Worth the Risk (Carolina Rebels 5)

“If Derek’s okay with it, then so am I,” she says.

“You two need to separate.” Not that I think there’s anything going on between them. Derek is my age and he’s my best friend. He likes to joke around and Nicole? Well, she just likes that Derek annoys me sometimes.

It’s nice to spend time with my family, but really? I can’t wait for them to leave. I don’t like my house full of people who don’t live here. People who like to take my kid and hog her. It’s my time off, and I don’t feel like I’ve spent any more time than usual with her. I love that they came and that they’re here for Bree’s first Christmas, but I can’t wait until it’s just the four of us again.

Well, and the occasional visits from Henry.

Speaking of, he leaves around eight. Bree is knocked out in my arms and I really want to check on Raelynn and Jackson. I keep hearing Raelynn’s voice in my head about how I was spending more time with her and Jackson than my own family.

Fuck it. It’s my house. My time off. I’ll do whatever I want.

I get up with Bree in my arms and march upstairs. Jackson is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth.

“Hey, J-man. Your room is all yours again.”

“Thanks, Mr. I mean, EJ.”

I grin and leave him to pop into my room, but I find Raelynn in hers instead.

“Hey. I’m hopping into the shower once he’s asleep,” she says, holding up her clothes.

“Can I come too?” I whisper.

Her eyes widen. “No!” she whisper-shouts. “Are you crazy?”

“About you? Absolutely. Please? I miss you. I’ll even behave.” Maybe. I might be lying about that last part.

“Your family—”

“Yeah, I know. They’re here. I don’t care. I want this, so let me have it.”

“Momma, I’m ready for bed,” Jackson says, suddenly appearing between us.

Raelynn closes a dresser drawer and walks past me without another word. I walk to Bree’s room and lay her in her crib. Raelynn and I leave their rooms at the same time. I hold out my hand. If she takes it, then we go to my bathroom. If she doesn’t, then that’s a very loud and clear no.

“I’ve had a sick kid laying on me all day,” she tries. My hand still hovers in the air. Three, two... She sighs and takes my hand. “We need to talk anyway.”

With any other woman, this would raise a red flag that something bad is coming. With Raelynn, she probably just needs to get something off her chest. Not to mention, I highly doubt she’s about to break up with me while we’re taking a shower together.

“It looks like you and Henry coordinated that gift for Jackson,” she says as I turn the water on.

“I was going to get him both the lessons and the skates, but then he thought about it, too, so we decided to split it.”

“Why didn’t either of you ask me first before essentially signing my son up for a sport?”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Because I figured you’d say no because of the expense.”

Raelynn frowns as we undress. “I wouldn’t have.”

Okay. I’m confused. “Then why did you want us to ask you first?” It sounds like she’s okay with what we did, so what’s the problem? Raelynn steps into the shower and I follow after her.

“Because he’s my son and I should be consulted. It should be my decision if he does something. I should know first, not last.”

I rest my hands on her shoulders and massage. She’s working herself up and that’s the last thing I want. “Noted,” is all I say.

She turns to face me, interrupting the massage as she tilts her head back to wet her hair. “And you were in cahoots with Henry. I thought you were only supposed to do things with me?” There’s the slightest hint of a smirk on her face to let me

know she’s teasing.