Spun (Kings of Chaos 1)

“Now, the baby changes everything. I’m not about to have you out here on your own, carrying my kid. You need to come home back to our house.”

I grit my teeth. It’s everything I wanted, but not. “I don’t want this to be something you feel forced—”

“Did you hear me say I missed you? I want to try this thing again. Can you give me that?”

I peer into his blue eyes and see the man I fell in love with. He may never get those months back, but I think we can get return to that point. “I can give you that.”

He smiles. “Shit. I didn’t expect to…” He shakes his head. “I’m going to be a dad.”

“Yes, you are.” He’s taking it much better than I expected.

“Holy fuck, Nevada! You’ve turned my life upside down, but I don’t think I mind.”

“No?” I whisper.

He caresses the side of my face with his knuckles and I close my eyes, soaking up the affection. I have missed these moments with him.

“No,” he answers.

It’s a starting point. A place to build from. We’ve done this dance before. It’s only a matter of remembering the steps.

Epilogue

Life is an unpredictable combination of cause and effect. We all do our best to navigate through. If you’d told me a year earlier I’d be this happy, I wouldn’t believe you. Once Nev came home, shit fell into place. I vaguely remember our time together, but it’s the memories we made after the accident that matter the most. I watch her rock back and forth in the hand-carved rocking chair. My son drinks from her breasts and I’m amazed. They keep my demons at bay. This house is my sanctuary. The hard earned prize given after a tough day at work. I thought I understood family because I belonged to Chaos, but I didn’t know shit. There’s nothing like your own flesh and blood. The moment I held Vegas in my arms, shit shifted for me.

“You coming in, or do you just plan on watching us from the door frame?”

I smirk. “Where’d you get that sassy ass mouth from?”

“My old man helped me develop it.”

I snicker. “Don’t put that shit on me. I discovered what was lurking in the shadows.”

She glances up and smiles over our son’s head. “Hi Daddy.”

I cup his head and marvel at the downy black peach fuzz. “Hey Mama. Is Vegas hungry?”

“Yes, he’s insatiable, much like someone else I know.”

“We don’t know what you mean, do we, my boy?” I whisper.

She snickers. Her dark hair falls behind her back and her eyes shimmer with pure joy.

It’s the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen. She gave me back light. I want to do right by her. “I have a present for you.”

“Yeah?”

I kneel beside the chair and dig into my pocket. My hand shakes slightly as I clutch the black velvet box. I pull it out and open it. “What do you say we make this family official?”

“Gage?” She stares at me. “Y-you want to marry me?”

“I want everyone to know you’re mine. Inside our world and out.

I want us to share the same last name. I can’t,” I clear my throat, “I can’t imagine life without you, Nevada. You brought me out of a darkness I thought was inescapable. After all we’ve been through, it’s only right we take this thing the whole way.” I circle the round scar on her left arm. A gruesome reminder of the day she could’ve lost her life.

“I’d love to marry you, Gage.”

My heart sings and I’m fighting back tears like a baby. “Shit, Nevada.”