Page 15 of Kingston

“Fries?”Iris suggested, batting those long, dark-blond lashes at me.

“Definitely fries,” I gave in as we entered the diner.

The place was still crowded from lunch, but there was a table and two booths free.As the door shut behind us, every head turned so fast, a few people no doubt got whiplash from it, conversations fading until only a few voices could be heard.Almost every eye was trained on us, causing Demi to blush and duck her head.

Shooting everyone a hard glare, I tugged her toward the booth in the back.Making sure she was comfortable before I placed Iris down across from her, I nodded at a few of my MC brothers who were in the middle of their own meal.

One of the younger waitresses came over as I dropped down beside Iris.“Hey, Kingston.I thought you were off today.”

“I am,” I told her coolly, sliding into the booth with Iris.“My girls are hungry.What do you want to drink, princess?Milk, water, or juice?”

“Appie juice?”she asked hopefully.

“Apple juice for her.I’ll take a Coke.Babe?”

“Um, water is fine,” Demi said softly.

“Okay.I’ll be right back with those drinks,” the girl said, watching us curiously.I gave her a hard look, and she gulped.Muttering an apology, she rushed to do her job.

I laid my hands palms-up on the table, wiggling my fingers at Demi.“What are you hungry for, baby?You barely ate anything at breakfast.How about a cheeseburger?Do you prefer onion rings over fries?”

Her smaller hand slid on top of mine, and I nearly crowed in triumph.It was a small, innocent thing, but it felt like I’d just won the grand prize.Demi didn’t even seem to notice she’d done it, barely glancing at me before turning her gaze to Iris and then the window.“I’m not very hungry.I can eat some of Iris’s fries.”

“Would you prefer something lighter, maybe a salad?We have grilled chicken as well as fried tenders that you can add to it.Or steak.You need some protein.”She shook her head, and my gut clenched.“Baby, please eat.For me?”

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and I felt her fingers tremble in my hand.I wrapped mine around hers, locking her in place in case she decided to move away.“I’m really not hungry, Kingston.”

Skimming my eyes over her face, I blew out a breath.I could see how tired she was.She had dark circles under her eyes.She needed sleep and food, and I didn’t need her to confirm what I already knew.My girls had been living in that tin-can car of hers.

I was pissed the fuck off about that, but not at her.Demi was doing what she thought was best for her and Iris.Protecting her baby girl and herself.From what, I didn’t know yet.But I’d fucking figure it out.It was me I was mad at.She’d run because of what had happened that last morning she brought in her muffins.That was on me.But I’d fix this and teach her that she didn’t have to be scared of anything or anyone as long as she had me.

“Demi?”Mom’s voice had Demi’s fingers clenching around mine.She tried to pull her hand free, but I lifted it to my lips, kissing her palm before I looked up at my mother.But Mom’s focus was solely on the woman across from me.

With a wobbly smile and tears in her eyes, Mom held out her arms.“It is you.Oh sweetheart, I’m so happy to see you.”

Shyly, Demi stood and let Mom hug her.I didn’t miss how she flinched even at Mom’s touch.Her thin arms went around my mother hesitantly.“Hi, Quinn.It’s good to see you too.”

When Mom pulled back, her gaze dropped to me.Blue eyes widened before narrowing on me in a way I remembered from my childhood.“I have so many questions,” she half growled at me.

“Do you want to ask them now so the entire town can hear my answers too?Or would you rather wait until we’re alone, and then that information can slowly filter through the rest of Creswell Springs?”I slid my arm across the back of the booth, drawing her attention to the little girl beside me.“Because I’m okay with either, Ma.I’m just curious if you are or not.”

“You might be grown, but I still gave birth to you, Kingston Everett Hannigan.”

I grimaced at being full-named.It was a freaking mouthful, and neither of my parents used it unless I was in trouble.Even at thirty-five, hearing my entire legal name from my mother was enough to make me lower my head a little.

But then I heard the softest, sweetest giggle in the world.Flicking a glance at Demi, I saw her put her hand over her mouth, surprise at her own action causing her eyes to widen, but she laughed a little louder.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but you don’t look like an Everett to me.I picture an old farmer working his crops.Not…” She paused, her pretty eyes raking over me, causing her cheeks to darken from light pink to glowing red.“…all of this.”

“Hey now,” Mom complained, ready as always to defend her name choice.From what my father had always told me, she’d researched for weeks before deciding on a middle name.“It took me forever to decide between Everett and Charles, but Everett means resilient and brave.”

Demi’s face went blank, her smile fading along with the color in her face.“You definitely picked well.I would take an Everett over a Charles any day of the week.”

“Right?I was so glad we went with Everett because I’ve met a lot of guys named Charles who are douchebags.”Mom snickered, not immediately noticing the other woman’s reaction, but I filed that away for later.“What are you three eating?I’ll go cook it myself.”

“Ma, you should take a break.Let’s have lunch together.Come on,” I urged when she hesitated.

“We’re almost at capacity, honey.”

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