Page 143 of Their Property
“Not the specifics. Like I said, he’s very careful.” She returned her hand to the book cart. “But you asked what I think, and given what Idoknow, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
I sighed, realizing I wasn’t going to get any more than that. “Coming from you, that is a little comforting, actually.”
Evalyn laughed lightly. “Because I’m a fellow woman?” She tapped a finger on her temple. “A keeper of knowledge?” She then looked over her shoulder, down the long corridor to where our men were catching up. “Or because we have more in common that we haven’t even discussed yet?”
“A little of all of the above,” I admitted.
She smirked at me and returned to scanning bookshelves.
FORTY-FOUR
DYNO
“You nervous, little lady?”
I leveled a look at T-Bone. “Now that you’ve said it, you’re gonna make sure she’s nervous. Good job, T.”
“It’s just a question! And it’s a big fuckin’ day, everyone’s all jumpy.”
He was one to talk. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he couldnotsit still. My six-year-old son Isaac was more calm and collected than him. The kid sat next to Kyrie’s full-length mirror, watching her as she turned and straightened the various pieces of her outfit.
“I’m okay,” Kyrie answered T-Bone distractedly through the mirror, leaning in to check her lipstick again. “How do I look, Isaac?”
“Pretty,” he muttered shyly, unable to look away from her.
“Thank you! You look so handsome, and I’m glad you’re here with us.”
My son was still getting used to her, but the kid was clearly smitten. Kyrie and I had gone on a solo ride to see him in the hopes that it would sway Lacey into allowing us some extended time together. The moment my son’s mother saw me with another woman instead of two men, she practically threw Isaac at us.
“Keep him for the whole summer, if you want,” she’d said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “He’s been acting out, and I could use a fucking break.”
How strange, considering he seemed withdrawn and quiet until we left. Once it was just us and Kyrie, he started opening up, chattering about how much he missed me and the guys. His mom didn’t like him talking about us, so I figured he’d bottled it up and acted out with tantrums.
The moment we made it home and Isaac saw T-Bone and Grudge again for the first time in over a year, he started bawling.
“It’s okay, we missed you too.” T-Bone had shushed and consoled him, holding him tightly while looking directly at me. “You know why? ‘Cause you’re our son too, little man.”
I heard his meaning loud and clear. Once Kyrie was officially lieutenant governor, we could make Isaac ours full-time. If his mother wanted to see him, she would have to put in some effort for a change.
Kyrie made it clear she didn’t want to replace Isaac’s mother, which was fair. Over the last three months, she had been campaigning with Gerard and essentially rebuilding the territory from the ground up. Her busy schedule allowed for her and Isaac to slowly grow accustomed to each other in small doses.
“Do you love my dad?” my son had asked her over dinner one night.
“Yes, I do,” she’d told him with a bright smile. “I love all three of them very much.”
That night seemed to be a breakthrough. Ever since then, he asked about her every night she had to work late and seemed to miss her when she wasn’t around.
Kyrie was a bundle of nerves on election night, even though they had run unopposed. Isaac held her hand and told her not to worry. She looked at him with such love in that moment that I knew shewashis mother, even if not by blood.
Now the election results were finalized, and she and Gerard were preparing to address the territory with their acceptance speech. Shewasnervous, and T-Bone bringing it up certainly didn’t help.
Grudge came up behind her as she continued to fidget in front of the mirror. He brought his hands in front of her and signed,“You look beautiful, Lieutenant Governor. You’ll knock ‘em dead, like you always do.”
Kyrie leaned back against his chest, letting him support her slight weight. “Thank you. I know it’ll be fine. It’s just…”
“Stop thinking about that flushed piece of shit,” T-Bone growled, his choice of words making Isaac snicker. “Your father showed how much he gives a fuck by ignoring the invitation, so don’t waste another thought on him.”
“I just can’t stop hoping he’ll surprise me by showing up unexpectedly. And if he’s not there, it’ll just be disappointing.”
