Page 15 of Mouse
“We should see if Bridget will come too. I think Claire has to work. And Abigail… we all know she will stay here and cook.”
I didn’t argue with Laurel’s statement. I had been around enough to see that Abigail took her role here at the club seriously. Though, I got the feeling it was more of a self-made role that she’d felt the need to follow through with.
I got to my feet, shifting Chry in my arms as I did so.
“I’ll head home and let Chris know. Thank you for watching this little guy while I went to the interview,” I told them.
“No problem,” Laurel answered. “Let us know if we can bring anything.”
I nodded then made my way out of the kitchen.
I was almost out of the front door to the clubhouse when I nearly ran into Mouse, quite literally.
“Shit,” he said as his hands went to my shoulders to keep me steady. His eyes screwed shut tightly as he realized it was me and Chry.
I took a step back to give him some space but strangely, his steps followed mine. The door crashed closed behind him but our eyes remained locked on one another's.
With him this close, my skin felt like it was buzzing. I wasn’t all that sure what I meant but I knew I’d never felt it around anyone else.
“Hi,” I managed to breathe out.
His eyes stayed locked onto mine. They were so rich and chocolate brown, but there was a hardness there that I was not used to.
I hadn’t seen much of him and we hadn’t spoken more than two words to each other since the night of my coming back celebration at the beach house. Even then, he had felt distant.
As I gazed up at him, I felt like I didn’t really know this man. No, this was not the same one that held me and comforted me two years ago when I was so scared. This was not the same man that was in that room with me when I brought precious life into this world.
Something had happened while I was gone and the change was noticeable.
“M-mmm,” Chry said wiggling in my arms. It was enough to snap me out of my trance of trying to figure out what had gone wrong.
Chry’s little body bounced with excitement as his arms reached out for Mouse.
The moment Mouse shifted his gaze to Chry, the world went right again. That look I knew. That kind softness in his eyes was right where it was supposed to be. His wide smile was more blinding than the sun. Happiness. That was the look I remembered on him so well.
“Hey, little guy,” Mouse said to Chry. There was no hesitation as Mouse scooped him out of my struggling arms and tossed him up in the air only to catch him again.
I stood there stunned taking it all in. As Chry squealed with excitement, I couldn’t hold the smile from my face even if I tried.
“What did you do all day?” Mouse asked Chry as he held him close. So strong. So protective.
I shook my head willing those thoughts to leave my mind.
But that was him. That was the Mouse that I knew.
Kind.
Caring.
Calm.
Fiercely protective over the ones he loved and cared for.
“You doing good?” he asked and I felt my body jump a little.
“I am well,” I answered with a small smile. “How are you?”
“Okay,” he said and I knew he’d never lie to me. His answer was all too telling. Simple, but I caught the unsaid things in his tone. But before I could press for more, he spoke again. “Headin’ out?”
