As he says that, he leans down and plants a featherlight kiss on my forehead. Not my lips. Not my neck. He kisses my forehead like I’m something precious to him. Something he treasures. And as sweet as it is, it feels wrong.

  I know what it’s like to feel treasured. Leo shows me in a thousand things he does every week—every day, even.

  At least, he did. He used to. The way he treated me today and into tonight, it’s hard to say. Maybe hard times bring out the worst in him—or they bring out what’s most genuine in him. I’ve never known Leo to go through any kind of real problems before this. And if this is the guy he becomes when the going gets tough…I could do worse than let Josh give me a peck on the head. A lot worse.

  The music changes and the song slows down, so we’re not as awkward out there swaying in each other’s arms. Josh’s cologne fills my nose, and my body reacts. I want him. I have to admit it. And is that such a bad thing?

  I’m not saying I love Leo. I haven’t said that to anyone in a really long time. But wanting a man and loving one are two separate things. After what I’ve seen from Leo, I’m lucky I know the difference. Or I’d be nursing a massive heartbreak right now, and who knows how different it would be to sway in Josh’s arms.

  I want to make small talk to break the tension between us, but anything I say feels like the wrong door to open. Leo and why we’re here. Josh and his work. Which leads right back to Tim and to Leo.

  Will I ever be able to talk to this guy without it feeling all wrong?

  Without feeling like I’m doing something wrong?

  “So, your dad’s in a motorcycle club?” Josh cuts the tension for me, basically pouring a bucket of ice over my libido by bringing up my dad.

  “Uh, yeah,” I say. “But to be honest, I don’t know much about that part of his life. I only really started to get to know him about a year ago.”

  Josh nods. “Not surprising. If you were mine, I’d keep you far away from the dangerous parts of my life too.”

  What was that? Do my ears deceive me? Or is Josh making a subtle dig against Leo? The situation we’re in is not his fault. There would be no dangerous parts of Leo’s life if he didn’t have a deadbeat brother.

  The MC surely isn’t, but I know most have that reputation. Whatever Josh thinks about Leo, or the MC, he sounds like he’s trying to drive a wedge between Leo and me. And part of me wants to go with it. Let Josh carry me past the memory of my roommate’s sultry massages, deep kisses, and climax-worthy skills in bed.

  “From what I’ve seen so far, that would mean I couldn’t be yours.” I lay it on thick. “Your whole life seems dangerous.”

  Josh laughs, and the spark ignites between us again. “It only seems that way,” he says. “I try to keep the criminals in prison, if they belong there.”

  I nod, but then, in spite of myself, I huff a long, sad sigh.

  “Hey.” Josh removes a hand from my back and tilts my chin. “It’s all going to work out,” he says. “I know it seems impossible now, but remember the grandpa felon who went to grad school. The road might be full of potholes, but you’ll make it. Wherever it is you want to go.” He meets my eyes, and something smolders there. “Deciding what you want might be the hardest part of all.”

  If I tip my head any farther back, he’ll kiss me. I know he will. I can feel the heat from him every time our thighs bump. I let my hands fall from behind his neck, and I lean against his chest, burying my nose against him. If I don’t bury my face, I may kiss him myself. And that’s a complication I don’t want, no matter how good and right his body feels.

  “Lia,” he whispers.

  We sway together until the song ends, and Josh, thankfully, pulls back.

  “You want another beer? I need something to cool me off. Like an entire swimming pool.”

  I nod, thankful that he’s fighting whatever this is as much as I am. At least for now. “Same, but a beer will have to do.”

  Whatever this is—or isn’t—with Josh, I can simplify it if I remember two things. One, he’s not Leo.

  And two, Leo means something to me. No matter how shitty he was to me today, he’s never not listened to me before. He’s never not taken my opinion seriously or treated me with anything less than respect and friendship.

  He’s going through shit, and I’d be a hell of an asshole roommate if, after our first big fight, I jumped in bed with Leo’s enemy. In a few weeks, when things settle down, my emotions will be a lot clearer. And so will all of our intentions. Even mine. I can keep my body in check until then.

  “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. Be right back.” I give Josh’s hand a squeeze before I release it and head to the back of the bar.

