Craving Lily (The Aces' Sons 4)

I nodded to people as I carried Gray into the main room, but I didn’t even make it to the back hallway before I was stopped by a gentle hand on my arm.

“Hi, baby,” my mom said softly, laying her hand on Gray’s back. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s alright,” I assured her, shifting Gray a little as he started to slide sideways. “Doesn’t really have any clue what’s goin’ on.”

“Probably a good thing,” she said, echoing Casper’s words from earlier. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“No, you’re not.”

“I’m good as I can be.”

“That’s a bit more accurate,” she said. “Did you go up and see Casper?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Went and saw him before I picked up Gray.”

“That’s good. I know he was anxious to talk to you.”

“Yeah, he sent Lily to find me.”

“Is that right?” my mom asked, and I knew from one look at her face that she’d already known Casper was going to send Lily to me.

“You, too?” I asked in irritation. “What the fuck are you all tryin’ to do?”

“What?” she asked in confusion.

“Don’t talk to your mother like that,” my dad ordered, coming up behind me.

“You realize the mother of my child just fuckin’ died, right?” I looked between the two of them in disbelief.

“What kind of question is that?” my dad asked, anger making his voice quieter than before.

“You’re sendin’ Lily around, tryin’ to what, exactly?”

My dad watched me in disbelief, then scoffed. “Givin’ you the chance to make up with a girl who you were close with before she went to college, during a time when you’re goin’ through what you’re goin’ through, ain’t some sort of sinister plot.”

“The mother of my child just fuckin’ died on the side of the road,” I reiterated through clenched teeth.

“The mother of your child,” my dad agreed, glancing at Gray. “Right. Not your wife, not your girlfriend. Know you two were close, know you’re hurtin’, but don’t make the loss somethin’ it ain’t.”

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered.

“How about I take Gray for a while?” my mom offered, trying to diffuse the situation. “I was going to lay down for a while anyway, it’s been a long couple of days.”

I thought about it for a second, relishing the feeling of Gray’s little hot puffs of breath on the side of my neck, before I relented and handed him over. He’d probably sleep better in my pop’s room since it was further away from the main room than mine was. Plus, my mom did look tired. She looked like she was ready to drop.

“Come on, baby,” my dad said gently.

“I can make it to the room on my own,” my mom pointed out.

“Just as easy for me to walk ya.”

Mom shook her head in amusement, then met my eyes over Grey’s messy dark hair. “I know what it’s like to try and come back after you’ve pushed everyone away,” she said softly. “It’s harder than you could ever imagine, son. Cut Lily a little slack, huh?”

I watched them walk away then turned toward the bar. That’s when I saw Lily watching me, her face filled with emotion. She didn’t look away even after she knew I saw her, and for a second, I was frozen in place.

Then a yell from behind the bar stole both of our attention, and that’s when I saw Rose, flipping and spinning liquor bottles like she was auditioning for a talent show. She had a huge grin on her face as her brothers egged her on, and I couldn’t help but move closer as she slung drinks like a pro.

“You guys barely have anything back here,” she complained as she grabbed a dusty bottle from the shelf. “It’s a disgrace.”

“Sorry we don’t like your fruity-tooty drinks, little sister,” Will said, rolling his eyes.

“You’d like them if you tried them,” she argued. “I don’t even have ingredients for a Long Island Iced Tea! What is wrong with you people?”

“Tequila, whiskey, and beer,” Tommy grunted like a caveman.

“Don’t forget vodka,” Rose said, holding up a bottle of flavored stuff.

“That shit’s for the women,” Will said.

“Weren’t you the one mixing that shit with orange juice at Tommy’s place two weeks ago?” I asked, stepping up beside Lily.

“That was one time!”

“Sure it was,” Lily said with mock seriousness, joining in on the joke. “Do you prefer the orange flavored vodka or the tangerine? I’ve noticed that they’re similar, but not exactly the same.”

“Fuck you both,” Will said, pointing back and forth between the two of us.

“When did you take up drinking?” I asked quietly, barely glancing at the woman beside me.

“College,” she replied with a shrug, her shoulder brushing my arm.

“She’s gotta keep me company while I work,” Rose cut in, sliding a drink in front of Lily. “Otherwise, I’d never see her.”

“That’s not true,” Lily protested. “We share a fucking bedroom.”