Page 19 of Property of Riptide
“Where are we going?” he asks, his voice box sounds gruff, as if he doesn’t use it enough.
Swallowing past the ample lump now clogging my throat, I tell him, “We’re heading to the pharmacy. I can’t find his teething gel or ring and he’s not happy because he’s got a tooth breaking through his gums.”
“That sucks,” Icer hums. “I don’t like it when the little ones are in pain. Should get him some Tylenol too.”
“I found that and gave him a dose an hour ago,” I inform him. “I know it’s supposed to be a miracle, but it only stretches so far.”
“Zoey gives Elodie something in between that helps. Do you do that?” he asks, giving me an accusatory look as if I enjoy causing my son pain.
“Motrin. And yes, I supplement but it has to be in two hour shifts so he can’t have any yet,” I relay.
“Good,” Icer says, nodding his head while reaching out his arms and wiggling his fingers.
Now that I can think again and not want to jump out of my skin, I hand my son over. “He’s a little cranky so he may wiggle a lot.”
“Don’t care. I’m strong, I can handle it,” he rebuffs, sounding offended.
“I know you can, I was only warning you so you’d be prepared,” I respond. “He’s strong too and if you’re not prepared, it can catch you off guard.”
I toss his stroller back into the cabin because I have a suspicion Icer’s going to want to carry him while we’re out on our adventure through town. Icer gives me an approving nod and starts walking down the sidewalk that leads to my cabin. I’m thankful the owners had the foresight to add that because walking through the terrain with a ten month old in tow isn’t what I’d consider as being a fun time. With my luck, I’d roll an ankle and we’d both go down. Eating dirt isn’t something I plan to add to my daily nutrient menu.
Gagey is mesmerized by Icer, reaching up to tug on one of his many Nordic braids. As I go to remove his hands, Icer slaps mine away. Alrighty then, I’ll leave them alone and pray my son doesn’t yank one out. As we continue walking, I send Riptide a quick text telling him about what my boy is doing. He sends back laughing emoji’s and suggests I let Icer and little man bond. I wasn’t aware that’s what they were doing, but if I stop long enough to think about it, it makes sense in a caveman sort of way.
When we reach the store, I bypass the buggies and head straight for the baby aisle. The squeaking of wheels coming up behind mecatches my attention and I swivel on my feet. Icer still has my boy tucked under one arm and the other one is pushing a cart. I tilt my head to the side in a silent question but I soon have my answer when Icer begins tossing toys and other stuff inside of it.
“He doesn’t need all of that, Icer.”
“Says who? Did he tell you that?” Icer asks, and the way he’s looking at me dares me to say otherwise.
“Um… no,” I all but stutter out the answer. “But he has a suitcase full of toys, blankets, and diapers. I promise, he’s stocked up.”
“Don’t care,” he mumbles and reaches for a light up bouncy ball when Gagey’s eyes light up when he sees it. Someone must’ve recently knocked into or played with it to have it going off the way it is. I scan Icer and notice that he’s looking anywhere but at me. The culprit has been exposed.
“I’m never going to have a say-so when you’re around, am I?” I ask, knowing what he’s going to say before he says it.
“Nope. He wants something or I want him to have it, he’ll get it.” I guess that’s the end of that discussion because he bypasses me and continues strolling down the aisle.
What universe have I landed myself in? There are men in my hometown I grew up with who didn’t even bat an eye in my boy’s direction when they’d see us in a store. Didn’t even offer to help when they’d see me trying to wrangle him while getting something off the shelf. Men aren’t bred like they were back in the day. My dad used to open car doors for women he never met and would even walk elderly ladies across the street. Yet this man, who didn’t care for my ex, has known of Gagey’s existence for less than a week is already spoiling him rotten and carryinghim around like he’s been a part of his life since he drew his first breath.
I didn’t get the impression he’d be like this when we first met. I thought the only reason he’d want me around is because of his brother’s connection to Gage, but now I’m seeing him in a whole different light.
Icer took one of the store’s buggies and is pushing it back to the cabin since the bags ended up being more than he could carry alongside Gagey. In a neanderthal way, he grunted at me when I went to lift them and stared me down. Needless to say, I relented. He talked to the manager before we strolled away, promising him it’d be returned before the end of the night. With the reputation the Kings have garnered in their town and the ones surrounding it, the man waved us off nonchalantly and told us he wasn’t worried about it, we could bring it back when we had spare time.
I’m keeping an emotional distance between Icer and me, I don’t think he’s the kind of man I should grow attached to. From what Zoey has shared, she and Elodie have a close bond with him, but with my desertion issues, I don’t want to fend off another broken heart when he decides we’re not worth his time. As long as he doesn’t push my boy away, I can deal with being on the outside looking in.
As we hit the parking lot, a smile graces my face when I see Riptide leaned against his bike with his arms and ankles crossed. “Hey,” I call out, waving frantically. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“Wanted to see you and needed to talk to this big lug,” Riptide says, tossing his thumb Icer’s way.
“What’s up, pres?” Icer asks, pinning Riptide with an ominous stare.
“Elodie talked Indiana into buying her a slip ‘n slide. The guys are going to grill some burgers and dogs and Elodie insists that you be there. I thought maybe Van would like to bring little G for some fun.”
“He’s teething and isn’t in the best of moods,” I warn him. “But if y’all can handle that, we’d love to come.”
“If we can handle cranky bikers, we can handle a teething kid,” Riptide concludes. “Any opportunity to see y’all is worth it. Is there anything I can do for him? I don’t like the idea of him hurting.”
“That’s what the big guy said,” I proclaim, pointing at Icer. “We got supplies so he should be good.”
