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A code call sounded in the phone’s background along with some rustling. “I’ve got to go, but keep me informed. Everything will be okay. Love you all.” Mom disconnected.
Phoenix went to Aspen’s side and took her hand in his. I felt like I could take my first full breath. We’d needed that, them especially. And I knew they were kicking themselves for not driving to the hospital where Mom worked in the ER, but at least she could call and check in.
The doc walked in, and I stood.
“I’ll wait outside.” I didn’t stay for them to acknowledge me. I knew the doc would do an exam, and I doubted my brother or Aspen wanted me there when he did. I grinned when I got to the waiting room and found Cole and Riley there with Damon and Sky. “Hey.”
“What’s going on?” Riley jumped from her seat, Sky not far behind.
I fell into a seat by my cousins. “The doc’s with her. I don’t know much, but Mom thinks she’ll be fine.”
Riley sat beside Cole again, and he drew her close to his side with an arm draped around her shoulders. Damon grabbed Sky’s hips and pulled her onto his lap, where she snuggled into him.
It wasn’t long before Phoenix appeared. “Aspen’s fine. Baby’s fine.” He had dark circles under his eyes.
Questions exploded from us. “What happened?” “Does the doc think the baby will come early?” “How’s Aspen?”
Phoenix dropped into a seat and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “It was a false alarm. Aspen is doing too much. Lifting things—surfboards—that she shouldn’t be.”
“Why is she doing that?”
Max was usually there when she worked, or Phoenix set things up for her.
“She’s stubborn.” He shrugged.
“What does this mean?” Riley twisted her long chestnut hair over her shoulder.
“We need to step up.” Sky shifted on Damon’s lap so she was facing us.
“Yeah, if I’m not with her, or Max, I need someone else there helping her. She refuses to slow down.”
“But she does get that she needs to take it easy, right?” Cole asked.
“Yeah.” Phoenix ran his fingers through his hair. “She just wants to keep up with orders for the business, or she gets inspired and doesn’t want to wait for me to come back from watching film or whatever I’m doing for football.”
“I’ve got the easiest schedule without sports. I can be there when you guys aren’t,” Sky offered.
“We’ll communicate in the chat so someone is always at your place,” Riley decided. “That means you have to tell us when you won’t be home, too, Phoenix.”
“I will. And thanks.” He stood, relief evident in his tired grin. “I’m going to head back to the room. She’s being released soon. You guys don’t need to wait, but I’ll tell her you came.”
A few minutes passed as we talked about the week and who would be with Aspen when. The times and names were updated in our group chat, then we disbursed.
I was wired when I got into my SUV. I wanted to meet my niece but not at that early date, when her lungs could be compromised. Too much was happening, and I knew I couldn’t sleep. On the off chance that Winter was awake, I messaged her. Her response was immediate.
Winter:I’m up. Can’t sleep.
Me:Can I come over? Or is your roommate sleeping?
Winter:No, I mean, yes. Piper’s not here. Come over. Let me know when you’re outside, and I’ll come down and let you in.
Is it smart? No.I shouldn’t trust her. I knew she was a liar. But the kicker was that I was lying too.
For one night, I didn’t want to think about any of that. I just wanted her.
The drive was quick, and after parking in her dorm’s lot, I messaged her that I was there. I glanced up briefly as I walked to the main door. No stars shone in the sky. Thick clouds obscured them and the moon. A storm was coming, and that fit my mood perfectly. Between my worry for Aspen and my whole shit show with the police and lawyers, I was in a dark place.
The unusual strawberry-blond strands caught my eye in the dimly lit lobby. Goddamn, she was beautiful. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face and over her shoulders to a few inches above her narrow waist. I knew from experience it was as silky as it appeared. When she opened the door, a small smile curved her full, begging-to-be-kissed lips. Up close, the storm in her catlike green eyes told me her night had been as rough as mine.
