Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 107823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Since Tessa had already given him the greatest gift she could ever give him, his son, Easy had Trip contact Tucker to see if he could take leave to attend the wedding. Tessa hadn’t seen him since he graduated from boot camp and that was a few years ago.
Ethan got his father’s attention with a combo gurgle-giggle and by slapping a slobber-covered fist against his bearded cheek.
“Today you’re gonna meet your Uncle Tuck for the first time.”
When Ethan’s big eyes turned up to him, he did a belly-laugh, causing a spit-bubble to appear and cling to his bow-shaped lips.
Their son had dark brown hair with matching eyes just like Tess and Easy. So far, his features were a perfect combination of them both.
More movement caught Easy’s attention and he turned to face his best man as he approached. Shade’s dark eyes slid from where Tessa, Tucker and Trip stood beyond the ever-moving crowd to Easy and Ethan. Besides standing by his side during the ceremony, Easy had asked Shade a favor... To keep an eye out for his parents.
“They arrive?”
With a grim expression, Shade shook his head and slapped him on the back. “No, brother. You reached out by sendin’ the invitation. They could accept or ignore it. Nothin’ more you can do. They ain’t willin’ to move past it, then maybe it’s better this way.”
Easy couldn’t agree more.
This would be the one and only chance to fix the break between him and his parents. Deacon had dug around, found their current address and Easy sent them a hand-written note along with a picture of Ethan.
If their own damn grandchild couldn’t get them to reach out, then Easy pretty much figured nothing would. But at least he gave it a shot for Ethan’s sake.
His son extended his pudgy arms out to Shade and he made a jerky “gimme-gimme” motion. Easy’s coworker and brother did not hesitate to take the baby from him. Ethan was always drawn to Shade and Tessa figured it was because Easy and Shade both had long hair.
It didn’t matter why, but one thing was for sure, Shade never turned down holding Ethan. Not once. However, Easy’s brother also never hesitated to hand the baby back when his kid took a healthy dump in his diaper.
The man might be deadly in a low-key way but he was great with babies. As long as he could hand them back since he didn’t want any of his own. After what Shade had seen and went through, Easy wasn’t surprised the man didn’t want to bring more children into the world. He had his hands full with Jude and the girls, who were no longer girls, anyway.
Next to him, Shade murmured, “One thing we both know all too well is blood ain’t always family and family ain’t always blood.”
No truer words…
Even so, it was a damn shame that Ethan wouldn’t meet either sets of grandparents. Easy’s parents because they hadn’t forgiven him for the wrong he would never be able to right. Tess’s parents because both she and Trip didn’t want them involved with Rush or Ethan.
It was a fucking shame it had to be like that, but Easy wasn’t going to stress about it because today like every other day, they were surrounded by a family of their choosing who loved and supported them.
While Trip had built both a club and a family that were not only strong from within, he was also smart to develop relationships with two powerful clubs. Their strong alliance was clearly evident by how many members of those clubs had shown up this weekend.
No matter what had happened between Trip and him over Tessa, Easy recognized the fact that Trip was a great leader. And with being a great leader came great responsibilities. Responsibilities Easy would not want on his shoulders.
Taking care of Tessa, Ethan and himself was more than enough.
“Love shouldn’t come with conditions. If it does, it ain’t love.”
Shade must be feeling philosophical today. Chelle, being a school librarian was a big reader. Once she helped her ol’ man to get a handle on his dyslexia, he began to read a lot, too, and it showed.
“True that.” Easy glanced at a content Ethan in Shade’s arms. “Never thought I’d fuckin’ get married. Hell, never thought I’d have a kid. Kinda still can’t believe it.”
Though, reality had hit him like a two-by-four across his forehead when he witnessed his son’s head stretch Tessa’s previously tight pussy to what seemed like an impossible width.
It was at that very moment that he realized he made a mistake being in the delivery room with her, even though he’d heard the horror stories from Trip, Deacon and the rest.
But, fuck, if she wanted him there, he’d suck it up and be right there to watch it all over again when they had their next kid. He’d just be better prepared next time. Hopefully.