Life Changer (Chicago First Responders Book 2) Read online

  He actually does a fist pump at that. “Awesome.”

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I shake my head at him.

  Connor comes over and nods at me. A silent conversation passes between us before he cups Jake’s shoulder. “Don, Rhodes, and I, along with your grandmothers, decided to band together and get you something to show you just how proud we are of the man you’ve become and the man we know you’ll continue to be. So close your eyes and give me your hand . . .”

  Jake closes his eyes, and I don’t miss his breath catching as Lily’s dad drops something into his outstretched palm. Slowly, he opens his eyes, his mouth dropping wide at the blue Ford key ring with the car key attached for the 2005 Red Ford Ranger XLT truck we bought for him.

  “No way,” he rasps, his voice thick with wonder. He jerks his gaze to me first, then his grandfathers before he looks to the parking lot where Connor left it after arriving ‘late’ for Jake’s appointment.

  “No fucking way! Yes!” He hugs Don and then Connor, then turns to me and shakes his head in disbelief. “You said I’d have to save up five grand for you to match my savings. You totally lied,’ he says with a laugh before tackle-hugging me then near on running toward his new truck.

  Dad comes up beside me and hooks an arm around my shoulders. “You did good, son.”

  “Thanks,” I say gruffly. It’s hitting me that this is another step toward Jake growing up and getting closer to being an adult.

  “Proud of you. And I know if Lils was here, she’d be crying buckets already,” Dad adds.

  I snort, because he’s not wrong. “She’d have also insisted we install GPS to track him in it.”

  “You mean you haven’t?” Connor chuckles.

  “First thing I did. I’m not an idiot. He’s a good kid, but I was a sixteen-year-old boy with a car too.”

  “Yep. Know that, ’cause it was around that time Lily started talking about the cute football player at school with the cool old mustang.”

  Don soon joins us laughing. “That car. I swear it was off the road more times than it was on.”

  “At least we got him something reliable.”

  “He’s a credit to you, Rhodes.”

  I look between my two dads, the men who’ve always had my back before, with, and after Lily. Not once did I ever feel alone, and in the hard times—moments like this when there’s a milestone in my son’s life that Lily and I always wondered about—I’ve known Lily is right here with us, cheering him on, blowing her own party whistle, and beaming from ear to ear with tears streaming down her face, because that’s just the kind of woman she was.

  And ironically, she’d also be the kind of woman who’d be texting me to see if he’d passed yet and promising his favorite meals on demand for a month when he did.

  I pull out my phone and bring up my text string with Dee, smiling as I type out a message for her and counting down the hours until I can see her again.

  Rhodes: I can’t work out whether my son liked the lava cake boon or his new truck more, but I do know that his dad likes you a hell of a lot and is looking forward to crawling into my bed to find you in it in the morning. Get some sleep, sweet cheeks, because I’m in the mood to show you my appreciation.

  Not even thirty seconds later, I receive her reply.

  Dee: See what I mean, honey? You’re perfect.

  Rhodes: If you think I’m perfect, then that must mean you’re perfect for me.

  Dee: Stop being swoony when I’m not there to jump you.

  That makes me smile.

  “Now that’s a good look on you, son. Wanna tell me what has you smiling like a loon?” Connor asks from beside me.

  I slide my phone into my back pocket and glance between my father-in-law and my dad, who’s also now watching me closely with a curious expression on his face.

  “The woman who put this smile on my face is called Dee.”

  Connor’s slow-growing grin hits me right in the middle of my chest. He cups my shoulder and gives me a squeeze. “Well, I hope to meet her at your birthday party in a few weeks then.” In other words, bring her along.

  “What birthday party is that?” I ask, playing dumb, because I’d already overhead Jake on the phone with Dad double-checking my shift schedule.

  To his credit, Connor doesn’t even try and cover his slip of the tongue. “You know your mother wasn’t going to let you turn forty without a celebration. But I’m serious, Rhodes, bring Dee. I haven’t seen you smile like that in years, which means she’s special, and if she’s special to you, we want to welcome her into the family.”