  The tiny bar bathroom is dark but surprisingly clean. I can barely see to check my lipstick in the mirror, but I do it anyway. I smooth my hair, pop a breath mint, and head into the stall to take care of my business. While I’m in there, the door opens and I see one set of feet stop at the mirror. Another set goes into the stall next to me.

  When I come out to wash my hands, the hard-looking chick Josh had on his lap last night is standing in front of the mirror.

  She meets my eyes and nods.

  I nod back.

  I wash my hands and am reaching for a paper towel when she points at me.

  “You Josh’s girl?”

  I shrug. This isn’t the first time I’ve been cornered by some ho in a bar bathroom, thinking she’s going to bully me out of being interested in a man. “He’s only a friend,” I say. “If you have something to say about it, you should take it up with him. He’s right outside.”

  I go to leave, but she stops me with a hand. “This isn’t about Josh,” she says.

  I flick a quick glance at the shoes in the stall behind me. My stomach sinks as I realize the door isn’t even closed all the way. Whoever is in there isn’t there for the toilet.

  I clutch my purse over my chest and turn to leave the bathroom. I reach for the handle to yank open the door, but before I can leave, the stall door flies open and the man with the scarred hand I was talking to last night at the bar comes out.

  He has a white cloth in his hand, and the only thing I hear before the room goes completely dark is his voice in my ear.

  “Don’t scream.”

  10

  Leo

  As soon as Morris answers my text, I pull on my leather vest, jump on my bike, and head to his new place.

  The night air is clear, and I take the long way to his house. The way I feel tonight…I could jump on my bike and ride until all of this shit is far behind me.

  Ride off into the night.

  Hit the road and never come back.

  When I finally pull up into Morris’s driveway, I check the time on my phone. It’s almost ten. Zoey will probably be sound asleep. I slip my phone into the pocket of my vest and knock once on the door.

  Morris opens up, shirtless and barefoot. He’s got a pair of reading glasses on, and he looks like I’ve caught him by surprise.

  “Shit, man, am I too late? I took the long way here to clear my head a bit…”

  “Fuck no.” Morris shoves the reading glasses on top of his head and waves me in. “I told you to get here when you get here.”

  I follow him to the living room and take a seat. He drops the glasses on the coffee table and gives me a look. “You tell anyone about these, Prospect…”

  I chuckle. “Now I know what to get you for Christmas. One of those beaded chains so you can keep your cheaters around your neck. It’s a good look.”

  Morris shakes his head. “Go fuck yourself. You’ll get old too. I was reading a bedtime story to Zoey.”

  “Shirtless?” I ask.

  He shakes his head. “Don’t ask. Alice got this lavender hand lotion for Zoey. It’s supposed to soothe her before bedtime like aromatherapy or some shit. She’s going through a bit of a phase right now. I was handing Zoey the bottle so she could put some of that sleepytime lotion on while I read her the story, but the cap wasn’t all the way on. I squeezed the tube and—” He makes a fart sound with his mouth. “Lavender lotion all over my shirt.”

  He stands up and heads for the kitchen. “I got a tee in the laundry room. Lemme grab it. You want a beer while I’m back here?”

  “Nah, thanks, man.” I settle back against their unbelievably comfy sectional.

  I can’t believe this is Morris’s life now. Framed pictures of him, Alice, and Zoey line the walls. On the big-screen television, some animated show is frozen on pause halfway through. There are pink glittery things everywhere—jelly shoes, hair thingies. Living with Zoey and Alice looks a lot like living with Lia, except the glittery things in my house belong to a woman, not a kid.

  I’m happy for Morris. This place feels like home.

  When Morris comes back from the kitchen, he’s wearing a wrinkled gray T-shirt and is holding two beers.

  “Gotcha one anyway,” he says, setting it on the table in front of me. “You don’t want it, I’ll polish it off.”

  I nod at him and decide to take it. I lift the bottle and tap the neck against his. “Thanks.”

  Before I get to the reason for my late-night interruption, a blur zips down the staircase.

  “Uncle Leo?”

  Zoey launches herself from a couple feet away and leaps into my lap.

