by Royal Blue
“That’s bullshit.”
“He’s desperate.”
“Can we buy him out?” Angel asks thoughtfully.
“I’m not giving him a fucking dime, and neither is anyone else I know.”
Angel moves across the bedroom to me, wrapping his arms around my neck, his touch causing some of the tension to release. I’m still fuming inside.
“So what do you want to do? I didn’t like his ass from jump. I’m down for whatever,” he says.
“Javi has put out the word that no one is to touch the deal. So far no one has. However, the fight is getting closer, and Steve’s starting to make noise about the purse,” I explain. “He’s calling attention to himself in the press. Again, Javi is working to silence the stories, but this has to end.”
“I don’t want you to think about this. I’ll talk to Javi in the morning and deal with it. You focus on the fight.”
“Angel—”
“Nah, I know his type. I got this. Leave it to me. I’ll take care of it,” he says.
I purse my lips, but I don’t argue. My plan was to go beat the shit out of Steve, but that wouldn’t do me any good. When I give Angel a silent nod, he presses his lips to my forehead.
I pull him into a hug and hold him. I may need to feel like I’m the one always in control, having to be the one that handles things to keep us going. Still, it feels good to let go this once and have the man I love take care of things for me. I appreciate it more than he knows.
You’re not alone, Beau. Not anymore.
Chapter 36
Our Home
Beau
I have a lump in my throat the size of Texas. This is it. I get to give Angel and Billy a new home. On top of that, we’re going to tell Billy what’s going on. She gets to decide if she’ll have us, if this is the home she wants to call her own.
“I thought you guys lived at the gym,” Billy says as we step off the elevator on our floor.
I jingle the keys in my hand nervously as we move to the new entrance. I changed everything about this place. I moved the main entrance closer to the elevator to have central access. The entire floor is now our personal living space.
“We were just staying there while our place got a makeover,” Angel says.
“Oh, cool. So like you painted the place or something?”
“More like expanded and redesigned,” I say.
“I can’t wait until I’m big enough to have my own place and do stuff like that,” she says. “I’m going to have a huge room and a hoop in my living room.”
I grin as I push the key into the lock and turn it. My heart stops as I push the door open and allow first Billy, then Angel to walk in ahead of me. The audible gasp from them both starts my heart again.
I shuffle in quickly and close the door behind me. Angel pulls off his sneakers and puts them in the cubbies I had designed by the front door. Billy slips off her sparkling pink flats and places them in a hole as well.
I didn’t miss that she got dressed up for our breakfast. A pink blouse with ruffles and pressed black slacks. Her hair isn’t in that braided bun. Instead, it’s in two braids on either side of her head, hanging over her shoulders with pink ribbons at the ends.
I kick off my cowboy boots as the two wait expectantly for me. I am so caught up in their reactions, I almost forget to move. When I step forward, Billy places her small hands in ours, and I have to fight the tears that try to rush me.
This feels right.
“This place is… it’s beautiful,” she whispers.
“Beau… I don’t know what to say,” Angel chokes out.
“You’ve never been here before?” Billy asks as she looks up at Angel in confusion.
“Not since the renovations started,” he says. “This is… it’s totally different. Nuestro pedazo de cielo.”
“Our piece of heaven?” I interpret, hoping I got it right.
Angel looks at me, rising a questioning brow. I grin like a kid caught with his hand in a cookie jar. I can feel the blush on my cheeks.
“I’ve been brushing up on my Spanish,” I say and wink at him.
“You’re full of surprises today,” he says.
I lead them farther into the apartment. I don’t know what to show them first. I’m too nervous to start with Billy’s room, so I decide to show Angel one of the things I’ve done for him first.
“Your ceilings are so cool,” Billy says as she looks up at the frosted glass. It looks like artwork with the veining as if it’s made of marble.
“You haven’t seen a thing yet, darlin’,” I say and move to the digital panel on the wall.
I switch the settings, and again they both gasp. The once-frosted ceilings are now clear and see-through. The sunlight shining into our new little world.
“You can adjust it anyway you like. If it gets too bright or you want to shut out the rain or snow, we can shade it or frost it back,” I say, watching Angel’s face.
His Adam’s apple bobs several times. I gather that his emotions are too much for him to speak. He nods and looks around at the open floor plan of our home. The walls of windows wrap the apartment on one side, bringing in more natural lighting and views of the city around us.
“You have a hoop in the living room,” Billy says with excitement. “This place is amazing.”
I remembered her telling Angel that she played hoops with her dad in their home. I know we’ll never replace her dad, but I wanted to give her a piece of him to remember. However small it might be.
“Mama sent us blueberry muffins for breakfast. You guys want to sit and talk?” I say nervously.
“I’m eating anything Ms. Daphne made,” Billy says.
I shake my head after her as she goes and makes herself comfortable on one of the barstools at the kitchen island. I reach for Angel’s hand and squeeze it. We follow Billy, Angel taking a seat beside her while I get us orange juice to wash down our muffins.
