We discuss our day and I tell her about North and how he enjoys fucking with the brothers, making her laugh. We’re done with dinner when I grip her hand and gaze into her eyes. “Let’s finish this and then sit on the porch. I want to ask you something.”
When she stiffens and looks worried, I hurry to reassure her. “It’s nothing to be worried about, baby. But it is important to me.”
She relaxes a little and nods. “Okay. If you clean up, I’ll pack the food away.”
“Done,” I agree, standing and picking up our empty plates. We make quick work of cleaning up the kitchen. I pour two glassesof whiskey on the rocks, handing her one. I snag a blanket that appeared when Angel moved in off the back of the couch and took it outside with me. It was getting cooler, and I didn’t want her to be cold.
Wrapping it around her, I sit and tug her onto my lap, wanting her close.
We’re silent for a bit, and I see Roman on his porch. He raises a hand in greeting but doesn’t move. I’m getting concerned about my friend.
“What did you want to ask me?” Angel asks as she tilts her head to look at me.
I take a sip of my whiskey before I put it down on the table and wrap my arms around her, tugging her closer.
“We had church today,” I start, then hesitate. We’ve only just got back together. Would she think it was too soon?
Angel frowns, “I know. Is something wrong? Oh,” she suddenly sits up. “Does your President not want me here? You should have said. I’ll go now. I don’t want to make problems for you, Garret.”
“What? No.” I tighten my grip on her waist, anchoring her to me. “I’m fucking this all up,” I mumble, hauling her back into place and clamping my arms around her, “don’t move.”
She laughs. “Just tell me Garret. I’m a big girl. I can handle whatever it is, but I’ll need to breathe while doing it. Loosen the grip, buddy.”
“Fuck, sorry baby,” I ease up but don’t let go.
She turns, straddling me, the blanket pooling around her waist. Cupping my cheeks, she leans her forehead against mine. “Relax and tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing's wrong, Angel. We had a vote today in church.”
She sits back on my thighs and frowns. “Okay, and that concerns me how? I thought all things that happened in church stayed in church … you know like Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Incredulous, I stare at her. Then a burst of amused laughter leaves me.
“Fuck, Angel, I love you so much. Will you be my Ol’ Lady? That’s what the vote was about. I needed the brothers to vote.”
“Oh,” she bites her lip and gives me a small nod, “I love you too and yes, please to being an Ol’ Lady. There’s nothing I’d like more than for everyone to know I’m yours.”
“Thank you, baby.” Cupping her neck, I draw her face towards mine and kiss her softly. “We’ll get married too, I want you to be tied to me in all ways,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she agrees, kissing me again.
“Need to tell you something else,” I tell her. I didn’t want us to start with secrets. “I asked Spook to look for Honor, to make sure she’s okay.”
Angel presses her lips together, and a sheen lights her eyes before she blinks and takes a deep breath. “I asked Jake to check on her too. See if she was interested in meeting us. Hannah and Fred have passed away.” She admits as her breath hitches. “She’s all alone Garret,” she whispers. “I want her to know she’s not. We’re here if she wants to get in touch. I wasn’t going to say anything until Jake got back to me. Didn’t want you to be disappointed if she wasn’t interested.”
Jesus, this woman. She always protects others, no matter how much it hurts her.
Wrapping my hand around the nape of her neck, I draw her down to my chest. Curling my arms around her, I press a kiss to her head. “It’s okay baby. Whatever she decides is fine, but at least we’ll know she’s okay.”
We’re silent, wrapped in our own thoughts when she asks, “Can I meet North?”
Surprised, I looked down at her. “Of course you can, whenever you want. Why do you ask?”
“He’s yours,” she replies as if this answers everything.
“He’s not though,” I reply, confused. Angel sits back up.
“Garret, the way you speak about him, how proud you are and how you’re training him to take over the garage from you? He’s your son. Maybe not by blood, but he’s yours just the same. And if he’s yours, then I’d like to meet him.”