Page 106 of Redemption

I was working with my hands and experimenting with my craft and learning more skills. I loved losing myself in creating and building something lasting at the ranch.

Me, Leo, Max and even Tate had been hanging out more, and it was amazing to have friendships where you ribbed the shit out of each other but still supported one another.

My therapy was going well, some sessions were tough, and some were more healing than others. There was a lot of guilt to work through and some days I wanted to give up, but I kept going. Rome wasn’t built in a day and it would take a long time to heal, but with Kat, the guys, and the Cartwright sisters by my side, I would get there.

Life was damn near perfect right now.

“You’ll see,” Kat teased.

I could tell we were outside but I didn’t know where. I could hear traffic and noise, and then she let me go. “Wait here.”

“Oh yeah, I’m really gonna run off right now,” Igrumbled.

She leaned up, pressing her body against me, stirring my blood. “I love it when you’re cranky like this,” she murmured before swiping her tongue across my lips.

I groaned when she pulled away, desperate for her to put her tongue right back where it was.

“If you’re good for the next two hours, I promise to drive you wild later, how does that sound?”

“Like fucking perfection,” I growled, my cock already hardening in my jeans.

She tapped her hand against it. “You might wanna get rid of that.”

“I can think of a few ways,” I replied and she tsked. I snorted, trying to think of things to get my blood cooling. When it eventually worked, she praised me and it almost got me going again.

“Okay, we’re ready,” she said, grabbing my hands and pulling me forward.

“Who’s we?” I darted my head side-to-side, desperate to work out what was going on but I couldn’t. Then the blindfold was pulled from my eyes and I blinked, trying to focus.

“SURPRISE!”

I was stunned to see we were at The Lonely Bison. The bar was decorated with balloons and streamers and party poppers were being let off. I glanced around, seeing the Cartwrights, Leo, Max, Gertie and Tate with little party hats on and tears damn near filled my eyes.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Kat murmured, pressing a kiss to my lips before slipping a hat on my head.

“I…” didn’t know what to say. Emotion overwhelmed me. Obviously you don’t celebrate your birthday in prison and I hadn’t wanted to after what happened on my eighteenth birthday. It wasn’t a day to celebrate anymore, it was a day to remember when I made a shitty choice and Sherry lost her life. The pain didn’t hurt as much as usual though, and I could thank my therapist for that, for all the work we’d done and continued to do.

“It’s fine, we’re all fine,” Kat added, and I looked over her shoulder meeting Maddy, Daisy, August and Tilly’s stares but they all just smiled brightly at me. The love flowing from them broke me and a tear leaked out. I brushed it away and they raced forward and hugged me.

I would never be more grateful to have people in my life than right at this moment. I’d lost my family but I’d found a new one, and this family was the best damn one I could ever be blessed with.

When they pulled away, I was smiling and I searched for those blue eyes I was so enamored with. Kat was standing off to the side, letting me have my moment, and I stormed towards her, dragged her against me and dipped her back, slamming my lips into hers.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I whispered when we pulled apart, male satisfaction roaring through me at the glazed look in her eyes.

“You’re welcome. Now let’s celebrate,” she said, handing me a root beer. I glanced around and saw that we had the place to ourselves, I could relax and just enjoy the company. I chatted with Max, challenged Maddy to an arm wrestle, beat Daisy at pool, and danced with August.

I slipped away, pressing a kiss to Kat’s hair while she chatted with Leo and Gertie, and went over to the bar. As I approached, I spotted Tilly talking to Max and he was gesturing like he was agitated.

“You need to move on, Princess,” Max said, and Tilly looked at him like he’d just told her Santa wasn’t real.

“Everything okay here?” I said, eyeing them both.

“Surething. Someone just needs to get it into her thick skull that she’s achildand get over this pathetic little crush of hers,” Max snarled. Tilly gasped, then promptly burst into tears and ran off.

“Give me a reason not to deck you right here for that,” I warned Max.

He spun and faced me, his eyes narrowed. “You think I wanted to do that? She’s been hanging around for months and it’s got to stop. I was cruel because being nice hasn’t worked. It’s your birthday, I don’t wanna fight with you. I didn’t wanna be a dick but she needed it. Now she can hate me and move on and stop staring at me with hearts in her goddamn eyes!” Max shouted, slamming the dish towel down on the bar and storming off.

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