Page 75 of Tick Tock, Boom!

I stopped at the corner market, dragging my tired legs down each aisle. Gabe’s favorite dinner was pasta and chicken, so that’s what I grabbed. Penne, parmesan, some fresh garlic, and a pack of chicken thighs. It was easier to focus on prepping dinner than letting my mind wander back to him.

By the time I got back in the car and turned the key in the ignition, I convinced myself I could do this. I could live a normal, simple life without letting him back in. Without letting him tear apart everything I’d built for myself and my son.

That is, until I saw the bike.

"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me," I muttered under my breath as I spotted him leaning against his Harley like the smug bastard he was.

I marched up, heart hammering, anger on full display. "What are you doing here?" I snapped.

He shrugged like it was nothing. "Told you. I want to meet my son."

"Don't you dare, Jose."

He pushed past me with that same cocky strut that used to drive me insane. "I thought I told you I wasn't asking for permission."

I watched, frozen, as he crouched down in front of Gabe and smiled. "Hi, Gabe, is it?"

"Jose!" I warned, voice sharp.

He looked back, lips curling into a smirk while Gabe glanced back at me.

"I'm a friend of your momma's."

Gabe's eyes went wide at the sight of the bike. "Is that yours!”

He ran past me and headed right for the Harley. Tick Tock winked at me as he walked past me and toward Gabe. “Sure is.”

“It’s so cool! Can I take a ride on it?”

“Only if you’re Mom says it’s okay,” they both looked at me and I was taken aback. They had the same glint in their eyes and their similarities took me by surprise.

“Please, Mom?" Gabe insisted.

"Not a chance in hell," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Come on, Mom! Please," he begged, looking between me and Jose. The gleam in his eyes was what broke me.

I walked over to Tick Tock and grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket. The scent of his cologne engulfed me, making me instantly wet for him. I put in my meanest most threatening look as I spoke to him.

He brought his face down to mine, his curls brushing my cheek. "You bring him back in one piece or I'll come after you," I muttered suddenly grabbing his balls. He grunted. “And I’ll rip these off,” I smiled sweetly, patting them softly and backing away.

"Promise," he said, eyes locking with mine, something dark and heated passing between us.

I narrowed my eyes on him and my heart nearly crawled out of my throat as I saw him place my child on the bike, he placed his helmet on his head before taking off.

Please bring him back, it was all I could think as I made my way back home.

* * *

An hour later,I had changed into a sundress, wanting to feel somewhat human again. I was running around barefoot when the doorbell rang. Gabe was standing at the doorway grinning ear to ear and holding Tick Tock’s hand.

"Can he come to dinner, Mom? Please?"

I looked up at Tick Tock as he arched a brow and I sighed. "Fine. But only dinner."

Jose followed me inside, shutting the door behind us. “Nice dress,” he whispered to me as he slid his hand across the hem of the skirt as he walked past me into the kitchen.

I glared at him as he took off his jacket, revealing sleeves of tattoos. Some new, some old, all hiding scars I hadn't seen before. My eyes lingered and when I looked up, he was watching me. He smiled at me and winked before flexing his arms.

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