Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
I knew, at least, that Chase and Scorpion understood. They each had old ladies, and Scorpion and Jessica even had a kid with another one on the way. But it was taking the other guys a while to get used to me being extremely overprotective of Gabriel. Like earlier when Halo offered to take Gabriel off my hands for a while. Like fuck was that ever happening. Gabriel was mine. And I wouldn’t share him with anyone.
I sat on the edge of the bed, and Gabriel walked over, sitting beside me. I tugged on my boots, looking over at him. The bags that had been beneath his eyes when he first came into my care were now damn near nonexistent due to the tight schedule I had him on when it came to sleep. In fact, he’d even put on weight since I made him eat three meals a day with snacks in between.
Gabriel was finally getting healthy—at least physically. I just wished there was more I could do for his mental health. Especially since we didn’t have a therapist we trusted on the club payroll. All I could do was help him based on what I’d learned from my trauma therapist in the military, do research, and hope I was doing enough for him.
“Come on,” I grunted. I stood to my feet and grabbed my cut off the foot of the bed, shrugging it onto my shoulders. Gabriel grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. My heart flipped in my chest.
I couldn’t get enough of his clinginess. He was codependent on me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I didn’t give a fuck what anyone had to say. Didn’t give a fuck that his dependency on me was unhealthy either.
I wanted this boy to rely on me.
Reese waved at Gabriel as we emerged from the staircase before cursing and focusing back on his phone, the sound of gunshots exploding from the speakers of his phone. Gabriel quietly laughed. “Hi, Reese,” he greeted as we passed the pouting man who was asking a teammate to come revive him. No doubt, he was playing Call of Duty Mobile. Didn’t know why he didn’t just go out and get a gaming console and a TV and plug it up in the sitting area. Halo, Elias, and Mark gamed, too. He’d at least have teammates he knew and could trust.
Even though it was currently winter, the sun was beating down like it had a personal vendetta against us. It was hot as fuck outside, and the breeze that was blowing only felt like having a fan blow more hot air on my face.
Texas was a hell of a lot different from where I grew up in Washington, where we got snow in the winter and actually had fucking seasons. I knew some parts of Texas had actual seasons, but down here, only a few miles outside of El Paso, seasons were nonexistent.
I led Gabriel over to the tree we always sat under. He waited until I’d planted my ass on the ground and leaned back against the tree trunk before sitting down between my spread thighs, resting his back against my chest. Closing my eyes, I wrapped my arms around him.
“Gabe!” Destin suddenly squealed.
My eyes snapped open at the same time Gabriel pushed my arms aside to welcome the rambunctious three-year-old into them. Destin squealed and planted a sloppy kiss on Gabriel’s cheek, making my sweet boy laugh. The sound settled deep in my soul, warming my core.
“I’m sorry,” Jessica apologized as she made her way over. “It was game over the moment Destin saw him though.”
I grunted. “It’s fine.” Destin adored the ground Gabriel walked on, especially since Gabriel liked playing with him. I was pretty sure Gabriel had some Little in him. He enjoyed stuffies and blankets, and he regressed a bit when he was tired, irritable, or in high-stress situations and needed comfort. I didn’t mind it; I just wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with him.
Besides, I didn’t think he needed labels. He was fine just the way he was, and I was good at reading him. I knew what to give him when he started acting out and regressing a little—cuddles and lots of fucking love.
And for him, I had a shit ton to spare.
Destin tugged Gabriel over to the sandbox that was near us, and I watched as Gabriel began helping him build a sand castle. I stood to my feet and crossed my arms over my chest so I could watch over my boy better.
“You know, everyone can see the way you look at him.”
I cut my eyes to Jessica. “Touchy subject,” I warned her. She was treading on dangerous ground, and I was hoping she’d heed the warning and back away from the subject.