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“It is what I want. I promise.”
A drop of rain hits my nose, and I tip my head back to look up at the sky.
“Come on. We should get you inside before it starts to pour. We’ll get you something to eat. Gotta make sure my grandson is strong.”
“We picked a name on the way here—Gunner. It means war.”
“Yeah? I like it. Little Gunner.”
I’m so thankful for Red Thorne. If I was still suffering in my episode, I wouldn’t get to have this moment that’s now everything I’ve ever wanted. Not just a family with Jay, but like normal people with a family. I have a dad, and once I let go of my insecurities, I’ll have it all.
The heavens open, and Cas leads me into the house. The delicious smells assault us as we step through the back door, and I grab the dish towel to wipe myself off.
“We’re making pot roast for dinner,” Alannah announces, tipping her head to the already set table.
“Are we expecting company?” I ask.
“Nope. Just a family dinner to welcome you home.”
All this for me?
This is everything I imagined it to be, and now that I have it, I refuse to let it overwhelm me.
“Here.” Handing me a bottle of water, Jay drops two pills onto the table in front of me.
The noises in the kitchen go quiet. I know they’re waiting, watching, making sure I take my meds. Without meeting anyone’s eye, I pick the pills up and throw them into my mouth. As soon as I swallow them down with the water, the chatter starts up again.
Jay never goes far, and once he’s helped Leo with something, he pulls out the chair beside me and moves it so close, his thigh rests against mine. I’m happy to lay my head against his shoulder while listening to everyone chat away.
The smell of the pot roast has my stomach grumbling. As Alannah serves the food up, everyone takes a seat around the table. There’s Luca and Victoria, Cas and Alannah, Sparky and Bonnie, and Leo and Holly, along with little Rayna.
“Slade wanted me to tell you he’ll be over as soon as he can. He’s doing something for me first,” Cas—Dad—tells me quietly.
I smile. To be honest, I’m more interested in the food right now. Being the first to receive my dinner, I dive right in.
Once Alannah has taken her seat next to Cas, she holds up her drink and calls for everyone’s attention.
“I just want to say, it’s nice to have Harper home.” She smiles at me and waits for the table to stop cheering. “Whatever happens in the club, this is what life is all about—family.”
“To family!” everyone choruses. It’s finally time to eat.
Chapter Nine
JJ
It’s nice to see Harper sleeping soundly. She’s not tossing and turning, crying out or screaming, waking herself up. I don’t dare move, not wanting to disturb her. It means everything to have her home, to be able to hold her, to look into her eyes and kiss her.
To keep her with me, I have to change. Her, the baby, and the club are the most important parts of my life, and they’re the most vulnerable too.
“If you close your eyes, you’d fall asleep.” Her voice is clear, telling me she’s been awake for a while.
“How long have you been pretending to be asleep?”
“A while. I was waiting to see how long you’d watch me before passing out yourself.”
Opening her eyes, she entwines her fingers with mine and brings them to her lips. Pressing a kiss to my knuckles, she says, “I missed you so much. I hate being away from you.”
I kiss her hand back. “Not as much as I missed you. I thought about you every day. You were with me every second.”