  I find nothing but absolute sincerity in his gaze. Lily’s parents are the gift that keep giving, even six years later. “Okay. I’ll bring her.”

  “Good. But let’s not tell the moms,” Dad adds with a wicked grin. “Maybe the surprise can be on them this year, instead. If anything, it’ll give Connor and I some entertainment besides Scotty trying to be funny.”

  Laughing, we walk over to join the guys and Jake who are all still surrounding his new truck

  Chapter 16

  Dee

  It’s been situation-normal for the last few weeks. I film, edit, and upload two videos a week. I work at the restaurant during school hours, deferring to my restaurant manager and head chef the rest of the time, and for just one night a week, I run the kitchen like I used to. I find this keeps my finger on the pulse with my staff and also helps with morale and camaraderie, as well as giving them the opportunity to show their boss—me—how good they really are.

  The afternoons and nights are spent with Harvey and Flynn when he’s home. There has also been a lot of adult alone time with Rhodes, but as far as actual sleepovers go, we give ourselves one weekend night a week. Harvey knows where I am and that I’ll be back after his time with his dad. Otherwise it’s been stolen moments during the day or going over for a few hours after Harvey has gone to bed for the night. Once, Rhodes and I planned to go see a movie, but somehow got waylaid and ended up eating polish sausage sandwiches from Jim’s Original on the side of the road, then making out like teenagers in the front seat of his car.

  Life is good, and the more time that passes, the deeper I fall for the guy and Jake and the promise of what a future with our combined families could look like—the more I want to dive in headfirst and get on with it already. I’ve never been surer about my feelings before, which doesn’t say a lot for my first marriage. A lot of it has to do with the stage of my life I was in when Flynn and I first met and how well I know myself and what I want now that I’m closer to forty than thirty.

  There’s a lot to be said for maturity when dating after a divorce—albeit an amicable and mutual one. You know what you don’t want, and what your must haves and must not haves are. You also know that when you find a rare diamond with a heart of gold, who is thoughtful, kind, sexy, charming, a great dad, and an incredible man, lover, and friend—you hold on tight. And as a divorced thirty-seven-year-old woman, I knew I might find another partner to spend time with, I just never anticipated I’d meet a man quite like Rhodes.

  Now it’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’m snuggling on the couch with Harvey as he reads me a book about ocean animals that his Aunty Faith gave him while I wait for Rhodes to pick me up.

  Skye and Cohen had a beautiful baby boy a few weeks ago, and remembering what it was like to have a newborn, Rhodes and I decided we’d wait until they’d settled in at home and at least got into some sort of routine before visiting. Rhodes worked yesterday, so after sleeping this morning, we’re on our way to meet the baby.

  My phone vibrates against the coffee table with a text message.

  I pick it up, expecting it to be Rhodes. Instead, it’s Skye texting in our girls group chat. Recently, it’s become a bit of a parenting forum with all of us moms—except Renee, who isn’t there yet—giving Faith advice about teething babies who never sleep and Skye about everything new-mom related.

  Skye: I never thought I’d ever send a text like this but
, Dee, can you PLEASE bring some cabbage with you and maybe a mouth guard for my vampire baby?

  Dee: Cabbage, check. I’m guessing those milk makers are working overtime. And mouth guard, that’s probably frowned upon until at least six months . . .

  Skye: What about numbing cream then? Is that a thing? Like maybe the stuff that is supposed to prolong orgasm. Would that work?

  Dee: On your nipples? Um . . . NO.

  Faith: God I don’t envy you. Those first six weeks of nursing were SO much fun. I swear my nips are permanently deformed after my two milk demons

  Dee: It’s also probably frowned upon to call your children demons.

  Gilly: Oh no, demons definitely works.

  Renee: Just saying, you ladies are TOTALLY making motherhood sound fantastic.

  Skye: It’s all good until you squirt your husband in the eye and almost blind him.

  Gilly: Hey, some men like that. Breast milk, I mean. Or being squirted on. Wait . . .that doesn’t sound right.

  Faith: Eww. That’s our brother you’re talking about.

  Dee: We’re close, but not THAT close. Haha.

