Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
“And that’s why you’re brave. It’s not something you feel. It’s something you do. You were scared, but you did what I asked anyway. That’s bravery.”
Dylan hummed like he was considering that. “Watch this.”
“Watching.”
He held one of the rocks between his thumb and forefinger, then sent it zinging over the surface. It got three good hops before it sank.
“Whoa. Hawk really did show you some tricks.”
“Uh-huh.” He skipped another one. “When I came back to the house and told Dad what had happened… He was really angry. I was angry too.” He swallowed hard. “But my dragon could feel more than that. Dad was really scared, too. Really scared and sad. That scared me even more. Because if Dad was scared, I knew it had to be really serious.”
He skipped his last rock, and before he could turn away to hunt for more, I pulled him in for a hug. He didn’t struggle, just sighed and leaned heavily against me.
“And you were right. I need to ask you something, bud.”
“What is it?” he asked, his voice muffled against my shirt.
“Do you want to be here or at home in Atlanta?”
Dylan pulled away and frowned. “Huh? I thought we had to go back to Atlanta.”
“Yeah, we did,” I said. “But this changed things. I know it scared you a lot. So I want to know what you want to do, Dylan. What would make you feel better after this mess?”
“I want to stay here. I don’t want to leave Dad. I think he’d be really sad if we left. What about you, Mom?”
My heart ached. Dylan wasn’t just thinking about what he wanted-he was thinking about me and Steph, too.
“I don’t know what I want, but your dad said we’ll be safer if we stick around Lakeview a little while longer. So if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Really?” His eyes lit up. “We’re staying?”
“For now, yeah.”
Dylan shouted with excitement, and his dragon flashed gold behind his eyes. “We’re staying!” He bounced around, fist pumping, water splashing around his feet.
I laughed, glad to see my kid happy again. Admittedly, a small part of me was happy we were staying in Lakeview, too.
When we returned to the house, Cassidy was sprawled on the couch and scrolling on her phone, while Steph was still puttering around the kitchen.
“Hey, kiddo.” Cassidy perked up and peered over the back of the couch. “You feeling better?”
“We’re staying in Lakeview,” Dylan said with a cheer. “Not going back to Atlanta.”
“Is that so?” Cassidy raised an eyebrow. “Well, guess that means I’m staying around, too.”
Dylan whooped so loud I had to cover my ears. “Calm down, Dyl. Or go play outside.”
“Let’s go outside.” Cassidy stood up and stretched her arms over her head. “You can show me some of your dragon tricks. I have yet to see those claws I’ve heard so much about. As long as it’s okay with your mom and dad.” She glanced between me and Steph.
Steph looked at me, and I nodded slightly. With our little chain of nonverbal check-ins completed, Cassidy hooked her arm into Dylan’s and strode back outside to give us some privacy.
I leaned against the back of the couch, crossing my arms over my chest. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Steph smiled. God, his smile was so handsome. He wasn’t even a little perturbed by my closed-off body language. He looked as relaxed as ever as he closed the lid on the pot on the stove. “Making collard greens to go with the steaks for dinner tonight. That sound good to you?”
“Collard greens?”
“Thought you might be missing the South a little. You know, since you were trying to go back. What changed your mind?”
“Dylan wants to stay.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Do you want to stay?”
“I don’t know, Steph.” I unfolded my arms and raked both hands through my hair. “How am I supposed to trust you after all this?”
“After what happened with Sean?” Steph asked. “Or with Blakely?”
I was surprised he brought it up so casually. “Both, but Blakely was before all of this. Things were good, and then you… And she…” I sucked in a frustrated breath. “I just don’t understand.”
“Can I explain?”
“I’m really tired of explanations, Steph.”
“I know. Come taste these, will you?”
Against my better judgment, I stepped away from the couch and padded into the kitchen. It smelled amazing, like rising dough and sizzling meat. When he lifted the lid off the pot, the collard greens were already perfectly steamed with bacon mixed in and everything. I took a small bite, and the rich flavor spread across my tongue.
Ugh, he was right. It did taste like home.
He slid his hand over my waist and let it rest on my hip. My mind told me to pull away, but the touch felt so good. So grounding.
“I was set up,” Steph said bluntly. “I’m not totally without blame. I shouldn’t have gotten that drunk. I knew the Night Shift stuff was strong, but getting that hammered was way out of line. That won’t happen again.”
“Good,” I mumbled.
“You remember Tori was there, at the party?”
I nodded. Tori was Blakely’s best friend and still came around the clubhouse occasionally. “What’s she got to do with it?”
“Blakely asked Tori to attend the party and tell her how I was doing. Then I got hammered, and Tori told Blakely, and Blakely got a bright idea.” Steph’s lip curled back in disgust. “She told Tori to let her in to the clubhouse once everyone had passed out, and she’d sneak into my room-into my bed
-and make it look like I’d asked her to come over.”
A tentative flame of hope sparked in my heart. Could it seriously all be another one of Blakely’s schemes?
“I don’t doubt Blakely would do something that insane, but you have to understand that sounds insane. It’s a little hard to believe.”
“I know,” Steph said. “It’s ridiculous. I didn’t think it was physically possible for me to get so drunk that my dragon would let her get close to me ever again, let alone let her in my bed.” He shook his head. “I know it hurt you. That’s the worst part of all of this.”
“I want to believe you,” I said in a small voice. “But, Steph, after everything, it’s so difficult.”
“I won’t ask you to take me on my word, but I have proof. Look.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, then opened a text chain with Tori. He held it within my line of sight as he scrolled through the short thread in which he asked her to send him the screenshots. Tori had obliged, and Steph tapped the first one. then handed the phone to me.
The screenshots were of a text exchange between Blakely and Tori. Just as Steph had said, Blakely had planned it. Well, Tori was at fault, too-she’d told Blakely Steph was hammered and agreed to let Blakely into the clubhouse even though she was banned.
