Page 21 of Crow's Haven
“That’s when she signed over custody. She didn’t even put up a fight. I left the paperwork our club’s attorney made up. I asked her to take ten days to think about what she really wanted and let her know I would support whatever decision she made. The next day, she signed in and dropped it in the mail. There was a note that said she was sorry and couldn’t be the mom right now. Said she was too young and didn’t want to be tied down with twins.”
Sharon’s eyes are shining now. She’s right about one damn thing. It was harrowing. She just reaches out and rests herhand over mine. “I’m sorry that happened to you. It turned what should have been the best moments of your life into the worst.”
“Yeah, you’re fucking right as rain about that. I kept thinking I could save her,” I admit. “But it got to a point where I had to choose between protecting her and protecting them.”
“You made the right choice,” she says, her voice reassuring.
“I know.” I rub my thumb along the side of her hand. “Doesn’t mean I don’t still second guess myself about what I could have done differently.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about things you can’t change.”
A short silence spins out between us as we each ponder the situation before I say, “My boys needed their mom, and I couldn’t save her from herself.”
“It wasn’t your job to fix her. It was her responsibility to step up and get help.” She pauses for a few seconds before adding, “I’m not trying to replace anyone. I just want you to know that.”
I jerk my head up hard and fast, and I find myself gaping at her. “You’re not. And I wouldn’t expect you to try to fill a mother role for ‘em unless you wanted that yourself, so don’t feel pressured.” I realize my words might come out a bit harsh, so I add. “I mean, you’d be an awesome mom, and me and the boys would be lucky to have someone like you in our lives and—” I stop myself. “Okay, before I have you running for the hills I’ll shut up. You’re easy on the eye, but that’s not why I gave you the job. I meant what I said about no strings.”
She grins at me, “You’re kinda easy on the eye too.”
Chapter 7
Sharon
I’ve been staying with Crow for almost three weeks now. The boys are tucking into their breakfast, and across from them, Crow sips his coffee, half-awake but wearing that low-key smile he saves for easy-going weekend mornings.
I place the syrup bottle between the boys and step back, wiping my hands on a towel.
“You made the round kind again,” Scout says, reaching for the top pancake.
“They’re always round,” I tease, leaning on the counter.
“Yeah, but these are like... perfectly round,” he says, clearly surprised.
Crow grunts in agreement around a sip of coffee. “She’s got the magic touch.”
I roll my eyes and try not to preen.
Chase looks up from his syrup-pouring mission, eyes wide with sudden inspiration. “Hey! We forgot to ask her!”
Scout straightens. “Oh yeah! Sharon, you need a name.”
I blink, caught mid-thought. “A name? I thought I had one. You just used it.”
“A biker name,” Scout explains, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “For the club. That we’re gonna start one day.”
“Oh,” I say, a little taken aback. “So, you two are still going by those same club names.”
Chase is already shaking his head. “No. I’m Chainz, with a Z. And he’s Skull. Try to keep up.”
Crow snorts into his mug, but I can see the pride in his eyes as he glances at them. He doesn’t say much, just leans back a little in his chair, watching.
“Okay,” I say slowly, playing along. “What kind of names are we talking about?”
They launch into brainstorming mode immediately. I look from one to the other as they bounce ideas off each other.
Chase suggests, “Sarge! That’s a good one.”
Scout frowns. “No, she’s not mean enough.”