  Gilly: Skye, lanolin cream and nipple shields. Maybe Dee can get you some on the way over.

  Dee: Now THAT I can do. Any other requests?

  Skye: My brain back? This morning I put the laundry in the dishwasher and poured my freshly brewed decaf down the sink before I’d even had a sip. Then I cried about it.

  Faith: I shouldn’t laugh, but that’s funny.

  Skye: Cohen laughed too until I threatened a home vasectomy and suddenly he was my perfect husband again.

  Dee: If it helps, it does get better.

  Skye: I hear you make a pretty mean lava cake. That would make me feel better.

  I laugh, earning a puzzled look from Harvey.

  Dee: I’ll see what I can do. See you soon.

  Gilly: If you’re delivering desserts, your favorite sister-in-law is also a fan.

  Dee: You’re my only sister-in-law

  Gilly: Therefore I’m your favorite.

  Faith: Sisters rank higher, and I have a three-year-old who loves to see her Aunty Dee.

  Dee: Let’s see if I can sweet-talk Rhodes into making a few pit stops.

  Skye: Do what you have to do, Dee. Take one from Rhodes for the team.

  Faith: Not sure Dee sees that as a hardship.

  Renee: Rhodes does seem to be very ‘happy’ these days.

  Dee: Not talking about it with my kid next to me.

  Gilly: It’s okay. We’ll wait till Rhodes’s birthday party to get the details.

  Wait . . . what?

  Dee: Please tell me I’ve missed a memo somewhere. Rhodes is having a birthday party? How do I not know this?

  Renee: Oh shit.

  Gilly: I’m sure he’ll tell you.

  Faith: It’s supposed to be a surprise. Maybe he doesn’t know about it?

  Renee: He knows. His father-in-law let it slip a few weeks back.

  A few weeks? Father-in-law? Then it clicks. Lily’s dad. Lily’s parents will be there. Maybe that’s why. I mean, I get it. I can’t imagine inviting Rhodes to an event with Flynn’s parents. Although, I also can’t imagine not at least mentioning it.

  “Mom? You just went stiff.” Harvey sits upright and looks at me.

  I school my confused frown and smile at my son. “I was surprised, that’s all.”

  “Ooh. I like surprises. Well, except if they’re for me. Then I wanna know what it is.”

  “I know that ’cause you always try to peek at Christmas presents, don’t you?” I lean and tickle him, laughing as his squeals fill the air.

  “Now, Mom has to call the restaurant and put in a few dessert orders for Aunty Faith and Gilly. Do you wanna run to your room and make sure you have everything packed for when Rhodes and I drop you off at Nana and Pop’s place?”

  “Yep.” He jumps to his feet and kisses me before running away.

  I turn back to my phone.

  Renee: Dee, I know he’ll invite you. That man is in so deep I doubt he’ll ever wanna come up for air.

  Gilly: Seriously, Dee.

  Dee: I didn’t even know it was his birthday soon.

  Skye: Probably ’cause you don’t show each other your birthday certificates before jumping into bed.

  Dee: I should’ve known though. What kind of girlfriend doesn’t know when her man’s birthday is . . . and it’s FORTY. That’s a big one.

  Faith: Ask him when you see him. He probably had a man moment and assumed you’d be there anyway.

  Okay. That I can do. Honesty policy rules apply. Just ask, communicate, clear up any confusion, and then go from there. Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

  Skye: And if he makes you sad, tell him he gets no more cooking—or cookie—from you.

  Skye: Sorry. Ignore me. I’m hormonal, horny, and helplessly leaking breast milk everywhere. I’m a hot mess of a dairy farm.

  Faith: Oh my god, Skye. Now all I can imagine is you turning into a fembot and squirting milk out of your norks like a lethal weapon.

  Gilly: Thanks for that visual, now Ez is looking at me strangely.

  Dee: Tell him to be nice to his wife, otherwise Faith and I will beat him up like we used to do. Okay, ladies. Thanks for the entertainment. See you soon, Skye.

  Skye: Don’t forget the cake!

