Happily Ever After: A Day in the Life of the HEA (Rook and Ronin #3.5) (6 page)

“At least I still have eighteen years with you, Cinderella. But you’re definitely the last one. We’ve just about run out of princess names. I’m not sure Mulan Shrike works. And Pocahontas is just a no. Cindy Shrike, now that’s damn cute, huh?”

She gives me a small smile and then her eyes go back to being droopy.

Well, Baby Bomb Five is just about content. Baby Bomb One, on the other hand. Whew. I’m not ready for boys. I’m really not. And Five Aston was never my pick. The whole princess thing he’s been doing was cute when they were toddlers. Hell, it was cute when they were in Saint Joseph’s together. But they’re teenagers now. And Five is way too much like Ford for my comfort level. He’s just about as tall as him. Same blondish hair, same light-brown eyes. Same freaky genius brain.

What if he’s the same…

I have to shake my head to stop picturing Five with my Rory the way Ford used to be with his pets back before Ashleigh.

No. That’s not going to happen.

And I’m so fucking lucky that Five is being sent all the way over to England for college in three weeks. I can accept a boy or two calling Rory on the phone. I can even accept dates after the football games she’ll be cheering at for the next three years. But I cannot accept Five Aston as my Baby Bomb’s long-term love interest.

It’s not going to happen.

When I look back down at Cindy, she’s sleeping. So I walk out of the library and head to the kitchen. I’m not sure how much I want Cindy to sleep today. She’s off her schedule, and that’s why my Bombshell isn’t getting enough rest at night.

“Hey, Ash,” I say, walking into the family room that’s open to the kitchen. “What’s up in here?”

“Oh,” she says, frowning and wiping her brow with her forearm. She leaves a streak of flour across her face. “Just finishing up the dough so the kids can decorate cookies tonight before bed.”

We’ve been doing that since they were old enough to hold an airbrush. My kids decorate Christmas cookies like artists.

“I’ve only got a few more batches to make before I start the baking.” And then she notices Cindy. This makes her whole face light up. “How’s that little princess doing? Need some help, Spencer?”

I look back down at Cindy. “I think she’s about out. But I don’t want to put her to bed. I want her awake this morning so she’ll nap later and be rested for the ballet tonight.”

“You can put her down on the sectional. I’ll watch her while she rests. And there’s enough going on in here that she won’t sleep too deeply.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea.” Ashleigh has Christmas carols going, and the sound of the kitchen appliances should be enough to keep Cindy from sleeping too long.

“Why don’t you leave her with me,” Ash says, coming towards me with her arms out. “I don’t get enough baby time these days.” I hand over my little Bomb and Ashleigh takes her. She actually sighs as she brings Cindy to her chest.

Yeah. Ashleigh wants another kid. I’ve seen it coming for a couple months now. And Ford was never interested in having more after Five. He was so freaked out about passing on his… unusual genetics… they never had another one.

But Kate is sixteen now. She’s driving and looking at colleges. And hell, Five skipped the teen years altogether and went straight to mini-adult several years back. It’s gotta be tough to know that her mommy days are just about over.

“Do you mind if I go check on Ronnie?” I ask.

“Not at all, Spence. I got this.” And then she smiles and takes Cindy over to the huge sectional couch we have set up in the family room.

“OK, text me if you need some relief.”

“Take your time,” she calls back as I make my way towards the front stairs.

When I enter the bedroom, it’s dark. The drapes are still closed and there’s nothing but Ronnie’s soft breathing.

I look at her. God, she’s so fucking beautiful. She’s not even wearing anything special, just a pink nightie I got her a few years ago. But her blonde hair spills out onto the white pillowcase like she’s been posed for a photoshoot. And her face is just as soft and pretty as I remember it back in college. I take my t-shirt off and slip in the bed next to her, wrapping my arms around her body and pulling her close.

She sighs, then turns to face me. Her eyes open slowly, but she doesn’t smile.

“What’s wrong, Bombshell?”

“I feel ugly,” she whispers, not meeting my gaze.

“What?” I’m stunned.

“I can’t lose these last twenty pounds, Spencer. I eat too much, I don’t exercise enough, and none of my old jeans fit.”

“Wait. You think you’re fat?” I have to shake my head. “You can’t be serious. You’re perfect, Veronica Shrike. Perfect.”

“I don’t feel perfect, Spencer. I feel old. And ugly. And fat.”

“Awww, baby. You need to take my word on this. I’m the boss and I say you’re perfect. Come here,” I say, pulling her even closer. “You turn me on so bad, Ronnie, all I have to do it look at you and I get hard. Feel.” I place her hand over my cock, which is like stone, and then kiss her on the mouth, whispering, “You make me think dirty things, Veronica. All day, every day. All I think about is how much I love to fuck you.”

“I don’t feel like fucking.”

Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say that before.

“I just can’t enjoy myself unless I feel sexy, Spencer. And I don’t feel sexy.”

“You are sexy, Ronnie. So fucking sexy. I lose my shit every time I look at you.”

“I just want to lie here. Can we just lie here?”

I sigh. She’s not in the mood to believe me. She’s in the mood to pout and get her way. I can’t stand the thought of it. I can’t stand that she thinks she’s not attractive anymore. It breaks my biker heart. So I just hold her tight and say, “Anything you want, Boss of Me. Anything you want.”

Chapter Nine

Our Uber car pulls into the Saint Joseph’s parking lot just as a wedding party comes through the front doors and begins to congregate on the steps. We stop a little way off, so we don’t disrupt their moment.

