Page 222 of Fierce Storm
“I did. I know I give them all a hard time, but they’re a good group.”
“They are. We’re lucky to have them. They’re like family. The family you get to choose.”
“I assume you’re thinking about my shitty parents as you say that? Your parents are amazing.”
“They are. But they’re not here. It’s nice to have family close by.” She squeezes my arm as her smile widens.
“I’m surprised your dad hasn’t moved here. He always talks about wanting to retire and play golf with D’Angelo.”
“I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s why he’s coming over in March. Mom’s coming to spend more time with Jade while he spends time with Sal.”
I turn to look at our daughter in the backseat, and my chest fills with warmth.
“You told him Sal doesn’t golf, right?”
“Yep. But his response was ‘all rich people play golf.’ Who knows, maybe he’ll convince him.”
“Maybe. Anyway, enough about my boss. I want to talk about you.”
“Me?”
“Yep. You were looking a little tired until you disappeared for thirty minutes and came back hiding a huge smile on your face.”
“You caught that, huh?”
“Oh, Little B. When are you going to believe me when I tell you I seeeverythingwhen it comes to you? It’s been years.”
“In fairness, I didn’t know you were watching.”
“I’m always watching.”
“God, Jade is going to hate it if you take that approach with her when she’s older.”
“Nothing wrong with being a protective dad.”
“There’s protective and then there’s whatever the hell you are.” She waves her hand in front of me and I don’t even flinch. I’m happy to own it.
“You love it.”
“I do. I’m not so sure she will.”
“She’s not going to have a choice if she grows up around the Storm crew. They’re all just as bad as I am.”
“God, that’s true. Hayleyispretty badass.”
“Ha ha. In all seriousness. As long as she waits until she’s at least twenty to start dating, she’ll be fine.”
“Oh, likewedid,” she says sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“Technically you were twenty-five by the time we started dating.”
Blair’s jaw drops and I can’t help but chuckle. She’s always the one that says we were casual when we first started sneaking around as teenagers, and I’m the one that says there was more between us. Turns out, she doesn’t like it when the tables are turned. “Tell me I’m wrong?”
“Fine, you’re wrong. We started dating when we were teenagers. You were my first love.”
“Youronlylove. We don’t count the four-year error of judgment in between.”
“My forever love. How’s that?”