  “Those two are naturals,” Rhodes says as we pull out of Cohen and Skye’s street after a short visit. By the time we’d run all our errands and got there, baby Austin had just woken up.

  “Yeah. I remember being freaked the fuck out when I first brought Harvey home. And Flynn was starting his internship, so he knew stuff but not the stuff you need to know.”

  Rhodes laughs. “Yep. The hands-on stuff you can never learn beforehand, because babies don’t come with instruction manuals.”

  In the comfortable silence that falls between us, I contemplate whether I’d actually want to go through the newborn stage again. There comes a point where you pass the constant dependency age and it seems like there’s a sliver of light at the end of the parenting tunnel.

  Rhodes reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re thinking really hard about something over there. Wanna share with the class?”

  I turn my body toward his as much as my seat belt will allow and study him. “Would you ever want more kids?” I blurt out. Rhodes’s head jerks, his eyes widening.

  “Shit. That’s the last thing I expected to come out of your mouth.”

  Grinning at him, I shrug. “Well, I guess seeing our friends starting their families, and remembering what it was like when we were younger and going through it all with our own kids, it makes you wonder.”

  “Okay. That makes sense.”

  “And I like this thing we’re building.”

  His lips curve up, his fingers flexing against mine. “We’re already built, sweet cheeks. Now we’re driving those foundations deep so nothing can shake us.”

  I squeeze his hand too tight at his words that he grunts.

  “You like that.”

  “I like you.”

  “Thank fuck for that, otherwise I would have to stalk you,” he says, making us both laugh. “But to answer your other question, if this thing with us continues the way it’s going and you had your heart set on having another baby—and you wanted to have that baby with me—”

  “Um . . . I’m not thinking about practicing making babies with anyone else, honey,” I say in a ‘duh’ voice.

  “Good,” he growls, his voice gruff and rumbly and all kinds of sexy. “What I mean is, if you wanted to have that baby with me, then I couldn’t think of anything more beautiful than creating a life with you. We make damn cool kids by ourselves. Combine our DNA and we’d have a genius.”

  “You didn’t say you wanted another one, though.”

  “Because I have Jake, and you’ve given me Harvey, and together, I think those two will keep us on our toes for a while. I think we have two amazing kids between us,
and that’s enough for me.”

  “I like that.”

  “You do?” he asks, tilting his head and glancing sideways at me while keeping his eyes on the road.

  “You sound surprised. I’m a thirty-seven-year-old single mom with a kid and a restaurant that I may not run day-to-day, but I am still the face of the business and have to do all the important stuff behind the scenes. And I also have this sexy boyfriend who works hard, and when he has time off, I enjoy being with him. So none of that is conducive to starting all over again and having a baby.”

  “Really?” He actually sounds surprised.

  I reach over and rest my hand on his head. “Yes, really. Especially that last part.”

  “I did like that bit.”

  My lips twitch. “Oh you did, did you?”

  “Yep. and the bit about spending time with me.”

  I scrunch my nose up, and he growls when he catches me doing it. “Don’t do that when I can’t kiss that look off your face.”

  I twist my mouth to the side. “What look is that?”

  “A look that has me grateful we’re almost home. At least then I can bury myself inside you when you’re turning me on.”

  I remember that there’s still something I haven’t asked about, and I must wear my nervousness on my face.

  Rhodes turns to me, his brows bunched together in a frown. “Okay. Now that’s a look I don’t like.”

  “Before we get home and get distracted by each other, can I ask you something under the terms of our honesty policy?”

  “You can ask me anything at any time, Dee. If it’s mine to tell, then it’s mine to give you.”

  “Stop being swoony,” I mutter, making him chuckle and his lips quirk.

  “Nope.” His eyes turn soft and gentle. “What do you wanna know?”

  “Gilly let slip that you have a birthday party coming up . . .”

  “Fuck,” he splutters before he slows the car down and pulls over outside a random house about ten minutes from his place. He turns off the engine and faces me. “I’m so fucking sorry. I had every intention to invite you, but then life got in the way and I forgot. The entire party slipped my mind, because I’m not exactly jumping for joy at hitting the big four-oh. That’s no excuse, I know, but I truly meant ”