fun Mommy! We ate hot dogs and French fries, and even ice cream but I’m not supposed to tell you that. Oops!” She covered her mouth with both hands. “And we saw horsies in the park and they weresobig Mommy!”

I kept a smile fixed on my face as she told me all about their day. “Sounds like you had a good day.”

“I did. We did, right Mr. Rebel?”

His jaw clenched and he looked away before he regained his composure and faced Livvy. “Hell yeah, we did.”

“That’s a bad word,” she said to Logan in a sing-song voice.

My stomach chose that moment to remind me that I hadn’t eaten anything since the half salad I had for lunch. “Want some dinner?”

“Yeah!” Livvy jumped up and down.

Perfect. That gave me something to do. I turned to Laura. “Do you think Hawk could give us a ride? Or you know what, we can order a rideshare.” I couldn’t start to rely on these people, couldn’t count on them to be there for me. “I’ll call the rideshare.”

Laura looked at me with a confused look, no doubt wondering why I wasn’t asking Logan. “Hawk will take you, maybe I’ll join you if that’s okay?”

“That’s fine by me,” I assured her.

“I’ll take them,” Logan said, his tone unfriendly as hell and brooking no arguments.

Great, that was just what I needed. A tense dinner after a tense as hell day at the office.

A tense few weeks, actually.

“Whatever.” I walked away to grab coats for me and Livvy, and to give myself a few moments to put on a blank face for dinner.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rebel

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