Page 119 of Hearts Storm

My mind flashes back to our psychic reading a few weeks ago. Madame Solis had said, “A tiny, unexpected joy is coming—much sooner than originally planned.” At the time, Noia said she had a feeling, but wasn’t sure.

“Well, crap,” Lizzy says.

Noia nods, a grin spreading across her face. “I know! I almost peed myself when I saw the positive test. Ryder was so excited he almost passed out.”

“How far along are you?” I ask, settling back on the couch.

“Just over six weeks. He’s telling the guys tonight.” She pats her stomach gently. “I wanted to tell you guys first.”

She looks at Sasha. “Show them.”

Sasha holds up her left hand. A massive emerald sparkles on her ring finger.

“No way!” I shriek, grabbing her hand to get a better look. The stone is enormous, set in a delicate platinum band with smaller diamonds surrounding it.

“Jax proposed!”

“How did he do it?” Lizzy demands, reaching for her hand to examine the ring.

Face flushed with happiness, Sasha perches on the edge of the couch. “We were at the shop after hours. He had the whole place lit up with candles. He sat me in his tattoo chair and said he wanted to show me something and to close my eyes. And when I opened them, he was down on one knee.”

“That’s so romantic,” I sigh, feeling a pang in my chest.

“I won’t get into details about how we celebrated, just that we recreated a pivotal moment in our relationship.”

Lizzy laughs. “I just bet you did, dirty girl.”

fifty

Later that night, I’m woken up by a loud crack of thunder. Jolting upright on the couch, my heart slams against my ribs as I blink into the darkness, disoriented for a beat before the room comes into focus.

The TV is still on, casting a pale blue glow into the room. Sasha is curled into a ball on the opposite end of the couch from me, one arm flung over her face. Lizzy is sprawled face down on another, head buried under a pillow. Noia, having moved from her chair to a couch as well, is sacked out, one hand resting protectively over her stomach, and she’s snoring in these tiny, delicate little puffs that sound a lot like a kitten purring.

A smile touches my lips just before another rumble of thunder rolls, causing me to flinch. My pulse kicks up a notch, but I shake it off and head down the hall.

When I reach the living room, I pause in front of the massive wall of windows. Lightning flashes, illuminating the lake in white for a split second before plunging everything back into darkness.

Another crack of thunder comes.

My stomach flips with a mixture of nervousness and excitement when I think about Logan and Brex coming over. I wonder what they want to talk about?

I press my palm against the cool glass, watching the raindrops race each other down the pane.

“Couldn’t sleep either?”

I spin around to find Lizzy standing a few feet away.

“Thunder always makes me restless,” I explain, turning back to the window.

She comes to stand beside me. “Yeah, me too.”

We stand in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the storm rage outside.

“So,” Lizzy says, bumping my shoulder with hers. “What’s on your mind?”

“Brex and Logan want to have a discussion with me tonight.”

“Oh, yeah?” she asks, a knowing smile lacing her tone. “You nervous?”