I watch with a smile as Billy tears into her baked treat. Angel has a huge smile on his face as well. If all goes well, our new chef will start on Monday. I wanted to have someone who will be able to cook something for the three of us since I’m on a special diet that’s not ideal for a growing nine-year-old. Angel loves to cook, but he’s been busy while training me, and working.
“This is so good.” Billy hums.
“Mama makes the best muffins,” I say.
Billy places the muffin down and looks around the place. Her eyes go from sparkling with awe to something else. Disappointment… longing… hope.
“How many bedrooms do you have here?” she asks as she looks up at me.
“Three on this side of the apartment, four on the other,” I reply.
Hope blooms a bit more. She brushes her hands off in front of her, then places them in her lap. She turns to Angel and her shoulders sag. “Did you ever fix your head?” she murmurs to him.
“I got my life together as best I could. My head isn’t perfect, but it’s better,” he replies.
“Oh… that’s good, right?”
The hope in her voice could take on a physical presence, it’s so strong. I round the island to sit on the other side of her. She looks between us with a plea in her eyes.
“It’s very good, darlin’,” I tell her. “It’s actually why we want to bring you here. We wanted to see if you like our home. If maybe… it’s your decision. But we’d like for you to come live with us.”
Tears start to spill down her cheeks. I look at Angel, not knowing what to do. I didn’t expect to make her cry.
“Yes, please,” she says softly. “I’ve been praying you guys would come get me. You’re the family I want to want me. Yes, please.”
Angel and I wrap our arms around her, and she breaks down into sobs. My own tears wet my cheeks. Her little arm wraps around me and clings to my shirt.
“We were coming for you, darlin’. We just had to build you the right home,” I say over her sobs.
Slowly, Angel and I release her. I
brush a hand over one of her braids, and she smiles. I know we still have two months before it’s final, but I’ve never felt more complete in my life.
“How about we go take a look at your room?”
“I have a room?” she asks as she beams and sniffles.
“You sure do.”
Angel
She’s ours. Or at least she will be. Of all the ways I imagined this day going, I never imagined this reaction at all. When she broke down in tears, I thought my heart would fall out.
Now as we climb the gorgeous staircases with glass railings, Billy has a tight hold on each of our hands. There’s so much to absorb in this moment, I don’t know what to focus on. The cool concrete of the stairs beneath my feet brings a smile to my face.
Beau really listened to the things I told him I would love to have and mixed that with making a place perfect for us as family. I’m so full right now. From living on the streets off and on to having a family and this beautiful home. The place is so huge I don’t know if it’s possible for me to feel closed in.
The ceilings, though! Beau is the fucking man for that shit. God, I love him.
“Okay, Angel and I are down the hall,” Beau says. “This here is your room. Go on. Go in.”
Billy reluctantly releases our hands and reaches to turn the knob. She pushes into the room and freezes in place. When I step inside, I see why.
I turn and grab Beau by the front of his shirt, drawing him to me. I place my forehead to his, trying to say it all without the words I can’t get through my emotion-clogged throat. He cups me by the back of my head and nods his understanding.
“All of this is for me?”
I turn to see the look of disbelief on Billy’s face. Hell, I’m in awe myself. Beau couldn’t have captured a more perfect room.
“It’s all yours,” he replies because I still can’t say shit. I don’t know where to take in first. It’s a room fit for a princess all right, but not just any princess. This one is for Princess Billy.
From a huge window overlooking the city with a bench seat beneath it, pink and purple pillows make the space look inviting; bookshelves line either side of the window, stuffed with books; to a huge bed fit for a queen that anchors the center of the room, it’s draped in sheer fabrics and covered in beautiful matching bedding. It’s waiting to cradle the dreams of the most precious little girl in the world.
Then there’s the hangout spot. A seating area for Billy and her friends. A TV is mounted to the wall in front of an accent mat, two accent chairs, and a little couch. A built-in harbors every gaming system known to man. On one side of the TV is a mini basketball hoop; on the other is a dart board and mini cooler beneath.
Framed MMA posters line the walls, boasting Billy’s favorite fighters. Yet the frame that stands out most to me is the one over her desk. It’s a picture of the three of us from her birthday party last year. I hadn’t known Beau even owned such a picture.
Beau has Billy wrapped in a hug as she laughs with a pretty smile on her face. I’m standing with them, making a goofy face that I’m sure is the reason behind her laughter. We look like a family.
“When can I come home?” Billy asks, pulling me from taking in the room.
My chest fills to the point of bursting. She’s already calling it her home. Beau takes my hand and gives it a squeeze.
“It’s up to you. As soon as you like. We have the okay,” Beau says.
“We can go get my things? I’m ready to come home now. I… I just wanted to go home with you guys. I didn’t know you would do all of this for me. Es perfecto, gracias,” she says.
“You’re welcome,” Beau and I say in unison.
We look at each other and I know. Nothing can stop me from making this work. This was what I prayed for too—my heart’s desire as Beau put it—what seems like forever ago.
Chapter 37
Becoming Family
Beau
“This place is so cool,” Billy says as she munches on popcorn.
