The Way We Play (Bradford Boys #2)

Chapter 30

30

Rachel

“ H ave you heard anything?” Dylan stands at the large kitchen table mixing her Dare Dish for the night.

It’s a blend of Scotch Bonnet peppers with mangos and pineapple.

“We texted this morning. They had a meeting scheduled with the judge this afternoon, but they were also meeting with Jayden first.”

“Is that a good thing?” Her nose wrinkles, and I shake my head.

“I don’t know. Liv was worried it would be difficult to terminate his parental rights. Can you believe that?” I pick up one of the bright yellow peppers by the stem. “You can ditch your kid for years and years, but you can still come back and make trouble.”

“Careful with that little guy.” She nods at the pepper in my hand. “You might want to wash your hands with coconut oil before you accidentally touch your eye or nose or anything. ”

Dropping the fruit, I walk over to the sink to do as she says. If anybody knows the dangers of hot peppers, it’s Dylan.

“That’s all I’ve heard, and I’ve been a little scared to text.”

“No news is good news?”

“Something like that.”

Dylan stands in front of the blender with her hand on her hip. “Am I in a pepper rut? I’ve made hot pepper salsa twice now, and both times it’s been mixed with mango and pineapple.”

“I haven’t heard any complaints.” I walk back to where she’s studying the recipe card. “It’s a different pepper, isn’t it?”

“What’s that face about?” Craig walks over to where we’re looking at the menu. “Don’t tell me. You’re worried Oliver Duck has found himself a new pepper princess.”

“Shut up.” Dylan bumps him with her hip. “Where’s Clint? He hasn’t sent me a bouquet selection in weeks.”

“He said he’s got everything he needs. He’s done with you.”

My nose wrinkles, and I lean closer on the bar. “Doubtful. It’s still your wedding.”

“What’s the latest on the Edward situation?” Craig walks to the refrigerator.

“Zane told Rachel they were meeting with the judge this afternoon.” Dylan carefully dices the Scotch Bonnet “That’s all we know.”

“You don’t know where they are now?” He frowns.

“I’ve been too scared to bother him.” I pull up my phone and open my messenger app. “You’re right. He said to text him if I get anxious.”

“Yes…” Dylan drops her paring knife and crowds along with Craig around my phone.

My fingers tremble as they move over the face, and I keep making typos. “Y’all are making me nervous.”

I’m about to hit send when a low voice almost makes me toss my phone. “What are you three doing?”

I’m running before my eyes even land on him. “Zane!”

He laughs, catching me in his arms and lifting me off my feet. Our mouths unite, and I don’t care that we’re in the kitchen in front of God and everybody. Parting my lips, I thread my fingers in his hair, pulling his tongue with mine and wrapping my legs around his waist.

I drop my face to his neck, holding him in a hug. “I missed you so much,” I say against his skin.

“I missed you.” His fingers are in the back of my hair, and my body is pressed against his.

Lifting my chin, I look around the kitchen from Thomas, staring fixedly at the tiny, black-and-white TV by his grill, to Dylan intensely studying the recipe she’s working on, to Craig staring at the ceiling.

“Sorry.” I exhale a laugh, then I lift my hand and do a little cheer. “Welcome back!”

Dylan’s lips tighten, and she bursts out laughing. “You two are so adorable. I’m so happy my big brother found somebody to love him as much as I do.”

She runs over to hug us both, and Craig shakes his head as he slowly joins us.

Moving my tongue around, I realize I have a grape candy in my mouth. “Were you eating a Jolly Rancher?”

“I told you I missed you.”

“Stop being so ridiculously cute!” Dylan yells from beside us. “What happened?”

Zane’s eyes are fixed on me as he reaches into the breast pocket of the really nice suit he’s wearing and hands me a folded document.

Stepping back, I frown as I open the thick tri-fold paper and read the words at the top. Transfer of Custody … My eyes widen as they fly down the text. It’s a document spelling out how I am officially the legal guardian of Edward. How my dad has relinquished all claims and no longer has the power to make our lives miserable.

It doesn’t actually say those words, but that’s the gist.

“The judge gave me custody? ”

“We never saw the judge. Liv drew up the papers, but Jayden said he wouldn’t sign unless we paid him.”

Shaking my head in disgust, I return to the signed contract I’m holding. “You paid him for this?”

“Sort of.” That dimple is in his cheek, and he takes my hand. “You’re not going to believe who showed up at the eleventh hour with a bait and switch.”

My eyes widen. “Tell me!”

“Claws.”

“What?!” I almost squeal. “How is that possible?”

“Who’s Claws?” Dylan jerks on Zane’s sleeve. “What happened? Who’s Claws?”

“Miss Gina must’ve called her at some point, and apparently Claws has enough power to command twenty thousand dollars.”

“She did not give him twenty thousand dollars.” My stomach drops to the ground.

“No, she didn’t.” Zane drops his head back with a laugh. “She conned the con man.”

“I’m still waiting to know who Claws is!” Dylan pushes her brother’s arm. “Santa Claus?”

“She might as well be.” Zane looks at his sister. “She’s Miss Gina’s sister-in-law, and she roasted Jayden. He has to pay the money back by working as their sanitation clerk for a year.”