  I cough at the impact. “Kiddo. You’re getting almost too old for uncle tackles. Are you sure you’re not playing football at that new school of yours?”

  Zoey giggles and hugs me hard. She’s seven now and a serious doll. She’s bright and sweet and has really come out of her shell since her mom left that dickhead stepdad and got herself hitched to Morris.

  “Zoey,” Morris says, shaking his head. “This is our new thing. We call it the distraction show.” He checks an imaginary watch. “And the show is supposed to be long over by now…”

  Zoey grins like she’s been caught, but she plows right ahead with questions. “So, Uncle Leo, I have a question.”

  “No, you don’t,” Morris says. “Not after your bedtime, you don’t. Ask Leo another time.”

  “Come on, Dad.”

  My heart nearly stops in my chest when she calls him that.

  “Dad,” I echo, laying it on for Zoey’s sake. “Come on, just one question.”

  Morris sighs and looks up at the ceiling. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, man. Zoey doesn’t play softball. She goes for the tough ones.”

  I think whatever a seven-year-old can come up with, I can handle.

  “Give it to me,” I say. “Ask away.”

  Zoey’s in a cute little two-piece pajama set that has ballerinas on it. She traces the swirling ribbons and patterns with her fingers while she seems to rack her brain for the best thing to ask her uncle Leo.

  “So, when babies are in their mommies’ tummies, how do they eat food?”

  Oh God. I look at Morris in a panic.

  He lifts a brow at me and takes a long sip of his beer. “Told ya. Good luck with that one.”

  “Well,” I say, trying to think of how to answer that. “The baby eats food that the mom eats.” I try to go basic.

  “Yes, I know that. But how?” Zoey looks like she’s worrying over the question. “Like, if the mama swallows the food and it goes into her tummy, does the food spill over the baby, and the baby just, like, opens its mouth and eats it? Like, the baby doesn’t have any teeth. How can it eat, like, a cheeseburger? And doesn’t it…”

  “Okay, Zoey.” Alice’s voice carries through the living room. She’s headed downstairs with a teddy bear in her hand. “I thought you were going to give Uncle Leo a kiss goodnight, not ask for an anatomy lesson.”

  “What’s an anatomy lesson?” Zoey asks.

  Alice quirks an eyebrow and points to the bear. “Mr. Pig here is ready for bed. That means you need to scoot your bottom back up these steps too.”

  I look at Zoey. “Wait. Your teddy bear is named Mr. Pig?”

  Zoey starts laughing hysterically. “Yes. Leo, I thought you knew that. The bear is named Mr. Pig, and the pig is named Mr. Bear.”

  “She wants to know the ins and outs of human reproduction, but then takes a very literal approach to naming her plushies,” Morris adds.

  “They’re best friends forever, and they decided to swap names because they love each other so much. Is that what you and Lia did? Lia, Leo?” Zoey looks as if she’s unearthed one of the secrets of the cosmos.

  Her little mind looks blown.

  My little mind is blown too. Does everyone think Lia and I are best friends and “love each other so much”?

  Alice comes in with the save. “Unless you want Mr. Pig and Mr. Bear in a time-out, I’d suggest you give out some goodnight hugs and kisses. For real this time.” She punctuates the statement with a mom look that lets all of us know she’s not kidding.

  Zoey throws herself against me, and I hug the little girl and plant a kiss against her hair.

  “Night, Zo,” I say. “We’ll talk about how babies eat cheeseburgers another time.”

  Zoey starts cackling so hard she collapses against the couch.

  “Okay, somebody’s got a case of the sillies, and it’s kicking in bad.” Morris stands up and picks up the little girl in a firefighter move. “Train to Zoey’s bedroom departs now.”

  He stomps away loudly, carrying Zoey up the stairs. Alice blows me a kiss and follows Morris back upstairs.

  I’m alone for a few minutes sipping my beer. I can hear their voices carrying through the house. Morris’s voice, low and serious, as he says whatever he’s saying about Mr. Pig and Mr. Bear.

  Alice’s softer voice is light. She’s laughing at Zoey’s slaphappy giggles.

  The entire scene is so normal.

  So happy.

  This is a real family.

