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“Yeah, I just heard my dad and Gunnar talking about how she used to be Stevie’s girl… Hard to imagine her giving that shitbag the time of day.”
“Come again?” Ford asks, his head tilted toward Greyson like he just said the most bizarre thing.
“I said”—Greyson’s brow furrows at Ford’s demeanor—“Jade and your uncle used to be a thing.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Ford mutters, running his hand over his face. “Of course…because that motherfucker has to ruin everything for me.” The pain laced in his tone is so unusual. It’s a side of him he normally doesn’t show.
“Oh, fuck,” Greyson says, eyes widening. “Tell me she isn’t.”
“The fuck?” I whisper and eye Kiran, who is officially passed out.
“The one fucking time…” Ford’s being way too cryptic.
“She’s the one who fucked-and-ducked you, isn’t she?” Greyson asks, his face a mixture of amusement and pity.
I’m shook, my head rearing back at this news. “Are you serious? You and Jade?”
Ford won’t look at me, but Greyson speaks up again. “Yep, and he’s been torn up over her leaving in the middle of the night and not knowing her name.”
That shocks me even more. He normally couldn’t care less.
“Since when did you start gossiping like a preteen?” Ford sneers at Greyson, and I’m honestly still too stunned to respond. Ford and Jade. Jade and Stevie.Who the fuck knew?
“Since you whined to me the whole time, I was working on your bike the day after.”
A loud whistle sounds through the backyard of the clubhouse. We all know that means this conversation is over for now.
It’s time to eat.
* * *
We sitat one of the long tables, surrounded by many of our loved ones. The kind of contentment and peace I feel in this moment is one I’m not sure I ever have. Kiran is asleep in my arms while Emerson eats and laughs at something Lucian’s girlfriend, Claire, is telling her.
We got to meet her last week when we visited Lucian at Mountain Ridge. She’s a nice chick and seems to be a good fit for Lucian. Even though Emerson and I both always thought he would end up with Frankie, that ship seemed to have sailed…or maybe just docked for the time being.
“Nox, I made my pasta salad just for you. Make sure you get two helpings,” Nana Rex calls out from her spot beside Smith at the head of the table.
“I already hid the bowl,” I say, teasing, because I know the guys would fight me over that.
Only a couple more weeks before I start my fight prep nutrition plan, and I am taking full advantage of all my favorites.
Smith Rexwood, aka Rex to many people at this table, stands up, his beer raised in the air.
“I’d like to make a toast…” he says, directing his attention to where Lottie and Greyson sit. And I think back to the FaceTime we received last night… Bright smiles, sex-hair, and one flashy new piece of jewelry.
“Congrats to my son on his engagement. I’m beyond happy for you both.” Greyson wraps his arm around Lottie, pulling her in close and pressing a kiss to her head. “I must have done something right when I was raising you if you convinced a girl like Lottie to marry your ass.” Everyone laughs, but I see the emotion build in his eyes before he continues. “And Lottie, you are already such a big part of our family, I can’t wait for it to be official.” He pauses for a moment, trying to keep his composure. “Your mom is shining down on you, and I know she is more than proud of her beautiful girl.”
I slide my hand to Emerson’s under the table and squeeze it three times. Lottie and Greyson’s journey wasn’t always the easiest either, but there is no doubt they were destined for each other.
And I couldn’t be happier for my best friend, knowing exactly what that feeling is like. I can’t wait for the day when Emerson takes on my last name.
Nineteen
I’m exhausted from today’s training sessions. Joey is working me toward fight camp that I’ll start at the end of October, in preparation for my title fight in December. Along with our one-on-one striking practice, he had me take the Muay Thai class that Snow teaches.
I’m pretty sure Joey is going to ban me from taking any more of Snow’s classes now that he is officially Emerson’s coach. Let’s just say, I was distracted as fuck by how flexible Emerson has become with her high kicks.
Pride filled me when Snow had her demonstrate the push-kick technique on him. She used the distance she created between them to land a powerful blow. My baby is a badass. I knew it the moment I saw her trying to fight that tree. The memory has me smiling as I come out of the sauna.