Angel and I decided to share our movie garden with Billy. It’s been two weeks, and we’ve been having family night every single night. Today we’re making a day of it.
Billy wanted to see the new Marvel movie that comes out next month, so I’m surprising her with an advanced copy. The surrounding trees are in full bloom, so we don’t have to worry about sharing this private viewing. The trees are also providing just the shading we need to view the movie against the blackened brick wall.
“It is,” Angel says. “I love this place.”
He gives me a look, his eyes twinkling. I still remember our first date here. I can’t believe how much has changed since then.
We all get our snacks arranged and make ourselves comfortable. It’s the perfect day for this. I inhale and relax to enjoy the day with my family.
“So what are we watching?” Billy asks as she shifts to settle in between us.
“You’ll see,” I say as I start the movie.
Billy nearly turns over her popcorn in excitement when the opening to the movie starts. I beam with pride. I’ll never get tired of making this little girl happy.
“I can’t wait to tell the kids at school I got to see this,” she gushes.
We didn’t pull Billy from her school even though we’re outside its jurisdiction. Andy was more than willing to allow us to keep her enrolled in the academy on the complex. Her teachers are saying that she’s excelling even more than usual, and she’s a much happier kid overall.
In just two weeks, I know that’s more than we could’ve asked for. Sure, there have been adjustments that Angel and I didn’t think of, but we’re working our way through them. Things like our 5:00 a.m. runs. We can’t leave a nine-year-old home alone while we go running.
I went alone the first few days. Then Emma started to come by in the mornings to take Billy to school. She offered to come earlier to allow Angel to run with me since it’s a part of my training. Emma is always up at the crack of dawn anyway.
Honestly, we’ve been making it over a lot of obstacles with the help of our family. Kyle and Andy keep Billy after school on days we both have to work. Mama plans to make Billy fat with cookies as she shows up on the weekends to spoil her.
“You guys are the best,” Billy says when the movie ends. “That was awesome.”
“It was pretty good,” I say. “What do you guys want to do next? We’re not due at Mama’s until seven.”
“Do you think Mas and his dads can play ball with us?” she asks hopefully.
“I think we can make that happen,” I say and wink at her.
“Cool. Maybe next time they can watch a movie with us,” she muses.
“Sounds good. We’ll ask them next time.”
Next time.
I’m still getting used to knowing there will be a next time. I fire off a text before we all start to clean up. Kyle replies, confirming that we can meet up for a game.
“Let’s go home and change. We have a game,” I say.
“Yes,” she whoops and pumps her fist.
Now making that smile there happen will never get old.
Angel
“That was a good game,” I say as we all walk into Daphne’s.
We all rode over together for dinner since everyone had plans to be here tonight. I grin down at Billy who’s dressed up in a pretty pink T-shirt and skirt to come over here. I’ll admit we’re failing in the hair department. She has so much, and after sweating it out in the game, it just turned into a puffy mass.
“Dear Lord, what have you done to my grandbaby?” Daphne says when she gets a look at Billy.
Billy giggles and brushes a lock of hair out of her face. Yeah, it’s bad. The tie I had put in it popped somewhere between the game and us getting ready to come here.
“Hey, Grandma.” Billy says the word grandma as if she cherishes it.
“Hey, sugar,” Mama says. “Let’s see if Grandma can help you at least see.”
Daphne takes her by the hand, and they disap
pear into the house. I head straight for the cookies. We all laugh as we seem to have the same idea as we stumble over each other. Kyle snatches up two, handing one to Mas.
“So how are things going? Other than you two failing at doing hair?” Kyle asks.
“It’s been great,” Beau says. “We’re adjusting. She’s independent and helpful, so she fits right in with us. We’re all simple and easy.”
“Yeah, that about sums it up. We’ve been having fun. I love seeing that smile on her face,” I say.
“And you guys, how are you doing as a couple?” Andy asks. “Parenting can be a strain on a relationship.”
I look at Beau and smile. I think having Billy around has increased our bond. I know I will forever love him for the apartment and how well he nailed everything for the both of us. Our bedroom is perfect. A wall of windows just like the living room and the best part is the unique design. It’s closed off, but with the frosted glass the ceiling is made of, if I ever need the place to feel open I have options.
“We’re doing great,” I say.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that,” Kyle says. He smiles at Beau. “Only seven weeks until the fight. You guys sure do have a full plate but you look happy. That’s what’s up.”
“Where’s Aunt Emma?” Mas asks while munching on his cookie. He’s reaching for another before he’s done with the first.
Just as the words hit the air, my brother and Emma enter the kitchen. Emma has a huge smile on her face, and Andres looks like he’s sitting on top of the world. Something is definitely up with the two.
“Where’s Mama?” Emma asks.
“Trying to do something with Billy’s hair. Beau broke her already,” I tease.
Kyle and Andy snicker. Beau tosses a napkin at me. I shrug and laugh.
“I can probably help. I had to learn how to do Aryanna’s hair on the weekends I have her,” Andres offers.
Emma grabs him by the hand and drags him off. I turn back toward the cookies. A few moments later, squeals come from the back of the house.