Page 88 of Coast

“Bonus points if they have a pool. The kids and I have grown attached to the luxury.”

With that, she was inside her room, door locked. And I would bet good money that one of those firearms she mentioned would be nearby, just in case.

Brooke’s room seemed just as she left it. And I took a while just folding up and stuffing their clothes into the large totes she had.

Then there was all the bathroom stuff and the toys.

In the end, though, it all only took four or five trips to the club’s bulky SUV to move everything they owned, playard and new swing included.

It wasn’t right.

The two of them deserved a life full of crap: clothes, bedding, knick-knacks, toys, everything that they could need or want.

On the last trip, Brooke caught me in her window, giving me a nod.

“Take care of the girls.”

“Take care of yours,” I said back.

And with that, it was all over.

Zoe and Lil’ Bit had moved in with me.

And I was going to go ahead and pretend that the thought didn’t make my heart feel like it had grown two sizes in my chest.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Zoe

The clubhouse looked like a daycare the next morning.

Since Lainey had already been asleep in the borrowed playard by the time Coast made it back to the house sometime around sunup, he set her usual one up downstairs. Along with her swing and some of her toys.

The room was equally packed.

I’d been nodding in and out when Coast came in, so I woke up to the surprise of finding my clothes hanging in the closet with his and all of Lainey’s things in the dresser drawers.

Even her little bath seat and tub toys were in the bathroom. Along with my toothbrush, hairbrush, and products.

He’d moved us in.

Like it was no big deal.

Like we belonged there.

I blinked tears away as I brushed my teeth after a shower.

Lainey had been stolen by the sweet-tempered Eddie, who had her propped on his hip as he started to prepare breakfast.

I had to admit, I was more than a little excited about a home-cooked meal. It had been so long. The closest I got to home-cooking these days was adding some chopped onions or extraveggies to my ramen that I made by running water through the empty coffee pot to get nearly boiling water.

Maybe I could contribute to the clubhouse by making them some meals as well.

I’d been too overwhelmed with everything the night before to discuss details with Coast. Things like… logistics. Where was Coast going to be staying? What would I be paying for rent? What were the club rules?

I decided not to take any jobs early in the day so I could talk to Coast as well as the other guys in the clubhouse to make sure no one felt weird about our presence.

By the time I made it down to the kitchen, the smell of bacon cooking had my belly letting out a loud grumble.

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