“Thanks,” I tell the driver, as Oliver, Rory, and I get out. “Merry Christmas.”

He Merry Chistmases me back and we slam our doors and he pulls out.

A giant shout goes up from the wedding party, and Rory starts walking towards them just as the bride comes through the doors. The bride’s got her bouquet held up high, and then she throws it… right into the hands of my princess.

Rory laughs, and every bridesmaid turns to see who got lucky.

“Who is that?” they ask. So I quickly take Rory’s hand and pull her along the sidewalk.

“Well,” Rory laughs, “that’s one way to start a day!” She beams down at the little bouquet of pink and white flowers.

“You know that means you’re going to get married, right, Rory?” Oliver says, skipping a little to keep up with us. “It means you’re next. It probably even means,” Oliver continues, “that you’ll marry Five, because he’s your date today.”

Rory laughs, and I almost choke.
Smooth move, Oliver,
I think.
There’s no better way to scare a girl off than hinting at marriage on the first date.

“I think Five is a pretty good catch, so that’s cool with me.”

“What?” I ask, instantly sorry I said it out loud.

“What?” Rory asks back. “I thought you’ve been in love with me your whole life, Five Aston? I thought you had our marriage all planned out back when you were seven?”

She likes me? Does this mean she really likes me? As more than the leader of the infamous Saint Joseph’s Science Fair Rebellion back when she was nine?

“You know, I’m really going to miss you, Five.”

“You are?”

“Why are you so surprised?” she asks. “We’re like soulmates, right?”

“Right,” I say back. “But your dad, and my school, and that football guy…”

“Football guy?” Rory asks. And then she shoots Oliver a look. “I’m not allowed to date, Five. My dad would seriously blow a blood vessel if I was dating.”

“Yeah,” I say, realizing I’m still holding her hand. Realizing she’s still letting me. “Your dad hates me.”

“He’s just being a dad, Five. He has five daughters who will grow up to look like my mom. If you were him, you’d hate you too.”

I laugh at that. “True. I have to give Spencer that one.” I sigh. “I’m really going to miss you too. I feel like I’ve wasted the last year. Like once I leave, this whole thing we have will leave with me. That you’ll just go on with your life and forget about me.”

She gives my hand a squeeze. “Don’t make me cry, Five. I don’t want to think about that yet. You’re not leaving for three more weeks and we have this whole day together. And we’re far, far away from my dad right now. No one will see us. Let’s forget about that and just have fun today.”

“What should we do?” Oliver asks.

Shit, I forgot about the kid.

“I dunno. You decide, Five.”

“Well,” I say, my eyes darting around downtown Fort Collins. It’s beautiful at Christmas. The main street shops are decked out with lights. There’s a Santa Claus over there. Crowds of people are milling about, trying to get some last-minute gifts from the little shops that line College Avenue. And at night… Jesus, don’t get me started. This place is magical when it’s lit up at night. Then the smell of lunch at Anna Ameci’s invades my senses, and I look across the street. “Let’s get lunch first. Come on,” I say, pulling her along. She grabs Oliver’s hand and pulls him along too.

We cross the street and make our way towards the restaurant. Anna Ameci’s is packed. They have a bakery in the back that you get to through the alley, but on Christmas Eve there are so many people lined up to get cookies and stuff, they take over the front too.

I keep a tight hold on Rory’s hand and lead her and Oliver through the crowd until we reach the hostess.

“Hey, you guys,” Rose Ameci says as we walk up. We’ve gone to school with her for as long as I can remember. “You here for lunch?”

“Yes,” I say. “Table for three.”

“I thought you guys go to Vail for Christmas?”

“We do,” Oliver says. “But we’re pulling a Ferris Bueller today.”

I look down at Oliver. “What do you know about Ferris Bueller?”

“Ronin had an Eighties day at the theater last summer and he’s been obsessed with Ferris ever since,” Princess says. “You missed it. You were at college last summer.”

I frown, but Rose laughs and says, “Well, I’ll help you out and give you the works.” She winks at me and I look over at Rory. Rose had a thing for me back in elementary school.

But Rory plays it cool and says, “Thanks, Rose. Five and I are celebrating our engagement today.” She holds up her bouquet of flowers. “I caught it. Which means we’re destined to be married.”

I might blush at that.

She squeezes my hand again.

“They’re gonna kiss tonight,” Oliver says. “My dad is going to kill him afterward, but it will be worth it.”

“Oliver,” Rory squeals. But when she looks at me, her ears are a little pink.

God, my life would be complete if I could end this day with a kiss from Rory.

Rose gives us a huff for that last remark, but she does lead us over to the best table in the restaurant. It overlooks the street, and we have a full view of all the festive decorations and people in downtown.

I pull out Rory’s chair and she sits, glancing up at me with a smile. Oliver takes the seat next to her and I sit across, so I never have to take my eyes off her as we start our first date.

“What else should we do with our day?” Oliver asks.

“What should we do, Five?” Rory asks, smiling that smile that has lit up my life for as long as I can remember. “Make it good,” she says. “Make it count. Make me never forget it, so that when you leave me behind next month, I have this day to remember you by.”

My heart hurts a little just thinking about leaving. I swallow hard. “We could go on a carriage ride around downtown.” She loves horses.

“Yes,” she whispers. “That’s perfect.”

“And then…” I rack my brain for more ideas on the perfect date. “And then we could go ice skating on the little rink they put near the Santa Claus house in the shopping district.”