Page 43 of Prospect Year
“Where’s Sunni?” Lola asked, instantly grinning.
“Not where you are,” Cowboy shot back. “Take good care of my baby girl. I’ll pick her up later.” He handed Chasity to Lola and walked out just as the others had.
“Let’s go find something for you to play with,” he told Chasity, walking across the room. He stopped at the threshold of the dining room, taking in the scene there. Amber was surrounded by school-age children with homework, and she appeared to be enjoying it. Zane, along with KO’s boy, Theo, and Blade’s son, Jacob, were comparing homework. Skye was on her phone, rattling off a list of food stuff while holding Brick’s newborn, Gracie, on her lap.
Moving down the short hallway and stepping into the playroom London had set up, Lola discovered Mia on the floor with the small children, every one of them playing and having a good time. He placed Chasity’s feet on the floor and watched her toddle off toward Mia. He leaned into the door jamb, studying the evening. Things had a way of working out.
Chapter 20
Lying on his stomach, Lola held his pillow bunched under his head. As had become the norm for months now, he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed. The mattress shook. He waited. Must have been a dream. The bed shook. No. Not a dream.
“Either strip and climb in with me or get out and let me sleep,” Lola said without moving.
“If I strip, I get paid.”
A huff escaped Lola, partly from amusement, partly from exhaustion. Slowly, his eyes opened, and he flipped his head to face Cowboy. “I’m sure your old lady will gladly pay.”
Cowboy grinned. “Performed, paid, and tucked in tight.”
“And you’re here, why?” Lola asked, still flat of his stomach.
Cowboy kicked his other foot up to rest on the one already propped on the edge of Lola’s bed. Slouching in the chair, his elbows on the armrests, he cocked his head toward Lola. “Because, like I said, she’s sleeping.”
“So was I.”
“I noticed. But since you’re awake now, you can have a beer with me.”
“Lucky me,” Lola growled under his breath as he twisted, pushing to sit up against the headboard.
“No truer words have been spoken,” Cowboy said, holding one of the bottles out that he had brought with him. “You should be dead.”
“Can’t argue that.”
“You do realize that if you were not already committed to the club where you’d be?” The knife Cowboy had been flipping in his hand popped open as he stared at Lola.
“It definitely wouldn’t be here with you.” Lola twisted the top of the beer and flipped the cap toward the bedside table.
“You’re nothing like Mac,” Cowboy told him, pointing the blade toward Lola as he spoke. “When he prospected, he was like a machine.”
“You knew him when he prospected?”
Cowboy nodded. “He wasn’t long out of the Army when he came to us. Everything was precise and formal and no emotion. Never talked back. Never questioned an order. Now, you . . . you make me think of Rash. He questioned everything and had a mouth like you do. Nothing out of the way, just putting it all out there. And would take a dare rather than breathe. That was until some asshole in a car tried to prove something.” He threw back his head, downing the last of the bottle. “Facing death gives you a new outlook on life.”
Lola nodded, taking another pull of his own beer. He knew that to be true.
“So,” Cowboy leaned forward, setting the empty bottle on the floor next to him before grabbing another. “Which girl you doing? Or both?”
“Neither,” Lola told him. “No time for that. Pissing you off takes a lot of time and energy.”
Cowboy laughed. “Game’s up. Go get laid and chill.”
“Is that an order?” Lola grinned.
Cowboy barked another laugh, and for a while, they finished the six-pack and talked until Cowboy glanced at the time, changing his mood instantly.
“Well, I need to go. The Easter bunny will be at my house in four hours, and I need a nap.” He pushed to his feet, stretching, and moved the chair back to its original spot in the room. “Feel free to get one of your girls to drive you. Then you can show her your appreciation.” He chuckled, turning toward the door.
“Where am I going?”