“What?”
“Peaches is pregnant,” I say with a nod in her direction. He was in the back, and unless Flint told him when they switched positions, I suspect he doesn’t know.
“Congrats, man,” he says to Kooper, who bows his head in thanks. Still, the silence continues. “What else am I missing?” He looks at Troublemaker, who rolls her eyes but answers.
“Apparently, the baby vibe is hitting some harder than others. The nosy group you call brothers are probably wondering what our status is.”
He grins wickedly and looks at his brothers and me. “Been begging for a while now. One of these days, I’ll get her to agree.” He pulls her back, dips his mouth to her neck, and sucks on it.
She swats at him, and the bar erupts with laughter and shouts of glee as the club joins in the happiness that’s spreading through the tables.
“Happy, Babygirl?” I whisper into her ear as I pull her closer, bringing her into my lap to match Mad Max and Gator. They have the right idea. Why let our women sit in their own chairs when we’ve got a perfectly good lap they can use?
“Completely.”
“Good. Let me know if that ever changes,” I say as I nibble at her ear.
She turns her head and looks me dead in the eye. “As long as I have you, I have everything I could ever need to be happy.”
She pulls me in for a kiss, and it’s one I give her easily. And I promise myself that I will do everything in my power to keep her happy.
Forever.
Epilogue - Atom
What the hell is she doing here?
I glare at the woman by the gate as I make my way over. I was just out to take a call without the fuss of the club inside when I noticed her walking up. Reina, the sister of Peaches’ roommate.
My eyes sweep over her body, not in arousal but in assessment. Tight jeans, skimpy top, and too much makeup for my taste. It’s a weekend afternoon, not a Friday night, but you wouldn’t know it from her look or the way she’s embarrassingly flirting with the prospect on the gate.
“Yo,” I call out, getting both their attention. Her eyes flutter to me in what I’m sure is a go-to move. Might make someone trip over their feet, like the prospect seemed to be when I walked up. For me, I just get annoyed.
“Hi,” she says in some breathless tone that I’m sure she thinks is hot, but it just makes me want to roll my eyes. She’s got an exotic Asian look to her, but all I see is “priss” written across her face, not hotness. “Ruby said I can get the key to her old place. I’m moving into her old room.”
I stop right on the opposite side of the gate. The prospect might like the girl, but he knows better than to open it for anyone, especially on a family day. “Natalie’s okay with that?” I ask, knowing they aren’t on good terms.
At first, her eyes narrow at the mention of her sister’s name. Apparently it’s not the one Reina calls her. Somethingabout the stepmom changing it because she could, and Natalie refusing to use it. But then her eyes go wide in innocence. She might think she covered it up, but I saw it.
“My sister? Why wouldn’t she be?” She tilts her head and takes a step forward as she wraps her hands around the gate with a shake of her head. “We might have a lot of history, but I want her to know I’m here for her. That starts with me being here, not back home. Figured I’d stick around for a while.” She shrugs as if that explains it all, but I just have a dozen more questions.
“Oh, hey. Didn’t expect you so soon.” Peaches’ voice pulls my attention. She and Kooper are walking up to the gate as a few others come around from the back.
Reina smiles as her focus shifts to Peaches. “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. This place is so cool,” she squeals, waving dramatically at the compound.
Peaches looks at me, then her man, as they stop beside me. “Yeah, I guess.” She hands over the key through the gate, and Reina takes it quickly even as her eyes stray to those behind us.
“You guys having a party or something?”
“Family event,” Kooper barks, and I don’t hide my grin at the instant shutdown he gives her. Especially with the shock clearly on her face. She expected to be let in. Not happening.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to intrude.” She sounds contrite, but no one falls for it. Not even the prospect.
When no one contradicts her, she takes a step back, finally realizing she’s not wanted.
“Maybe we can get together sometime. Catch up. I can bring my sister. We never got the coffee that I offered you last time at the hospital.” Her eyes go to Peaches, a plea bordering on begging in them.
It’s a peace offering wrapped in a land mine if I ever heard one.
