Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
“Pretty bonkers,” I said.
“I want to go with you,” Steph said.
“No,” I said immediately.
Steph sighed. He’d clearly expected that answer. “All right. I’ll send Rome with you.”
“Deal.” I leaned to the side and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Gross,” Dylan said, then stood up. That kid could seriously inhale some breakfast. “I’m going to help Striker with the dishes.”
“If a few smooches makes you do chores, you better get used to seeing them,” Steph said with a grin. He turned back to me with a more serious expression. “If you think this’ll make life in Lakeview easier for you, then I support you all the way. Even if I want to be the one chewing her out.”
“Like I said, the whole reason she won’t give this up?-“
“Is because she thinks she can walk all over you,” Steph finished for me. “I know. And I think you’re right. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“I’ll come with you,” Cassidy said. “I want to see this bitch in person and give her the smackdown she deserves.”
“No one’s giving anyone any smackdowns,” I said with a fond shake of my head. “I appreciate it you wanting to come with me, but I need to do this myself, or she’s never going to leave us alone. I don’t want any violence. I need to prove to her I won’t put up with any more of her bullshit.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about-it’s her,” Steph said.
“And that’s why Rome will be with me,” I said, and patted his arm.
Steph huffed, but nodded.
“Auntie Cass!” Dylan called from the kitchen. Dishes were still being done, albeit inefficiently, since at some point Dylan had climbed onto Striker’s back. “Remember how I showed you my claws yesterday?”
“How could I forget?” Cassidy propped her chin in her hand, smiling fondly at Dylan and Striker. There was a little more fondness there than usual, so maybe it wasn’t just Dylan she was looking at.
“Striker said we could go flying today,” Dylan announced. “Do you wanna meet my dragon for real?”
Cassidy let out a theatrical gasp. “A full shift? Dylan, I’d be honored to meet your dragon.”
“Really? You want to?” Dylan grinned, huge and excited.
“Of course, I do.”
“You can fly with us, if you’d like,” Striker said warmly. “I’ll be shifting as well, so I could carry you.”
Steph knocked his foot against mine under the table. I met his eyes and raised my eyebrows minutely.
Cassidy’s lips quirked into a small smile, which then widened. “You know what? Yeah. That sounds pretty fun. Is it dangerous?”
“Yes,” I said, at the same time Striker said, “No.”
Cassidy looked at Steph with one eyebrow raised. “So-so,” Steph said, waggling his hand side-to-side demonstratively. “But if there’s any dragon that’ll take good care of you, it’s Striker.”
“Then while you’re beating Blakely’s ass, I guess I’ll be watching from above,” Cassidy said. She wiggled in her chair. “Ooh, this is so exciting!”
“Don’t have too much fun without me,” I said. “Guess I better go get dressed.”
“Rome’s ready whenever you are,” Steph said. “I’ll handle the dishes.”
By the time I was dressed, Rome was waiting for me outside the house. I’d let him chaperone me, but I wasn’t going to let him drive me around like I was totally helpless. I kissed Steph, told Cassidy and Dylan to be safe, and then climbed into the sedan that’d quickly become my daily driver.
The café was downtown next to an old bar and restaurant. There wasn’t much to it, just a coffee bar, a few overstuffed chairs, a long communal table, and a little back patio filled with potted plants. As I approached the big glass windows, I saw Blakely’s unmistakable red pixie cut.
“Where do you want me, Miss Harley?” Rome asked. He was a young, skinny man with a stylishly shaved head, but it wasn’t like I was that much older than him.
“Oh my god, please don’t call me Miss, it makes me feel a hundred years old,” I said with a smile. “Just wait out here, and I’ll signal if things go sideways.”
Rome nodded. He posted up by the door in a way that was extremely obvious, but I didn’t mind. It was probably best if Blakely could see him.
The bell over the door chimed as I walked in. “Hi, Blakely. I see you already got a coffee. I was going to offer to buy one.”
“I don’t need your handouts,” Blakely hissed. She was holding a giant hot coffee drink with whipped cream, and there was some on her lip, which made the threat a little less scary.
I ordered a plain coffee, then turned back to Blakely. “Should we sit down?”
“I’m fine standing.”
Awkward, but fine. We stood at the end of the communal table.
“So, what the hell do you want? Got another smart plan to ruin my life? Or are you finally ready to admit that Ace is mine?” Blakely snapped.
“No. I want you to stop trying to ruin mine,” I shot back. “I know about your stupid plan to make it look like Steph was cheating on me.”
Blakely narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.
“You’re acting like a child. You’re not the genius mastermind you think you are. You’re just a petulant little kid. You are way too old to be acting like we’re in middle school.”
“I’m just trying to take back what’s rightfully mine,” Blakely said with a sneer. “Life was perfect until you showed up.”
“Was it really perfect? Because it sounds to me like you were just hanging around the clubhouse waiting for whichever shifter decided they wanted an easy fuck.”
Her face paled, and she stepped back like I’d slapped her.
“It’s pathetic,” I continued. “And it makes me sad. Truly. Because it shows me how little you value yourself. A woman who really valued herself and wanted a partner to value her wouldn’t be acting like this over a man who doesn’t want her. Steph has made it clear dozens of times that he doesn’t want a damn thing to do with you. So why do you keep trying to crawl back? It’s degrading.”
“You-” Blakely sputtered. “You-You don’t know anything about what Ace wants! You’ve done enough damage here, and it’s time for you to get the fuck out of Lakeview and go back to where?-“
“This isn’t a discussion,” I interrupted in a firm voice, like I was talking to a whiny child instead of a grown woman. “I’m not here to give you options. I’m here to tell you what’s happening.”
“You’re just another one of Ace’s flings. He’ll get bored of you and come back to me.”
Blakely’s arguments weren’t even threats. They were just pitiful delusions. It made me feel bad for her.
“Blakely, you need to move on. Steph hasn’t come back to you because he doesn’t want you. Whatever you two had is over. It’s been over for a long time, and you need to accept it.”
Blakely scowled fiercely at me, but she actually looked like she might be listening.
“I’ve been nice about it up until now, but that little stunt you pulled went way too far. Steph and I have a son. We’re moving forward. We have a future together, and you’re not a part of it. You understand? It’s time for you to go.”
