I look to Faye, who smiles but shakes her head as if to say, That is never fuckin’ happening.
“I think you have to ask your mom about that,” I say, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Don’t tell your father, but she’s the boss.”
“I already know that,” she whispers back conspiratorially. “Daddy gives Mama whatever she wants.”
She pulls back and grins at me, and I do the same.
“Where have you been, Uncle Vinnie?” she asks me, pouting. “Mama told me in the car that you have a new girlfriend.”
“Mama’s been gossiping with you, has she?”
“It’s not gossip when it’s a fact,” Clover says, making me unable to keep a straight face.
“You told her I have a woman?”
I look over Clover’s head at Faye, who just shrugs and says, “Well, you do.”
I kiss Clover’s cheek and put her back down. “Shay is outside talking with Bailey and Tina. Do you want to go and meet her?”
“Okay,” she replies, bouncing on her feet and looking to Faye. “I’m going outside to find Uncle Vinnie’s girlfriend and say hi. I’ve never met one of Vinnie’s girlfriends before. I was starting to think that maybe he wants to be alone forever, but that’s okay too, isn’t it, Mama? My friend told me that sometimes people live alone and just get lots of pets. I was going to get you a goldfish for Christmas, Uncle Vinnie. I wanted to get you a cat, but I don’t think you’d like a cat. A goldfish is perfect though, because even I could feed it for you. Then every year I could just keep getting you more and more. I think we should name the first one Nemo. What do you think?”
When I stay silent and just look at the little girl with a larger-than-life personality, she keeps talking, just like her mother, never knowing when to be quiet. “No? Maybe a puppy then, but I’ll have to keep saving my allowance because I don’t think I can afford one right now.”
I look at Faye, who can’t control her laughter now. “You can definitely tell whose child she is.”
Faye manages to get herself under control, then says, “Why don’t you go and see Shay, honey?”
“Okay,” Clover replies. She runs out of the kitchen, forgetting to even take me with her.
“She’s getting so big,” I muse, watching the door she just disappeared through.
“I know.” Faye sighs, rubbing her stomach. “How are you doing, Vinnie? This whole thing is a lot to take on, don’t you think?”
I nod, but say, “My gut is telling me it’s the right thing to do.”
“It’s always something, isn’t it?” she says. She places a hand on my shoulder and, with the other, snatches an apple from a basket on the counter. “But we always survive. I like her, Vinnie. I think she’s perfect for you.”
“You like everyone,” I mutter, then add, “Except Allie.”
She winces and takes a bite out of the red apple. “Do you have to bring that up?”
Allie used to live here in the clubhouse and date Tracker. Faye didn’t get along with her—hell, neither did many of the women. When I first came here, I kind of had a crush on her though, and only Faye knows that. Allie died, which makes Faye uncomfortable now—she doesn’t like to speak ill of the dead.
“It’s one of the only things that makes you feel awkward,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “Otherwise you have an answer for everything.”
She chews and swallows, narrowing her eyes on me. “Guess what weapon I’m learning how to use right now?”
“What?” I ask, feeling amused. Faye moves from weapon to weapon faster than anyone I know. She may joke a lot, and be caring and sweet, but she isn’t a woman to fuck with. She has a core of steel that nothing can penetrate. She’s the perfect woman to be Sin’s old lady.
“Nunchakus,” she says, grinning widely.
I bark out a laugh and ask her, “Are you gonna beat someone up with nunchakus like a fuckin’ ninja?”
I wouldn’t put it past her, to be honest.
“Like a Ninja Turtle, at least,” she replies, shrugging. “I like to keep my options open. I feel all badass when I’m waving those things around. So cool.”
I shake my head at her, smile, and kiss her on the forehead. “Don’t change, Faye.”
“Never,” she replies, her voice gentling.
We both look each other in the eye, sharing a moment.