Page 17 of Animal's Reformation
“Yeah.” It wasn’t entirely true, but he knew Jax, a fellow Insurgent, would bring Paisley over, and Animal was pretty sure the two girls would hit it off. “Does that sound good?”
“I guess.”
“Great—I’ll arrange it. But right now we’re going over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Aunt Jada’s making chili with cornbread, and it’s all from scratch.”
The corners of her mouth twitched a little, but he caught it, and that small movement made his fucking day.
“I guess that sounds good,” she mumbled.
“Then we’ll go as soon as you’re ready.”
Lucy walked over and turned off the television then looked at him. “I’m ready now.”
“Then grab your jacket and let’s head out.”
Minutes later, they were backing out of the garage, and Animal flicked on the windshield wipers. He glanced over at Olivia’s house and noticed a large sheet covering the living room window, and he grimaced.
“That snowflake’s the biggest,” Lucy said, pressing her finger against the passenger window.
“Yeah, that one kills all the others.”
The wipers squeaked across the slightly icy windshield, and he cranked up the defroster as the SUV headed toward his parents’ house.
“Do you think Paisley would like to build a snowman tomorrow?” Lucy asked as her finger traced a thin trickle of water that ran down the window.
“I’m sure she would.” Animal glanced over at her, then reached out and ruffled her hair, resting his hand on top of her head.
Lucy turned, her eyes wide and startled, and he withdrew his hand and gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed forward. They drove in silence the rest of the way, and when he killed the engine, she scrambled out of the car and ran up the sidewalk to the porch. Jada flung the door open and pulled Lucy into a tight hug, and Animal lifted his chin to his sister as he walked up the concrete steps.
“I’m so glad you came over,” Jada said to Lucy as she led her into the house. “I’m glad to see you too.” She looked behind her shoulder at Animal and smiled.
He grunted and stomped his boots on the outdoor mat then entered the foyer. Heat circulated around him as he shrugged off his leather jacket and gloves. Jada and Lucy had disappeared, and he hung up his coat then strode into the family room. Overstuffed chairs and a long couch filled the space, and a stone fireplace held a crackling fire, making the room warm and cozy. His father sat in his wheelchair close to the hearth and in front of the TV. The sound was low and it looked like he had on some kind of crime drama. A colorful afghan fell about his shoulders, and as Animal watched his father doze, his head jerking at intervals onto his chest, he noticed how thin and frail he had become. Before his dad had stepped on a land mine and blew off his legs during a tour in Iraq, he had been a robust and healthy man. But after numerous surgeries, skin grafts, and physical therapy sessions, his dad was just a shell of his former self.
Animal rubbed the heel of his palm against his tightening chest as he moved toward his father. He crouched down on his haunches and plucked out two tissues from the Kleenex box on the TV tray next to the wheelchair. With the tissue, he gently wiped the spittle from his father’s chin. The gesture must’ve woken his dad, because the older man’s head bounced up and his bleary eyes stared at Animal.
“Hey, Dad. I didn’t mean to wake you,” Animal said, running the back of his fingers across the old man’s cheeks.
A wide smile spread across his father’s face. He cleared his throat then grasped Animal’s wrist. “It’s good to see you. How long have you been here?”
“Lucy and I just got here. How’ve you been? You look like you lost some weight.”
His dad shook his head. “Don’t go worrying about me—your sister does enough of that for all of us.” He chuckled, which rippled into a coughing fit that made tears stream down his cheeks.
Animal handed his dad the glass of water from the tray, then gave him a few tissues that he promptly swiped across his eyes, cheeks, and then his mouth. He put the water back on the tray and settled back in the wheelchair.
“Do you wanna sit on the couch? I can help you with that,” Animal said.
“I’m good. I smell chili—your sister’s a good fucking cook. We’ll be eating soon. How’re you getting along with Lucy?”
Animal rose to his feet then dragged one of the armchairs close to his father and plopped down in it. “We’re still at an impasse, but I don’t think it’s as bad as it was in the beginning. It’s just gonna take time, I guess.”
“It will—it’s all still pretty new to her.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna have Jax bring Paisley over tomorrow so they can play together. Paisley’s a friendly kid, so it should work out. Although, Lucy can be sorta snarky and shit, but I think she reserves most of that just for me.”
His dad snickered and patted Animal’s hand. “She’ll come around. You did. Remember what a hell-raising pain in the ass you were at around eight or nine years old? And I’m not gonna even mention your damn teenage years.”
Animal scrunched his face. “So what you’re saying is, Lucy’s attitude is payback?”
