Page 165 of Wild Blades

“Kali accepted my apology and forgave me. I’m a changed man, I promise, Wade.”

We’ll see.

“As long as she’s happy, then so am I.” I know therapy helped me find myself again; changed me back to the man I was before Gretchen died, but Zane was never that nice to begin with. To move on, I’m going to have to learn to trust him.

Not something I am good at.

I look between Lola and him, then ask her, “He’s not…”

“What?” Lola’s eyes widen in shock when she realizes I’m asking if he’s the father. “Oh, my God. No way.”

Thank fuck for that.

“What?” Zane asks, completely baffled by our interaction.

“Nothing,” we both say at the same time.

“We should take a photo of all three of us together as a mini celebration of sorts. The day you two called a truce.” Lola grabs her phone.

Zane and I screw our faces up in disagreement, but she doesn’t let it go.

“C’mon, scootch in.” She beckons us to move in to her left and right while she holds the phone out in front of her and we sandwich her between us.

“Do we have to do this?” I protest.

“Once you two get back on the ice together, this could all be a distant memory, so let’s make the most of it. Now smile.” She taps the button. Our faces fill the screen as we smile, and there is no denying it. We do all sort of look like one another.

“What should I put as the caption?” Lola asks. “I’m tagging you both.”

I grin. Wide. And suggest. “A sister from another mister and a brother from another mother, who is also a mother––”

“Don’t say it.” Zane leans over Lola, trying to cover my mouth.

“… Fucker.”

“Yeah, about that.” He turns as bright as a strawberry.

“Forget it,” Lola says. “We are never talking about that woman ever again.”

“Not ever?” I thought Lola might want to connect with her in some way.

“Not now. Not ever.” She sounds pretty certain about that, so I don’t push it.

“Posted. I put one word. Family.” Lola says, smiling down at the photo.

“Family,” we all say together.

It’s unconventional and a fucking mess right now, but what family is normal?

Not this one, that’s for sure.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Wade

It’s been a few days since Nicki showed up here at Caulder Creek with my newly assembled family, which is still wild and taking time to sink into my overactive, muddled brain.

First was Marcus staying behind to apologize and desperate to make everything right.

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