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“You take her on vacation, and by the time you return, the repairs on that house will be done,” Colt argued.
“She wants us to fix it up ourselves,” I told him. “It was why we even put in an offer on that house. She loves that place and has all these do-it-yourself projects planned. You need to think of something that doesn’t involve money.”
His eyes went blank, and I could tell he was clueless as to what that even meant.
“Okay, Unc,” Kingston spoke up, trying to help. “Let me try to simplify this for you. What’s River’s favorite movie?”
He frowned, his brain working on overdrive as he tried to find the answer. “I got nothin’.”
“Her favorite color?”
“Blue.” He was quick to answer this time.
“You only know that because I told you at her party,” Dad said with another glare. “And her favorite movie is The Princess Bride.”
“How the fuck do you know all that about my kid?” he demanded angrily.
“She spent more time at my house as a kid than at yours,” the enforcer said with a shrug.
“And when she wasn’t at Spider’s, she was at mine,” Uncle Raider added. “I lost count of the times River made Kingston watch that princess movie with her. Got Quinn hooked on it, too. I get them both themed presents from the movie every year for Christmas. Don’t you pay attention?”
“I…” His eyes grew damp, but he quickly looked away, hiding his emotions from us all. “I guess I don’t.”
“Okay, asshole, once we fix this thing between you and River, I think you need to start taking that girl on a father-daughter date once a week,” Uncle Jet suggested. “I take Nova out every Sunday if possible. We go to a movie, have dinner, and then get dessert. And she tells me all about her week. Even when I don’t have two minutes to spare, I still make it work.”
“Yeah,” I agreed with a nod, liking that idea. “I bet she would like that.”
His green gaze snapped to me, the tears gone and replaced by a glimmer of hope. “You think so?”
“It will be a step in the right direction,” I affirmed. “But first, we have to get her to forgive you. And like I said, you buying us that house or paying to have it remodeled isn’t going to work. Dropping some cash isn’t going to repair the damage already done to her heart. She needs a big gesture that comes from your love for her, not your wallet.”
Frustration tightened his face, and he got to his feet so he could start pacing again. “I don’t know what to do to show her without buying her something. It’s what I’ve always done.”
“Then don’t expect an invitation to the wedding,” I told him point-blank. “There’s a difference between saying sorry and actually making amends. And that is exactly what you have to do this time.”
“You have to show her a big gesture,” Jack suggested. “Something that shows her that you’re going to take her relationship with Maverick seriously. That you respect them as a couple.” He pushed away from the wall where he’d been standing and observing us for the past half hour. Jack had always been the quiet one of the Hannigan offspring. The one who sat back and observed, and who didn’t talk unless he had something important to say. So, when he did speak, everyone usually shut up and listened. “I have an idea, but it’s going to take some fast moving, and we’ll need Aunt Raven and the other women to help.”
Twenty-Three
River
Holding my diploma in one hand and my cap in the other, I pushed through the crowd of my fellow students and their families in search of my own.
All throughout the ceremony, Garett had sat beside me grumbling about how boring the whole thing was. I couldn’t have agreed more, and all I wanted was for the damn thing to be over so I could find Maverick and go home.
While I was at practice the day before, Mav had been sent on a run for the MC, and so the plans I’d had for us to spend the night getting as little sleep as possible had been ruined. He promised he’d be back in time for my graduation, but I hadn’t seen him before the ceremony started. When my name was called, however, I heard him cheering for me the loudest, and I had glanced out at the auditorium to find him sitting with my parents and the rest of my extended family.
But as I walked through the crowds, I couldn’t find anyone, not even an aunt or uncle. Frustrated, I fished my phone out of the pocket of the dress I was wearing under my gown and called Maverick.
It rang three times before he answered. “Hey, babe. There was a problem at the clubhouse. I didn’t want it to ruin your and Garett’s graduation party, so I’m going to take care of it myself.”
“Oh,” I said with a pout. “Will it take long? I missed you.”
“Mila and Monroe are waiting for you in the parking lot. They’re going to doll you up at the store and then bring you over.” His voice dropped. “I missed you too.”
“But I don’t want to be dolled up,” I complained. “I don’t even want to go to a party. Can’t we just have our own celebration at home?”
I heard his agonized groan. “Soon, baby. I swear, very, very soon.”
