Page 42 of Providence

The words passing my lips felt like a bullet to my chest. We did fucking love each other. Even through the darkness, even when we were more likely to tear each other apart than help put each other back together, there had never been any doubt in my mind that he loved me.

“Is that why you are dressed pretty? Are you taking him on a date? That's what Sammie says people who love each other do, go on dates and have babies.” Her eyes went wide. “Are you going to have babies?”

Lucifer fucking save me. My eyes pingpong around for someone, anyone, to save me from this before I died of goddamn mortification. “Uh, no. We can’t. And no I’m not taking Judas on a date. I’m taking Sera on a date, if she’ll go.”

Cara clapped her hands. “See, I told you girls can love more than one person and then if you love Judas too, you’ll always have someone to kiss.” She giggled and I was about two seconds from making a run for the door and just dying on the front lawn. This kid needed to become an interrogator or something.

Sammie suddenly grinned. “You’re nervous,” he accused, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Maybe they could be a team of interrogators.

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth.

Cara clapped her hands and jumped around like I told her I was buying her a fucking pony. “Don’t get excited, kid. She might say no.”

Sammie was shaking his head though. “Nah. She looks at you with this weird look on her face. I think she likes you too. Just go in there. She won’t say no. You should take her for ice cream. She likes ice cream. And pancakes!”

“Pancakes!” Cara squealed, and I made hushing motions with my hands. “Pancakes!” she whisper-screamed.

Sammie rolled his eyes at his sister. “When I asked Lisa at school if she wanted to be my girlfriend, I just went up and told her that her hair was pretty and did she want to be my girlfriend. Marco says girls like it when you tell them that they are pretty and you’re honest.”

I threw my hands up. I was taking dating advice from a damn infant. And it was good fucking advice. This is my life now.

“Thanks, Kid.” I straightened, gave the kids a wink, and walked into the kitchen.

It was empty, and I huffed. I’d waited too long. Then I heard a huffing noise from behind me, and I whirled around.

Sera was leaning against the wall by the door, her hand covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

I scowled, but my lips twitched. “How much did you hear?”

She grinned. “A lot.”

“Do you want to go for pancakes or not,” I growled, shamelessly stealing the kids' idea.

Serendipity gave me a smile that sucked all the oxygen from the room, making my lungs burn. “Absolutely. Let me get changed and we’ll go.” She stood closer, lifting up on her toes and giving me a quick kiss on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”

I looked at the back deck. The guys all stood out there, stupid fucking grins on their face. Solomon was bent over laughing. I flipped him the fucking finger, but when my eyes caught on Judas, the happiness on his face was so damn hopeful, I knew I’d done the right thing.

Twenty minutes later,we walked into a bar that was right on the border of Damnation territory but not often frequented by Club brothers. I knew all the entry points and exits, and I placed my hand on the small of her back, leading her to a booth in the back corner of the room, by the rear exit, but with a good view of both doors.

“You know, I haven’t had a drink since Madoc was born. Hell, since before Purgatory.” Her golden hair is flowing down her back and she’s almost bouncing on her toes with happiness. Every set of eyes in this fucking bar were on her like she was a fucking virgin in a whorehouse, and I decided a killing spree wasn’t off the table.

“Sit. I’ll get us drinks.” I walked toward the bar, keeping one eye on her, and one eye on the rest of the bar. I realized I hadn’t asked what she wanted when I got to the bar. “Beer. And fuck, something girly and potent?”

The bartender didn’t laugh, but that might be because I was glaring at him like I’d gut him for the action.

In the end he gave me something pink and filled with more shots of vodka than I cared to consider. I placed it in front of her, and she sucked the straw in the fucking hottest way I’d ever seen. Judas had been right, though I’d never admit it to the smug fuck. I did want her again. Wanted her so bad my balls hurt.

When she made a happy little moan as the fruity pink crap hit her tongue, my dick hardened in my jeans. This was a terrible fucking idea. I felt naked without my cut, even though I still had my gun under my jacket and my knife in my boot.

I didn’t know what to talk to women about, especially this woman.

We sat in awkward silence for a little bit, until she finally caved. “Thanks for inviting me out. I needed to get out of the house. The four walls were starting to close in on me.”

I grunted, and shrugged. “For your own good. Judas just wants you to be safe.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Just Judas?” She gave me a sad smile. “You know, you don’t have to be here. We can just be friends, Goliath. I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything else.”

Fuck me, she was giving me the peer pressure talk. This was fucking ridiculous.

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