Page 23 of Property of Riptide
“I told them we were bringing little man with us, but Icer threw an epic fit,” Riptide tells me.
“Did not,” Icer insists, glaring at Riptide. “Just thought it’d be nice for Elodie and little G to spend time together. I’m a good uncle.”
“You are,” I quickly insert. “Are you sure, Icer? He’s in a good mood right now, but he can sometimes be a handful when it gets closer to bedtime.”
“That’s why we tagged along,” Zoey divulges. “Icer is a damn good uncle, but Elodie was older when he came into her life. I thought it’d be a good idea to have someone with him who knows how to handle a toddler.”
Icer elbows his way past Riptide and holds out his free hand. “I don’t need their help, they’re just busybodies who always try to intrude on my time with the kids.”
“Damn, brother, that’s just fucking wrong,” Indiana rebuts. “I shouldn’t have to schedule time on the calendar to see my girl.” Elodie begins giggling, enjoying the adults fighting for her attention.
Riptide asks, “Are you good with this, Van? If not, I’ll kick these assholes to the curb.” I nod my head yes because I’m lost for words—unbelievably touched by the fact that Icer wants to have some quality time with Gagey.
“You two are wounding my pride here,” Indiana teases. Elodie, thinking her dad is sad, pats Icer on the pec and reaches out for Indiana. “That’s right, beautiful. Tell Uncle Icer that you’re a daddy’s girl.”
“I’m both,” Elodie states, puckering her lips and leaning forward. Indiana looks like the cat who got the cream when he smirks at Icer and meets his daughter in the middle. “Love you.”
“Love you more, baby girl,” Indiana says, and if I had to swear under oath, I’d say there was a stray tear gathering in his eyes as he repeated those words. These bikers are hard on the outside, but once you crack their shells, marshmallow oozes from the center.
“You ready, Van?” Riptide asks, reaching his hand out for mine.
“I am,” I reply, slipping the diaper bag off my shoulder and letting it drop to the floor of the entryway before passing my son over to Icer. “Let me slip on my shoes then we can go.”
“Sounds good,” Riptide tells me before turning his attention to Icer, saying, “We’ll be back after dinner.”
“Burned,” Zoey giggles.
“It’s as if we’re not standing right here,” Indiana adds.
“I see you, do you see me?” Zoey asks Indiana. I snicker as I slip my sandals onto my feet. I’ve seen this reel they’re reenacting on social media a few times with different actors. But there’s something about it taking place in real time that has my giggle meter going off.
“I see you,” Indiana proclaims.
“Alright, you two,” Riptide snaps, shaking his head. “You guys are acting like the three stooges.”
“I call Moe!” Indiana and Icer say at the exact same time.
Riptide turns in my direction with pleading eyes, and begs, “Save me.”
“I’m ready,” I laugh, snapping the last buckle at my ankle. “Feed me!” As soon as I reach him, he grabs my hand and laces our fingers together, all but dragging me out the door. “See y’all later!”
“Bye!” they call back as we sprint to the truck. “I wish I’d called first and asked if it was okay with you that they sit for little G.”
“Why?” I ask as he opens the passenger side door and lifts me up and places me on the seat.
“Because then, we could’ve taken my bike. Have you ever ridden before, Van?”
“Not a long ride. I’ve been around the block a time or two, but nothing worth mentioning. Do parades count?”
“You rode during a parade?” he asks, scanning me from head to toe with admiration, whistling. “Would’ve loved to be in attendance for that.”
“It was for charity,” I explain. “My company supported a riding club and they were trying to get funds for theToys for Totsfoundation. A few of us got to sit on the back tossing out candy. It was fun, but I don’t think we went any faster than five miles per hour.”
“Damn good cause,” Riptide mumbles as he fastens my seat belt, reaching down, he taps my ankle and says, “Watch your feet.”
I place them in the center of the floorboard as he shuts the door. I may not wear a crown on my head, but I feel like a queen with the way he’s taking care of me.
The ride was spent playing twenty questions. And as our drive winds down, I feel as if I’ve known him my entire life.
