Page 132 of Ace of Spades

"But Sienna’s smarter than I’ll ever be," he continues, voice low. "She knows what she needs better than any of us."

I don't say anything.

Because some days, it still feels like what she needed... wasn’t me.

Josie squeals up ahead and slams her hand against the window of a small shop. I glance over and freeze.

Jolly Roger’s.Theo’s place.

Brody catches the look on my face and grins. "You ever been inside?"

I shake my head.

"Well, time to change that, brother."

He pushes the door open, and the little bell above it jingles softly.

The place smells like clean leather and ink. Theo’s hunched over a client, working on an intricate sleeve of waves crashing into a lighthouse. His brow furrowed, his hands steady as a surgeon's.

He doesn't notice us at first, he's too locked in.

Pride wells up in my chest so fierce it almost chokes me.

Josie toddles forward, her tiny hand reaching up to grab Theo’s wrist gently.

He glances down, startled—then breaks into the biggest damn grin I've seen on him in years.

"Hey, Josie girl," he says, setting his tattoo gun down carefully and scooping her up into his arms without a second thought.

He looks up and sees me.

"Old man," he teases. "What’re you doing here?"

I chuckle. "Came to steal you for lunch. If you're free."

He hesitates, glancing at the client still packing up his things.

"Please," Josie pipes up, looking at him with those big pleading eyes.

Theo laughs and slings an arm around her, kissing the side of her head. "You’re lethal, you know that?"

Fifteen minutes later, we’re sitting at a little diner down the street.

Theo and Josie coloring on the kids’ menus while we wait for food.

"You’re doing good," I say after a while, nudging him lightly with my elbow.

Theo shrugs, looking a little shy under the praise. "Trying."

"Not trying. Doing."

He smiles, shy but proud.

Then he looks up at me, eyes more serious.

"And you?" he asks. "You good?"

I sip my coffee. Let the moment stretch.

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