“Why’s that?”
“Because they’re gonna miss Chasin throwing a tantrum.”
“That’s not nice,” I mumbled and glanced back at a red-faced Chasin.
“It might not be nice but it’s gonna be hilarious.”
“You say that, but how mad would you be if you found out I told Kennedy I was pregnant before I told you?”
Just as I expected, Holden went solid and his hand went to my chin and forced me to look up at him.
“Did you tell Kennedy you’re…are you?”
I shrugged and smiled. “No. I didn’t tell her. But I am three weeks late, so I asked her to pick me up a test.”
All the color bleached from my man’s face and his beautiful brown eyes went lazy.
“Have you taken it?” he whispered.
“Nope. I thought we’d wait until everyone was gone.”
“Party’s over!” Holden shouted. “Everyone out.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I smacked him on the chest and glanced around the room at our startled friends.
Our friends.
Mine and his.
And Faith’s.
Friends that were more than friends—they were family.
Blessed.
“Dad, why’s the party over when we haven’t had pizza yet?” Faith asked, holding a squirming ball of fur that was licking her face and mouth.
“Daisy, stop. Faith, don’t let her lick your mouth, that’s gross. And the party’s not over, your Dad’s being silly.”
“No, I’m not. I want—”
“To enjoy a house full of friends and thank them all for helping us move in because we appreciate all their hard work.”
“Yeah,” Holden muttered. “What she said.”
“I’m unclear how you got him as far as you did,” Silver said. “I’ve been trying to get Weston to behave for-freaking-ever and I still can’t get him to—”
“That’s because you like it when I misbehave.”
“See? Little ears, Weston.”
“Sorry.” He smiled, not looking sorry at all.
“Hello? Anyone care that my woman told her best friend we’re having a baby before she told me?” Chasin griped.
“No,” McKenna tossed out and went to Evie to pull her into a hug. “Congratulations.”
“What’d we miss?” Nixon asked, coming into the house. “Pizza’s here, cool.”
“Chasin and Evie are having a kid,” Jameson informed the newcomers. “And Chasin’s salty because Bobby knew first.”
“Right, like that’s a surprise, those two are surgically attached,” Alec added.
“Let’s eat!” Macy shouted. “Paper plates are on the counter.”
The gang shuffled into the kitchen and helped themselves to the food, but Holden and I remained where we were.
“Dad, tomorrow can we put together my new bike?”
“Yep. And we’ll start your first lesson.”
“Awe-some!”
Daisy barked her agreement then licked Faith’s face and I groaned.
“Gonna have to get over that, Leigh-Leigh.”
“It’s gross.”
Holden’s smile died and he stared at me with a look I knew well. It was full of love and gratitude. It was hopeful and happy.
“Welcome home, Holden.”
“Welcome home, Leigh-Leigh.”
Much later that night…
Holden carefully rolled away from Charleigh and on silent feet made his way into the master bathroom.
The house was sweet, the women in the house, sweeter.
He picked up the pregnancy test he’d insisted Charleigh keep and looked down at the white plastic stick in his hand.
Pregnant.
He let the warmth wash over him, savoring it, then he smiled and set it back on the counter.
Holden made his way back to the bed, slid in, and pulled Leigh-Leigh close.
“Still positive?” she whispered sleepily.
“Yep.”
“That’s the third time you’ve checked.”
“Yep.”
“You think you’re done checkin’ for the night?”
“Nope.”
His pregnant woman giggled in his arms and Holden thought he had it all.
“Dream come true,” he told her.
“Yeah.”
Charleigh was awake the fourth time Holden went to check the test. She didn’t make a peep when he crawled back in next to her but she did smile.
Dream come true.
37
Jonny
The 911 call came in when Jonny was leaving the hospital. Jameson and Kennedy’s little boy, Noah, couldn’t wait until his due date to make his appearance. Four weeks early, but perfect.
Thank fuck.
Everyone had been at the hospital for hours waiting to see what the doctor was going to do, then waiting on news about Noah, therefore no one was paying attention to what was going on with Ayla Purdy.
Not even him.
Once again, he’d fucked up and dropped the ball.
While his ass was sitting in a hospital waiting room, Ayla had done the one thing they’d all prayed she wouldn’t do. She’d reached out to her baby’s father. The results of that phone call were disastrous.
By the time Jonny had made it to the scene, Cory Saddler was in cuffs. But it was Ayla’s bruised face and bloody lip Jonny couldn’t get out of his mind.
For forty-five days, Jonny had followed Cory when he wasn’t on shift. He’d been studious in making sure he kept tabs on the man’s whereabouts, and when the opportunity arose, Jonny had pushed an alcohol citation as far as he could to get Sydney Powell clear of danger. Sure, her parents were pissed and threatened to make a complaint but Jonny didn’t give the first fuck if they took his badge as long as Sydney didn’t fall victim to Saddler.
But Ayla had been keeping her head down, doing what her parents had asked, and not telling anyone she was pregnant.
Until she didn’t listen and she contacted that sick fuck, who fed her a bunch of bullshit about loving her and wanting their baby. So when he asked to meet her, she’d snuck out and gone to him.
Then he attempted to beat her until…
No.
Fuck. No.
Jonny shook his head to knock the thought clean away.
He picked up his half-full glass of vodka and took a healthy swig. It would take more than a few glasses to wipe his mind clear of the compounding guilt.
He heard a car door slam but he didn’t bother to move from his back deck. His eyes remained unfocused into the darkness.
The wicker love seat groaned under the weight of a second occupant.
Still, he didn’t look.
He didn’t need to.
And when her head hit his shoulder and the faint smell of peaches filled his nostrils he greedily took