Page 32 of Karma
“No, it’s not. Not if you don’t let it. We’re all getting out of this alive.”
Even as she says it, Felicity worries she’s wrong. Lex’s instincts are usually spot on, and if she isn’t confident she’ll make it out of this unscathed, Felicity needs to prepare herself for something she dreads more than anything.
Chapter Eleven
Griffin’s Beach
Gracie
Gracie Short sits on the swings behind the clubhouse. She spent the past two hours placing rose petals around and lighting what feels like a thousand candles. And then starting all over when Gavin changed up the plan, wanting a path from the front door out back where he’ll wait.
“You look good sitting in candlelight,” Kent Conway says.
He walks out holding her son, Nolan, and she smiles. Eighteen years old with a one-year-old baby wasn’t on her bingo card when it came to her life, but she learned quickly to roll with the punches. Especially when she’s been in multiple situations where death was more than just a worst-case scenario.
“Thanks,” she says and smiles. “This looks pretty good. I can’t believe my brother, of all people, had an idea this romantic.”
Taking her son from Kent, she sets him on her lap and pushes herself on the swing. He laughs and claps, and she loves how happy he seems to be. Even though his father never wanted to acknowledge him, Nolan is a very loved little boy.
“You’d be surprised how romantic bikers can be,” Kent says and sits on the swing next to her with a wink.
He went out of his way to make everything as romantic and comfortable for Gracie when they started dating. Still does. While he didn’t know who Nolan’s father was at the time, he knew she was insecure because of what happened with him.
Cole Walsh talked Gracie out of her clothes with an ease that still embarrasses her. Once they were naked, he had his way with her, and it was over quickly. When he was done, he never said a word to her, got dressed, and left her alone in a stranger’s room to process what just happened by herself. After that, he proceeded to ignore her, denying they were ever together. Even after the pregnancy test came back positive, Cole refused to accept Nolan was his, much less that they’d had sex.
“It’s not because he’s a biker. It’s because he’s my brother,” Gracie says and kisses her son’s head. “I’ve known him my entire life. He’s lucky Hailey ever looked at him in the first place.”
Her parents walk out with Lex, Lucas, and the two younger kids. Gavin steps out holding Nancy, and he looks more nervous than she’s ever seen him. Even more nervous than having to tell their dad he knocked up Emme.
Handing Nolan to Kent, Gracie walks over and takes Nancy from him. “Relax or you’re going to drop her.”
Letting out a deep breath, he nods. “This is really going to suck if she says no.”
Whatever prompted this, Gracie doesn’t know, but Gavin got a hair up his butt to propose. They haven’t been together verylong, but she really did step up when Nancy’s mom washed her hands of the baby. Moving in and helping raise another woman’s child probably expedited the relationship.
The door opens, and Gavin takes Nancy back. Colt walks out with Hailey, and her eyes widen when she sees Gavin. “What is this? What’s going on?”
“I want to do this right,” Gavin says and smiles at her as she walks towards him.
“Do what right?”
He holds Nancy upright, and Hailey gasps. Gracie helped order her shirt, and it reads MARRY MY DADDY.
“Gavin…”
Colt takes Nancy from him, and Gavin gets down on one knee. Holding the ring box, he lets out a shaky breath. “From the day I met you, I knew you were special. Difficult as all hell, but special. We had our struggles, but we made it over every hurdle. I was certain that finding out I was going to be a dad would be the end of us, but you stuck by me. And you love Nancy just as much as I do.”
“I do,” she whispers as she nods her head.
“You want to be her mother, and you are. We’ll make it official, but I want us to share a last name. Hailey Nichols, will you marry me?”
Hailey breaks down into sobs and nods her head. Slipping the ring on her finger, he stands and kisses her. The same ring Gracie thinks is beyond weird.
When he showed it to them, she thought it was ugly. Sure, it’s a diamond, but it’s kind of gaudy for her taste. It’sCinderellainspired, meant to look like the carriage from the side, which is kind of cool. Not Gracie’s thing, but it’s not her ring.
“I love you,” he says, his arms wrapped around her.
“I love you, too.”
