Page 42 of Property of BamBam
Leaning in, he gives me a kiss. Like before, it’s barely a brush of our lips against each other’s, but since talking to Beth, I can tell he’s holding himself back. “When are you going toreallykiss me?” I ask, braving his possible anger by being bold.
“When I know that’s what you’re ready for,” he replies. “Now that I know you are, be prepared for later, sweetheart.”
A shiver of want and need has me closing my eyes and sighing as he leans in again and kisses my forehead. “Okay, BamBam.”
“Livy, the pace is yours, remember?” he gently chides. “I’m so far gone for you it’s unbelievable. However, my first priority is making sure you’ve healed enough that getting involved with me won’t set you back.”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could do that would set me back,” I reply. “You’ve shown me countless times these past few weeks that you care about me, as well as Theo.”
“Because I do, probably more than you’re ready to hear about yet,” he teases, winking at me. “Now, let me go get this shit handled so I can get back to the two of you.”
“See you when you get back. Be careful.”
“Always.”
“Here, let me take Theo so you can go to the restroom,” Marge offers as she holds out her hands. “The lines are not too bad, all things considered.”
“It’s because they’ve got the Taj Mahal of bathrooms set up,” Briley retorts, giggling. “I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest, and I’m one of those people who stops at every single Buc-ee’s I see!”
Laughing, I hand Theo over. “His diaper bag’s right there, and my crossbody purse is inside,” I warn Marge. “So, y’all make sure it doesn’t walk off.”
With that, I head in the direction of the bathrooms. Like Briley, I’m pretty amazed at the set up, but also grateful that we’re not using porta potties because those suck. Doesn’t matter if you’re the first one to use it, or the last, it smells horrific. My stomach turns thinking about it.
I’m so lost in thought that I’m caught off guard when I’m pulled into a small building, a hand going over my mouth to prevent mefrom screaming. “Took long enough for you to be by yourself and not up under that fucking biker,” Jasper’s voice jeers in my ear.
I feel a prick on the side of my neck and then everything goes black.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Marge
I’ve just given Theo a bottle when it dawns on me that Livy’s been gone a very long time. “Briley, Ashley, has Livy called either of y’all?”
“No, why?” Briley asks.
Glancing at my phone, I see she’s been gone for well over thirty minutes. The bathrooms weren’t that busy, and even if she stopped to get something fresh to drink, she should’ve been back already. My gut starts churning and I realize that her pecker of an ex has probably got to her somehow. Making my decision, I stand and thrust Theo at Briley. “Watch him, Briley. Ashley, go look for BamBam and tell him that Livy hasn’t come back yet.”
“Where are you going?” Ashley questions.
“To look for Livy,” I state.
I walk all the way to the bathrooms, knowing she probably took the same path since it’s a straightforward path, my concern growing with each step I take seeing as I don’t spother anywhere. The hat that BamBam got her is distinctive and stands out like a beacon. When I reach the women’s building, I go inside just in case she got sick or something. Other than a few women, she’s nowhere to be found.
“God, I hope Ashley finds BamBam quickly,” I mutter as I leave the restroom to head back.
This time, I focus on each little nook and cranny that the buildings have created, my heart beating so hard, I’m worried I’ll keel over with a heart attack. I just remember how she looked when she came to Hope House. She was so beaten down, both physically and emotionally, it reminded me of my mother. I huff out a laugh because I was going to take the world by storm, break generational curses, and be successful in my own right.
Instead, I found myself in an even worse position than my mother was ever in, and it ended up costing me my babies. Plus, I didn’t go off to college, hell, I barely got my GED, and my work experience leaves a lot to be desired as well. I brusquely push the tears that threaten to fall down my cheeks; they won’t help Livy right now. She’s starting to shine, and I feel positive that some of it has to do with her childhood because from what she’s shared in group therapy, she had an awesome set of parents. But the rest is solely BamBam and how he’s taken care of her.
I’d be jealous, except I’ve officially sworn off men. Beth says that once I’ve dealt with my trauma, I might think differently, but maybe a relationship isn’t in the cards for me after all. I’m still searching when I see one of the club prospects walking by. “Hey, Mongrel, right?” I call out, stopping him in his tracks.
While they don’t come inside Hope House out of deference to the women who are staying there, he’s often the one who makes the deliveries, leaving them on the front porch for us.
“Yeah?” he asks. “You’re from Hope House, right?”
“Yes, that’s how I recognized you. Appreciate all you guys do for us,” I reply. “Have you seen Livy around?”
