Page 79 of Nova

That's my girl.

I have a hard time keeping the smile off my face as I watch Piper exit the stage and make her way back to her seat until I hear the roar of Harley pipes in the distance. I turn and look over my shoulder. That's when I see Crow and Madison riding out of the parking lot of the school.

"Was that…?"

I shove my hands in my front pockets. "Yep."

"Did Piper decide to invite her?"

"No. She wasn't ready. But I'm not surprised she came anyway. As long as she keeps her distance and lets Piper come to her when she's ready, I won't interfere."

Promise wraps her arm around my middle and snuggles closer to me. "It'll all work out. Just give it some time."

"Yeah, sugar, you're right." I lean in and kiss her.

Later that night,we are sitting around a fire at Pop's place with our bellies full of his kickass catfish and hush puppies.

My brother hands his daughter to Luna, then stands from his seat. "Listen up. I got somethin' I'd like to say." All chatter stops, as everyone's eyes settle on Riggs. He clears his throat. "Piper. It feels like only yesterday when I arrived home on leave from the military and was helpin' your dad change your shitty diapers."

Piper giggles, "Oh my God, Uncle Abe. I'm tryin' to eat here," she says with food in her mouth as chocolate squishes out the sides of her s'more.

Riggs continues. "Or when your Gampy and I came to the rescue, when you were five years old, and sick with fever. The three of us rotated in shifts, and pulled all-nighters for three nights straight until you were feeling better. Your dad was sometimes too proud to ask for help, but we gave it anyway."

Most teenagers would probably cringe with embarrassment by now, but Piper is sitting near the fire, with her legs crossed, with nothing but love in her eyes and a smile on her face as she listens to her uncle speak. "Or the time you started your period on your first day of middle school. You called your dad cryin'," Riggs chuckles. "Your dad had no clue what he should do, so we tackled it like we always did—together. He drove to that school, dried your tears, then took you for ice cream. Wick was in town that week," Riggs looks in Wick's direction, "Do you remember, brother?" Wick throws his head back laughing hard. My brother continues. "I think Wick and I bought out the entire feminine product aisle at the local drugstore and had it all waitin' for you when you got home."

Some of us are holding our stomachs we're laughing so hard, but Riggs keeps going. "Okay. Getting serious for a minute." My brother pulls in a long breath. "Piper. You've been one of the greatest blessings to come into our lives. You've been raised by a bunch of knuckleheaded, Harley ridin' bikers." Riggs' eyes cut to Pop. "And a hard lovin' cantankerous old man, but you've givin' us so much more than we could have ever givin' you. You've grown into a beautiful, caring young woman—despite all our tumbles along the way. I know I speak for every damn person sittin' here today when I say, I'm so fuckin' proud of you." Without any warning, Piper stands and rushes to Riggs, burying her face in his chest.

"I love you so much, Uncle Abel."

He kisses the top of her head. "I love you too."

I think the reminiscing and the sharing portion of this night is over once Piper returns to her quilt, spread out on the grass, but my brother continues. "Cain." My eyes leave the flames dancing on the fire, and settle on my brother's face. "You're a good father, and the best damn brother and friend a man could ask for. We've had our shares of hard times, been through a lot of changes and growin' throughout our forty-one years, but I've always had you by my side. I couldn't imagine it being any different." Riggs clears his throat again, and I swallow the lump of emotions clogging mine. "Promise," he directs his attention to my woman. "Cain waited a long damn time for the right one to come along. I can tell you now; he didn't realize he was lookin' for the other half of his soul until he found you." His gaze briefly leaves Promise to look at his wife. "I should know. Love has a way of sneakin' up on you when you least expect it."

Promise sniffles, and I rub my hand that I have tucked between her knees against her skin. My brother scans over each of us men before looking back at Promise and me. "I just realized I've never officially said this." He raises the beer in his hand. "Welcome to the family."

The silence around us is broken with cheers. Leaning back, I smile so hard my face hurts. I'm the luckiest fucking man alive. I got my daughter sitting beside me, my woman on my lap, my baby in her belly and my ring on her finger. I'd say life doesn't get any sweeter than this.

Seven MonthsLater

"Cain."

My eyes open when Promise calls my name. I bolt upright in the bed and find her side empty along with a large wet spot on the sheets. I look across the room to see her standing inside the bathroom door, cradling her round belly.

"My water broke."

I blink several times before the situation registers. "Fuck!"

Tossing the blanket aside, I climb out of bed, snagging my jeans off the floor, pulling them on. In a rush, I open the dresser and grab a t-shirt. As I'm making my way to the nightstand to retrieve my wallet and keys, I trip over my boots. My ass tumbles to the floor. "Son of a bitch," I grumble.

Promise giggles. "Cain, are you okay?"

"Fine," I grit as I pick my ass up off the floor, sit on the edge of the bed and pull my boots on.

"Is everything okay in here?" A sleepy-eyed Piper asks from the doorway of the bedroom. "I felt the house shake."

Piper's statement causes Promise to giggle harder. "Your dad tripped and fell."

"Oh. Are you guys going somewhere? It's the middle of the night?"

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