“I missed it all. I gave it all up. Your first words. Your first steps. Chorus concerts. Your first heartbreak.”
“It wasn’t all that exciting,” Eden said.
“I want to be there for everything else,” Jenn said. “That’s my offer to you, Eden. If you don’t want that, I will find somewhere else to go. I can have Miller get me to another charter and I can settle in. The last thing I want to do to you is become a burden or get in your way. You have every right to be angry. You never have to forgive me. I’m not making any excuses to you, Eden, just telling you the truth.”
Eden looked at her mother. “If you kept me, do you think Ripper would have done bad things to me?”
“Yes.”
“He would have hit me?”
“Yes.”
“And if he found out I wasn’t his real daughter…”
Jenn shut her eyes and nodded. “Yes. Because he would have wanted to punish you, me, and Griffin.”
Eden lowered her head and shuddered.
She took a few seconds to process all of that.
Then she hugged Jenn. As tight as she could. She got close to her mother’s skin, smelling cigarettes, booze, and cheap perfume. She kissed her mother’s cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” Jenn asked.
“You saved me. You gave me life and saved me. You took a risk by giving me up and because of that I had a better life and now we’re together. Right?”
“Yes. Right.”
“My adoptive parents were good people. My adoptive aunt was good to me too. I was able to learn how to draw, create art, find a passion, and make a living out of it.”
“You’re a tough woman, Eden. Trev needs a woman like you to keep him grounded.”
“I need a man like him to keep me safe.”
“He will keep you safe,” Jenn said. “Ripper isn’t stupid. Trev showing up bloody isn’t enough to be enough. It’s going to take effort. And when this is all happens, it’s going to get wild.”
“Wild,” Eden whispered. “Yeah.”
“Uh, is this cool?” a voice asked.
Eden looked and saw Blaine in the doorway.
“Yeah,” Eden said. “I was… nothing.”
“How you holding up?” Blaine asked.
“Before or after I saw you punch Trev?”
Blaine nodded. “You want to punch me in the face?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Blaine waved at Eden. “Come on. Do it.”
Eden slowly stood up. She walked to Blaine and slapped him across the face. It stung the hell out of her hand.
“Better?” Blaine asked.
“No!” Eden yelled.
Blaine gently touched her arm. “Hey. It’s going to be okay. He’s already checked in with Miller. He’s up there. I just wanted to let you know that.”
Eden then hugged Blaine. “Thank you.”
Blaine put an arm around her. “He’s the toughest guy I ever met, Eden. He’s smart. He’s been outlaw before. He knows how to navigate when there are no rules. He’s a survivor.”
Eden looked up at Blaine. “He warned me to stay away from you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re an asshole.”
Blaine grinned. “That I am, sweetheart.”
“But you love Jessa.”
“With all my asshole heart.”
“And you love Caine.”
“That’s my blood.”
“Trev was worried you’d get hard around me.”
“Well… I am still a man.” Blaine winked.
Eden backed away and gasped. “You’re disgusting.”
“Hey. A pretty girl hugs me and dick gets hard, that’s an act of God. That’s nature.”
Eden wanted to slap him again.
“You sure you’re okay?” Blaine asked.
“She’s fine,” Jenn said. “Just got herself sick from stress.”
“Throwing up?” Blaine asked.
“Yes,” Eden said. “Anything else you want to know about my personal life?”
“Sure. I’d love to see your tits. I wonder what your nipples look like. Little nubs that are fun to bite on or like racetracks for my tongue.”
Eden gasped again. She swung and slapped Blaine again. And, again, her hand stung like fire.
Blaine just laughed.
Remember what Trev said… this sick fuck gets hard when he’s hit…
Blaine rubbed his cheek. “Being serious though… if you need anything, let me know. Food, drink, whatever.”
“How about a pregnancy test?” Jenn asked.
“What?” Eden yelled.
“Oh, shit,” Blaine said. “Well, it is morning. You’re throwing up. That’s what happened with Jessa. Were you letting Trev…” Blaine blinked.
Eden’s cheeks were apple red.
Not in front of my mother.
“Can you do that, Blaine?” Jenn asked.
“Sure thing,” Blaine said. “I’ll send the prospects. Looks like you need some food then. Fill your belly. You’re eating for two, huh?”
“No,” Eden said. “I can’t be… no.”
Eden turned and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a hot mess. Her hair all over the place. Her eyes puffy from crying. Her lips dry and cracked.
She swallowed hard.
She casually touched her stomach.
No way.