Page 85 of A Little Luck

“Keep your fur on, I’m not hurting him,” I tease, giving the black cat a scrub around the whiskers. “We’re going to be a family, so you’d better get used to me.”

I decide it’s one of those affirmations, and I crawl under the sheets, pulling the blanket over my shoulder before turning to the opposite side.

As I start to drift, Ryan starts to little-boy snore. It’s not too loud, and mostly sounds like a stuffy nose. It reminds me of when he was a baby, and I remember Piper sending me the videos.

My heart expands, and it strengthens my resolve. I decide she has to want more if she sent them to me. She never let me miss a milestone.

Pulling out my phone, I roll onto my back and take a selfie of the two of us, then I send it to her with a text.

Hope you had fun tonight. I’m crashing with our little man.

She doesn’t reply, but it’s late. Britt sent that photo of them going to bed almost an hour ago, and I expect they’re all either asleep or discussing whatever they talk about when they’re together.

For several minutes, I lie awake in the darkness thinking about the next few days and what’s coming. Nothing she can say will change how I feel about her. I went away, but even on the other side of the globe, I couldn’t escape my feelings for her and my desire for what we should be.

It’s time to do what everyone said, what I want to do, and I don’t need a fucking affirmation. All I need is a yes.

CHAPTER19

PIPER

Ishould’ve known when the alarm didn’t go off it was going to be one of my bad luck days.

“Fuck.” I jump up from the palette on the floor where Cass and I are butt to butt and hurry to the bathroom.

Britt’s on the couch wearing an eye mask and snoring.

When I come out again, Cass is in the kitchen scratching the ponytail on top of her head. “One thing you can say for virgin margaritas, no hangovers on your wedding day.”

She pulls the carafe out of the coffee machine and fills it with water while I jump to pull on my jeans. “You can say that again. I felt like shit at Britt’s wedding.”

Thinking about that night, I remember sitting at the bar with Adam while he poured me Stone Cold’s special reserve, and we complained about the “Cupid Shuffle.” It feels like ages ago, but it was only a few months.

“What can I do to help?” She turns, crossing her arms over her chest while the coffee pot gurgles behind her.

“Just show up.” I return to the bathroom to brush my teeth. “It’s your wedding. You’re only supposed to be pampered and have a good time today.”

“You’ve got the florist all set?”

“I’m heading over to meet them now.” I spit and straighten, twisting my red hair into a bun on top of my head.

“Did you decide on a DJ or a live band?”

“It’s a surprise.” I kiss her cheek, and she catches my arm, pulling me back for a hug.

“You’re one of the best people I know, Piper Jackson. What happened in the past does not define you. Nothing he did can take away from who you are.”

I exhale, pausing in my haste to hug her back. “Thanks, Cass.”

“It hurts so much to know you were going through that all alone.” I straighten to see her gray-blue eyes are liquid.

Tugging her ponytail, I tease. “Is this you being an empath or are you pregnant now, too?”

“I don’t know.” She laughs, dabbing her eyes with her fingertips. “What I do know is you deserve every good thing that’s coming your way, and everyone who knows you and loves you will believe you and support you.”

“Thanks, babe.” I step forward for one more brief hug. “Now I’ve got to get to the distillery.”

She puts a travel mug of coffee in my hand, and I dash out to where Adam’s old Jetta is waiting. He loaned it to me yesterday when Aiden picked him up for the bachelor party.

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