  Morris stomps down the stairs as my phone rings. An unknown number comes up on the caller ID, so I send it to voice mail and silence the ringer.

  “So,” Morris says, sitting back on the couch. “How are you, kid?”

  I nod at him. “I’m all right.”

  “Tiny treating you okay?”

  I shrug. “Does Tiny ever treat me okay?”

  Morris nods. “He’s tougher on you than he needs to be. But you live with his daughter. He’s got to make sure he’s doing right by his club and his kid.”

  “Doing right by his kid? Why? Does everybody think Lia and I are fucking?” I dart a glance at the stairs, hoping Zoey didn’t hear me say that.

  Morris doesn’t respond, only takes a sip of his beer and gives me a look.

  I sag back against the couch. “Come on. We’re roommates.”

  Morris nods. “That you are.” He’s doing everything in his power to say as little as possible.

  “This thing with Tim,” I say, pivoting. I haven’t told Morris about the latest shit Tim pulled.

  It’s embarrassing, degrading even. But it’ll sure draw the conversation away from Lia and me.

  “Something new? Something else? You heard from that piece of shit?” Morris asks. “If he’s coming sniffing around the building…”

  I shake my head. “It’s not that. It’s the house this time.”

  Morris’s expression darkens. “What about the house?”

  I explain a little about what’s going on. Arrow coming to see me. The house being put up as collateral against Tim’s bail.

  “Goddamn.” Morris looks stunned. “We’ve got options.” He immediately leans forward and starts making plans. “Tomorrow, we go to Fingers, the club attorney. You got the papers? Let’s start by making sure this whole thing is legit. You know this Josh from way back? You trust him?”

  I shrug. “He’s a high school buddy of Tim’s. I don’t have any reason not to believe what he told me.”

  Morris sniffs hard and grabs his phone. “Fuck, kid, if it weren’t after ten, I’d call him now.”

  “No, Morris, that’s not why I’m here.”

  He looks a little guarded. “What? You want money?”

  “No, no, fuck no.” I shake my head and hold up my hands. “I wouldn’t take your money even if you offered it. I really wanted to…”

  I don’t know what I wanted.

  Lia’s out on a date with Josh.

  My family is gone—all gone.

  “You did the right thing coming here.” Morris stands up and starts pacing. “I wish you’d come to me, what—when did this happen?”

  I chuckle. “It’s been like a day. It’s not like I’ve been hiding this.”

  “No, son,” he says, the word sounding so easy and right coming from him. Not paternal and patronizing, but kind. “But you’ve been carrying this. Alone. And that’s not right.”

  He clenches his fists and flexes his massive biceps. Where Tiny is huge and round, Morris is muscle. “I wish I got my hands on this brother of yours a year ago.”

  “Me too,” I say. “Me too.”

  “Know how to find him?” Morris presses. “It’s the easiest way. You find this fuckup. Blood or not, he’s fucking you solidly up the ass. You find him, and you turn his junkie dick in too.”

  “Wish I could,” I said. “Wouldn’t hesitate to send his ass away, especially if it means keeping the house.”

  I think about telling Morris my plan. “I’ve been thinking about just…going.”

  “Going where? Where the fuck you want to go?” Morris looks confused.

  I shrug. “Anywhere the road takes me. Just ride a while?”

  Morris’s scoff nearly sears the hair on my ears. “You serious? You’re going to hit the road?” He paces the living room harder, and I’m wondering how he’s not getting rug burns in his bare feet. “That’s fucking bullshit, man, and you know it. You have a business, you’ve got a house. You’ve got a family here, Leo. What would Zoey think if her uncle Leo up and left? Ran off?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t have to answer any more questions about gestation.”

  Morris nods. “You and I both want that, but not that way. Listen.” He comes around the couch and sits across from me, crossing his legs and dropping his heels onto the coffee table. “I know things have been dicey for you this last year. I get that. I was your age once, and I didn’t think too much farther than the handlebars on my bike. I wanted to fuck three different women in one weekend, I did it. Bar fights, make money, lose money… You name it, I did it. And that shit was right for me. But look at all the years I spent drinking too much. Throwing away precious years I could have had someone like Alice, someone like Zoey in my life.”