Initiative (Suncoast Society #31)(63)

“True,” Darryl said. “That thought crossed my mind, too.”

“How’s Kyle going to react?” Susie asked.

“Only one way to find out,” Grant said. He turned to Darryl. “We’ll get home and figure out what to do for dinner once you bring Kyle home. I’m assuming she wants him picked up as soon as possible?”

“Yeah. She said Greg’s home with him, but apparently he’s got ‘stuff to do.’”

Susie snorted. “Isn’t that convenient?”

“For her and Greg, maybe,” Grant said.

“More for her, probably,” Darryl said. “Man, this being a mature adult shit is f*cking hard. All I want to do is go chew her out.”

“Take a number and stand in line,” Grant said. “Trust me, Kyle will remember it later, when it counts, that you were the stable one.”

“I hope so,” Darryl said. “I hate like hell that his mother is like that.”

Once Darryl was in his car and on his way, Susie looked at Grant. “You’re really not mad?”

“No, sweetheart, I’m not mad. Now let’s get home. We won’t have much time.”





It didn’t take long, despite Grant’s assurances, for Susie to talk herself into thinking she was the world’s greatest idiot by the time she arrived at Grant’s.

“This is crazy,” Susie muttered. “Why the hell didn’t I just stand up to Marcus and tell him to go f*ck himself?”

“Because you were thinking fast on your feet,” Grant said, pulling her in for a kiss. “I’m damned proud of you, too. I couldn’t have handled this better. I told you that.”

“Yeah, but now you and Darryl can’t—”

Grant silenced her with a deep, passionate kiss. “Darryl and I get to spend the rest of our lives with you. That’s all I care about. The piece of paper is just that—a piece of paper. Ed told you he’s setting up a trust for all three of us so it protects us.”

He took her right wrist and held it up, stroking the charm bracelet. “You wear my collar. We’re going to have matching rings for us all. I could give a shit if it’s me or him actually marrying you.” He smiled. “It’s two against one, anyway. Like we’re ever letting you get away without a fight, baby.”

She rested her head on his chest. “I don’t want to get away, Sir. I love you both.”

“And we love you. That’s why all that matters is that.”

“But what about if Kyle moves in with us?”

“We’ll deal with that when it happens.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Nope. Because we’ll deal with whatever happens. Not to sound like a broken record, but again, all I care about is you two. Hell, even losing my job at this point takes a backseat to happiness. I can get a job somewhere else. With the three of us together, we can survive whatever gets thrown our way.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I promise I’ll do whatever I can never to leave you alone again.”

“Thank you, Sir.” She nuzzled noses with him. To think that just a few months earlier…

Hell, this felt like a brand new life. Nothing like the grey, dreary existence she’d eked out for herself, survival mode and nothing more, simply doing what she had to in order to keep the business running and growing.

This felt…

Alive.

They heard Darryl’s car pull up in the driveway.

Grant brushed one last kiss across her lips. “Okay. Here we go. You got this, darlin’. I promise you.”

She nodded.

They didn’t have much time. Kyle stormed through the front door and made a beeline toward Susie. The expression on his face was so dark that she actually took a couple of steps back.

“You lied to me!” he yelled.

Darryl had run through the door after him. “Whoa, calm down, buddy.”

“No, you all lied to me!” he screamed.

Now she spotted the boy’s tears.

Susie risked taking a step forward. “What’s going on?”

“Mom got a call that you and Dad are engaged,” he said. “That you’re getting married. You guys lied to me!”

“How did we lie to you?” Darryl asked.

“You never told me you guys were even dating!”

Now panic set in. Maybe this would be their easy out after all. “Honey,” Susie started. “I’m sorry, but you have to understand—”

“Grant and my dad love each other, okay? How can you do this to Grant? I thought Grant was your friend!”

The room fell silent. Now Susie had no f*cking clue what to do or say. She turned and stared at Grant.

That he also looked clueless didn’t bode well.

Grant finally let out a breath and walked over to the boy, putting his hands on Kyle’s shoulders. “Before anyone says anything else, you tell me what you think is going on.”

“I’m not stupid,” he said. “You and Dad are living together, okay? I didn’t say anything to Mom because I knew Dad would get in trouble and she’d cause bullshit for him at work.” He turned on Susie again. “How can you do this to Grant?”

“Okay,” Grant said. “Buddy, we need you to calm down and listen to us. How long have you known your dad and I were…together?”