Sarah

“Have you ever looked for your parents?”

Bosco seems surprised by my question, but he contemplates his answer, his head tipping to the side as he thinks. Finally, he shakes his head. “I thought about it at first, when I got out of juvie. A couple of nights on the streets cured me of that, though.” His eyes harden at the memory. “I hated them for a while, for abandoning me when my brother died like I didn’t even exist. And then for disowning me completely when I was locked up.”

Wrapped up in the blankets, my head on the pillow beside him, I trace my fingers along his chest. He’s been through more than anyone I know, and I’m amazed that his words are so matter of fact, void of the bitterness I know I would feel in his place.

“One of the steps in getting clean is forgiveness,” he continues. “That one was fucking hard for me. I had to forgive myself first, for fucking up my life the way I did. I had to forgive Spencer for dying and leaving me on my own. The hardest ones to forgive, though, were my parents, but I did. It took me a long fucking time, but I came to realize that parents aren’t immune to having problems, that they fuck up sometimes. Mine fucked up big time. I forgive them for that, but I don’t need that kind of shit messing with the life I’ve built for myself.” He turns his head, his soft eyes gazing into mine. “So the answer to your question is no. I’ve never looked for my parents, and I don’t ever want to.”

Silence fills the space between us, and I think about my own parents. They’d loved me in their own way, but their expectations of me had been unachievable. “Maybe that’s what I need to do.”

Bosco frowns, not understanding. “What’s that?”

“Forgive them—my parents. I’m still so angry at them for kicking me out the way they did.” A tear slides down my cheek and I turn slightly, dabbing it on the pillow, hoping he doesn’t notice. “Even when Mouse died, I tried to see them, but by then, I was noticeably pregnant and they hadn’t wanted to hear a word I had to say.”

“Your parents are dicks, babe. You don’t need that shit in your life.”

I nod. “I know. But if I forgive them, maybe I can get past being angry with them.”

He considers this. “Sounds about right.”

“So how do I do that exactly? Forgive them, I mean?”

Bosco turns to look at the ceiling and exhales a heavy breath through his nose. “I guess you just accept your parents are human and that they don’t know everything. They’re just as flawed as everyone else on the planet. You give yourself permission to not be what they expect of you, and then you let it go.”

That right there is the part I don’t understand. “How?”

Bosco flips over onto his side and faces me. “If Millie decided she wanted a glass of milk and went to get it herself, she’d likely spill that shit all over the floor. Would you be angry?”

I blink. “No. I’d be annoyed, yes, but not angry.”

“Why?”

I wrinkle my nose. “’Cause she doesn’t know any better.”

“Exactly.” He says it like he’s just explained the answer to world peace, but I’m still not following.

“Huh?”

“You wouldn’t be angry because Millie’s just doing what she knows how to do. It’s the same with your parents, they’re doing what they know, what they think is right. In a way, they don’t know any better. They’re going based on beliefs they were taught and believe in. Does that make them right? No. But you don’t have to base your personal truth on their uninformed beliefs.”

I raise a single brow at him. “Ya lost me.”

Bosco’s chuckle shakes the whole bed. “Just accept they’re human and you don’t need that particular brand of human in your life or Millie’s. Problem solved.”

I smile. “That I can do.”

Bosco grins and pushes himself forward, his face nuzzling into my neck. His whiskers scrape against my skin as his hand searches out my breast.

“Again?” I ask, my body still pleasantly numb from making love just before our little chat.

“You tired, baby?”

I nod my head and pout. “I don’t know if I can move.”

His face pops up, his smile turning wicked. “I bet I can make you move plenty.”

Squealing with laughter, I squirm as he yanks the blanket over his head and trails his lips down my torso. His skilled tongue hits my clit, and all teasing flies out the window as my laughter turns to moans and my hips sway as I ride my man’s face until he sends me soaring over the edge of oblivion.

Bosco

“I love it,” Sarah says, her gaze traveling along the peaked ceiling in the kitchen. “But can we really afford it?”

The house sits in a quiet subdivision on the outskirts of the city. The fenced in yard is spacious and already equipped with an in-ground pool. It has four bedrooms, two baths, and an eat-in kitchen. It’s perfect.

I place my hands on her shoulders and grin as I hear Millie running from room to room upstairs, her excitement at the size of the house painfully obvious. “The club is doing well. We’re raking in cash from all the businesses. I just accepted that job with Jase at the garage as his apprentice. You’ve been doing well working for Pimp, and in just a couple of years, you’ll be finished with your graphic design program and can start doing some freelance work.” Her eyes remain unsure as she glances around the kitchen once more. “This place is perfect for us, baby. Can’t you see us living here?”

A slow smile creeps across her face, and the moment her shoulders drop in defeat, I know I have her. “Yes. It’s amazing.”

Sarah and I have been talking about moving in together for a couple of months now, but the idea of moving into a home meant for herself and Mouse made me uncomfortable. I’m not jealous of that history with him in any way, but living in his shadow isn’t the way I want to live my life.

We need a fresh start. A bigger home that one day we can hopefully fill with happy little brown-haired children like their big sister. A place we choose together with the intentions of taking our relationship to the next level.

As Sarah goes upstairs to look around some more, I step outside to talk to the realtor, letting her know we’re ready to put in an offer. Getting out of Sarah’s rent-to-own arrangement will take some finessing, but I’m confident her landlord will see the right side of his decision to let her out of the contract. I’m also confident Mrs. Munns won’t have any issues finding a replacement for my room. Maybe this time, she’ll get someone that’s around more and can keep her company.

The realtor locks up the house and promises to forward me the documents to sign before the end of the day. As we pull away from the curb, I watch the house get smaller in the rearview mirror. My gaze falls on Millie, who’s hair is just starting to grow back after yet another heavy-duty round of chemo.

Her cheeks are round and puffy from the medication, but the flush of happiness on them is unmistakable. She loves the house as much as her mother and I do. When her eyes meet mine through the mirror, her face splits into a grin.

I have so much love for this little girl. I couldn’t love her any more if she were my own. I glance over at Sarah, who’s nose is pressed against the window, ogling the giant houses as we pass. This will be good for her too.

Sarah’s never had anyone to share the load of adulthood with. She’s been mother and father and breadwinner for her tiny family all on her own. When Millie got sick, she carried that burden herself as well.

It’s taken some time for her to get used to sharing that stuff with me. There are times I still have to remind her she doesn’t have to do it all herself anymore, that I’m here to help her through.

Yes, this house is going to be a fresh start for all of us. A place for Millie to heal and grow. A place for Sarah to decorate how she wants it, entertain her friends and be at peace. And lastly, a place for me to finally have the family I’ve craved for so long.