How About No (Bear Bottom Guardians MC 3)

There was silence for a few long seconds, making me fear the worst.

“She won’t leave you again,” Bayou finally spoke up. “I think she was just as broken up about everything as you were, to be honest.”

My eyes turned to the man who at one time had supported my decision to leave Landry be.

“Why’d you tell me to leave her alone?” I asked carefully.

Bayou didn’t look the least bit apologetic. “It’s hard for someone to know what they’re missing if they’re reminded every single day of why they should stay apart.”

I frowned. “What?”

“She was so fuckin’ pissed at you that she couldn’t see past the pain,” Bayou continued. “Whatever you did to her hurt her. Bad. And she needed to get rid of that pain that you caused her before she could see past it. You gave her the time to do that, and when the opportunity arose for her to rethink her choices, she finally saw past it and looked at you. She missed you and was no longer blinded by what you’d done. By doing that, she chose you rationally, instead of choosing you irrationally.”

“Irrationally?” Rome asked. “Bayou, you’re speaking in goddamn riddles.”

“I understand.” Zee startled me by entering into the conversation. “My ex-wife? I pissed her off good by joining the military straight out of high school. We’d just gotten married, had a baby on the way, and I couldn’t see past my fear of not being able to support our family. So, I went and joined. She was justifiably pissed because we didn’t get to make that decision together, and while I was gone at basic, she mostly got over being that pissed. Until she miscarried at fifteen weeks without me there. When I got done at basic, she met me at graduation only to have me sign divorce papers. All I’m saying is that time really does heal all wounds…it can also cause more. In Landry’s case, y’all needed more time. I think that’s what Bayou is trying to say. That’s why you didn’t go barging in there and demanding that she come back the moment that you realized you’d made a huge mistake.”

I looked at the ground and thought about his words, then took a deep breath and told them what I’d done that had hurt Landry so much.

“Matias had a donor match in an eighteen-year-old,” Rome murmured, sounding sad. “His little brother had also been a recipient of his bone marrow when he was sixteen. It’s hard, according to that kid. And I’ll forever be grateful for what that kid did for Matias. But, on the other hand, I would never have allowed him to give my son that much. Plus, knowing that she was just a kid while this happened? They were supposed to protect her and didn’t. I can see how you choosing to help the sister would bring up bad memories for her.”

I looked down at my feet and cursed. “I know that. Now.”

Rome grinned then and pulled his wife close. “Just don’t fuck up anymore. Always choose her. I think you won’t have any problems keeping her.”

“What makes you think that?” I looked at the bigger man.

Rome tilted his head at something at my back, and I turned to find Landry still dancing, only this time it was with her eyes directly on me.

“Because someone who hasn’t taken her eyes off of you all night long, even with all this man candy all around her, obviously sees something in you that she doesn’t want to lose,” Izzy pointed out.

I felt my lips twitch.

“And she makes you less grumpy. So, you’ll want to hold onto her,” Izzy continued.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure getting shot had nothing to do with that grumpiness.”

“You were a grumpy bastard well before you were shot, and we all know it,” Linc offered.

I sighed and shrugged. “It’s just me, what can I say?”

“Who’s ready for dinner?” Conleigh yelled.

We turned once again to see Landry wobbling and Conleigh attempting to guide their way to us with over eight pizza boxes a piece. Conleigh had the boxes she was carrying resting on her baby bump while one hand was holding Landry’s elbow.

Both Linc and I immediately started forward. “Who the hell thought it was a good idea to give the food to the drunk girl and her pregnant friend?”

“This girl has cash,” Landry informed me as soon as she was close enough. “And apparently the pizza guy doesn’t care whether I’m drunk or not as long as I gave him a tip.”

Chuckling, I took the pizza boxes from Conleigh’s grasp and walked them over to the bar, unsurprised when I felt Landry leaning up against me as she started to peek into the boxes. “Where’s the one with the pineapple on it?”

A few of the guys made a gagging sound.