Page 92 of Reckless With You

I shook my head and set down the fork before putting both hands on the counter on either side of her. “Nope. I’m taking you out on a date. It’s our anniversary.”

She frowned. “Our anniversary is Christmas Eve…”

“Nope. I’m counting this as six months since our first date where I took you to your family’s for dinner.”

“So is this a beard date, then?” She smiled as she said it, and I couldn’t help but taste her lips. Seriously, this woman was addicting.

“It can be if you want. I’ll always be your beard.” A nip on the lips. “But then again, I’m all real, too.”

“Good.” She bit my jaw. “I’m needy.”

“Just how I like it.” I grinned and then went back to feeding her cake.

My phone buzzed, and Amelia picked it up since it was beside her. “It’s Melinda,” she said, handing it over. “Everything okay?”

I nodded, looking down at the text. In the past six months, things had changed dramatically, but we were all closer because of it. The two women were friends now, both fighters and advocates for Evan.

During the worst of the treatments, Melinda had come down with pneumonia, and Robbie had asked me and Amelia to help out while he took care of his wife. Since Evan’s immune system had almost been nonexistent at that point, Melinda could only see her son through video chats, not in person.

But Amelia had stepped in, along with the rest of the Carrs, and Evan was never alone.

There was never any animosity or weirdness between us. We were all just people who wanted to make sure that Evan was loved, healthy, and whole.

Melinda was a friend now, someone I had a past with, only in that it had brought Evan into our lives.

Robbie was also part of our group now, someone who hung out with me and Devin and the others when he could.

And Evan…Evan was my son.

He still called me “Tucker,” and I’d be fine with that for the rest of my life if that’s what he wanted. Robbie was his dad. Would always be so. But I was part of his life now, and we were following our own path.

Melinda:Evan says he wants a Mario Kart party for his birthday. We’re working that out since I thought kids were into different things these days. Want to help?

I snorted. “Evan pickedMario Kartas his party theme.”

Amelia threw her fist in the air. “Yes! I knew he’d like that.”

“So it was your idea?” I shook my head. “I should have known it was you.”

“That kid is a savant when it comes toRainbow Road. He kicks your ass atMario Kart. That’s why you’re all grumpy now.”

“He does not,” I grumbled.

Me:We’re in. Blame Amelia for the idea.

Melinda:I should have known! Tell her thanks, though. Robbie’s excited. See you on Saturday?

Me:See you then. Tell the kid I’ll call him tomorrow.

Melinda:Will do.

I set the phone back down next to Amelia’s hip then went back to feeding her cake. “So, Saturday, we’re party planning, and then I work a night shift. Sound good?”

“Yep. And then I’m heading out for a girls’ night since Zoey has details about a certain thing that no one is talking about.”

I raised my brows. “Oh, really?”

“Yup. A certain thing a certain brother isn’t talking about either. So, of course, Erin and I are going to grill Zoey for details.”