Page 150 of Shattered Souls
That doesn’t appease him, so I merely move on. It’s a point of contention that neither of us will yield on. Whatever. He’ll get over it—he has no other choice because I am not quitting my job. Not when I’m finally rid of Ben, and I can actually enjoy it without stressing.
Instead, I direct the focus back to Aurora, who Grayson is looking after tonight. “She’ll probably pass out as soon as we leave,” I tell him. “She’s already in her jammies and brushed her teeth, so you just need to put her in bed. She’ll demand that you read her at least three bedtime stories, but just read her the one. It’s already past her bedtime.” I worry my bottom lip. I don’t know why I’m feeling so anxious. “She fell asleep during the game, but don’t let her fool you into thinking that means she can stay up. It’s alreadywaypast her bedtime.”
“You’re talking like I haven’t put her to bed before or like I wasn’t sitting beside you on the couch all evening. It wasmylap she fell asleep in,” Grayson grumbles. He’s looking at me like I’ve grown a third eye on my forehead. Hell, maybe I have.
“Right.” I chew on my bottom lip, trying to think if I’ve forgotten anything, until a gentle squeeze of my shoulder snaps me back into the room.
“We’ll be fine,” he rumbles, seemingly irritated at my overbearingness. However, his shoulders marginally relax when his eyes meet mine, and a gentleness softens his gaze. “I promise she’s safe with me.”
I blow out a breath, holding his piercing stare. “I know. I’m just nervous. It was last Friday…”
“I know,” he says, giving me another squeeze. “My dad is still in hospital. Everything is fine. Go shake that ass.” His nose scrunches. “On second thought…”
He begins to drag me in against him, the jesting breaking the tension as I wriggle free.
“We’re going to be late,” Royce informs us as he helps me into my coat before ushering me out the door. “She’ll probably sleep the entire time we’re gone,” Royce says reassuringly as we make the short trip to Lux. “She’s safe with Grayson.”
“I know. I know she is.” I blow out a breath. “I’m sure it will get easier with time.” Somehow, it never feels so challenging to drop her off at daycare or to leave her with one of the guys during the day. It was dark out when my mother abandoned her in a parking lot, selling her just to get back at me and her husband. It was dark when Bertram frog-marched us out of the hockey stadium. It was dark when I pushed her through a broken window to avoid the flames licking up the walls.
Bad things happen in the dark.
I don’t even realize I’m biting my nails until Royce reaches across and encapsulates my hand in his, holding it hostage for the remainder of the journey.
“You’re back!” Tara squeals when I walk into Lux. I don’t have a chance to respond before she’s strangling me to death in a fierce hug. “It’s so good to see you, mama.” My arms come up, returning her hug. It’s damn good to see her too. What with being the manager and all now, she wasn’t at rehearsals on Tuesday, and with everything going on with Aurora these last few weeks, we haven’t done more than exchange a few texts. We did, however, catch up for a quick coffee earlier in the week when I filled her in on everything that happened last weekend and confirmed I was still good to start back tonight.
“How’s the little one?”
“She’s great. Absolutelylovesall the attention from these guys.” I thumb Royce, making Tara smirk.
Wagging her eyebrows, she teases, “She’s got good taste.” I snort while Royce shakes his head. Turning so she can link her arm through mine, Tara points toward an unoccupied table. “I have a table reserved for your Rottweiler with a perfect view ofthe stage because I’m nice like that. Does he need a treat or anything before we leave him?”
“Har har.” Royce narrows his eyes on her in fake warning before he stalks off to take his seat.
“Remember not to pee on the furniture,” she calls after him before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
“Having fun there?” I tease, but I’m grinning at her antics.Damn, I’ve missed her.
“Soooo much fun, you have no idea.”
We walk arm in arm across the club floor and into the back hallway. “How have things been here? Not regretting accepting the manager position yet?”
She shakes her head. “It’s been great so far. I still haven’t met the new owner, but he seems happy enough for me to do whatever I think is best.”
“Well, that’s handy.” I glance her way out of the corner of my eye before daring to broach the subject. “What about Dax? Have you seen him recently?”
I hadn’t bothered to leave out his role in getting Aurora back when we’d talked earlier in the week. I’m not sure how exactly she feels toward him, but I thought she should know that despite his reputation and whatever he’d done to her in the past, he had been instrumental in rescuing Aurora.
Royce mentioned that he’d left town shortly after the night of the fire, and I have no idea how long he’ll be gone or if he’ll be coming back. I know he’s got his club in Springview, but other than the occasional drop-in to The Depot, I don’t know if he’ll be back in Halston any time soon.
Growing somber, she shakes her head. “Nope. He left town as quickly as he arrived, unsurprisingly without saying a word to me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, nudging her shoulder in support.
She shrugs. “Whatever. I’m used to it by now. It just sucks when he stops by. It’s like, I manage to convince myself I’ve moved on, and I’m over him, and thenbam, he shows up. It all becomes a harsh reminder that I’m nowhere close to being over him.” Her sigh is heavy. “I don’t know if I ever will be.”
I wrap her in a brief hug. “Good thing there’s plenty of eye candy to drool over at The Depot in the meantime.”
Smiling now, she agrees, “True dat.”