“What’s a sanitation clerk?”

“Sewage guy.”

Biting the hard candy, I shake my head . “I still don’t understand.”

“She works for this children’s charity in Birmingham, and when she said she’d give Jayden twenty thousand dollars, she didn’t tell him it would be in exchange for him working for them.”

“He fell for it?”

“It was pretty classic the way she rolled it out. He never even saw it coming.”

“So it’s all done?” My eyes meet his, and his warmth soothes the fear in my chest .

“Almost. You have to sign these, and Liv will file them with the court. Then it’s done.” Zane pulls me into his arms. “We got Eddie.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this!” Liv stands beside me at the booth, holding a basket of chips and a cup of Scotch Bonnet and mango salsa. “They weren’t doing this when I left for college.”

Craig is on the bar with the female servers wearing a blond wig and shaking his butt to The Spice Girls.

“Dance with me, Miss G!” Allie skips over to where we’re standing, holding out her hands.

I step forward to help Miss Gina out of the booth, and the two of them hold hands as they sway to the music. Miss Gina has surprisingly good rhythm. She twirls her arms in time to the music, and even turns around to shake her booty from side to side.

“Can I get some fries with that shake?” I catcall, laughing and clapping.

We all have our hands up dancing when Liv suddenly lets out a yelp from where she watches us beside the booth.

“Help!” Her eyes are wide and watering, and she’s frantically fanning her red face with her hands. “What’s happening?”

“Hot pepper alert!” Allie yells, and we both grab her arms, running to the ice cream station beside the smaller bar.

“It’s burning all the way down my throat!” Liv bounces up and down on her toes, crying as Allie rips the cardboard lid off the small cup of ice cream. “It’s burning my stomach!”

“Don’t panic.” I pass her the ice cream. “Eat this, quick!”

She puts her entire tongue into the ice cream, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m going to be sick!”

Allie runs back with a handful of napkins, holding them for her and rubbing her back. “Hang in there. It’ll be over soon. Try to stay calm.”

I hand her a spoon, and she dips the ice cream out, swallowing big bites as she sniffs and wipes the tears and snot away.

“It kept getting hotter and hotter. I didn’t think it was going to stop.” Her wide eyes are on me, and I nod.

“Some of those hot ones can be really scary. You’ll get the hang of it.”

“I don’t know if I want to!”

Allie hands her another cup of ice cream. “I’d better get back to Miss Gina.”

“Thanks, Allie!” Liv calls as our friend dives back into the crowd of dancers.

“You okay?” I frown-smile.

She takes another small bite from the new cup. “This helps a lot. I get the whole Dare part now.”

The music dies down, and I press my lips together. “I can’t thank you enough for helping us with Eddie. If there’s any way I can ever repay you?—”

“Don’t mention it.” She waves the wooden spoon in front of her. “Glad to help out. That guy was the worst.”

“My dad, I know.” Shame heats my cheeks, and I study my twisted fingers.

“Don’t be embarrassed. We can’t always pick the men in our lives.” She reaches out to squeeze my hand. “Looks like you’re doing better now, though! Zane Bradford is a good man.”

“He’s the best.” I glance past her to the side porch where Eddie is playing pool away from the noise.

“Congratulations on your engagement.” My stomach flips, and she shakes her head. “No, that’s not right.”

“What?” I can barely get the word out for the air whooshing from my lungs.

“It’s best wishes .” She flutters an eye-roll. “You tell the bride-to-be best wishes . You tell the groom congratulations .”

I can’t speak, and she studies my face. “Is it a secret? Zane told me in Birmingham y’all are engaged. ”

Taking a careful step back, I rub my hand over my heart. “I’ll be right back.”

Energy pulses in my veins, and I go to the screen door, hesitating before I open it.

Eddie is methodically clearing the pool table, while Kimmie holds Smokey, explaining to the struggling feline how kitties don’t have to be afraid of turtles.

Zane stands back watching, his strong arms crossed over his chest and a contented smile on his face.

When I told Edward earlier he didn’t have to go back to Birmingham, he simply nodded. “Zane fixed it.”

It wasn’t a question, and I covered his hand with mine. “He did.”

“Zane always keeps his word.”

Tears heated my eyes as I agreed. “It’s true. He does.”

“He’s like you.”

Now, opening the door, I go to him, reaching out to put my hand on his forearm. He uncrosses them, wrapping me in a hug, and I tuck my face against his chest, thinking about this man as my home, my future.

He already decided.

Lips press against my head, and his voice is low. “Everything okay?”

I lift my chin to meet his blue eyes. “Liv just offered best wishes on our engagement.”

His brow lowers, and that dimple appears in his cheek. He looks up at Edward and Kimmie playing then back to me.

“I might’ve said something about you being my future wife.” His muscled arm tightens around my back. “What do you think of that?”

Laughter bubbles in my chest, and I reach for his cheeks, pulling him down for a kiss “I think it sounds pretty darn good.”

Placing his thumb on my chin, he pulls me to him for another kiss, another shimmering pass of his tongue against mine.

“It’s better than good. It’s perfect.”