He eyes Mia resting on Holly’s chest. They study each other. “You’re right,” he says to Holly, then shifts his attention to Mia. “One day, you’ll be big enough to go in there too. You’d like that, right?”
Mia studies him, her finger in the corner of her mouth. She leans towards him, arms outstretched, and he reaches for her at the first movement. Not an ounce of hesitation. He’s completely wrapped around her finger, and she’s completely secure in that knowledge. When she’s settled, she examines his nose. “Owie?”
Colt carefully lifts the paper towel, revealing a slightly crooked nose. “Yeah, honey, I’m okay.”
She studies him, not at all convinced. She turns to Evie, “Mama, we take Daddy to hospital?”
This moment feels too big, too personal for me to watch, but I can’t take my eyes off them, off Colt’s face. I watched him moon over the picture of Evie for months and then obsess over her and Mia for months more. Now they’re married, which I’m still sad I missed, but from the look on his face, this moment, the moment Mia called him daddy, is the moment everything truly changed for him.
I watch those words settle on him, sinking through the skin and bone all the way to his heart. They lodge themselves deep. I can see how deep, in the tremble in his hands, the glassy eyes, and the rhythmic swallowing. Evie, sitting beside him, hands over her mouth, doesn’t even try to wipe away her tears.
“We go hospital, Daddy?” Jesus, this kid is smart. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s claiming him. She doesn’t want a step anything. She wants a daddy.
He can barely speak through his tears. “No, princess. I’m okay. Uncle Nick will fix it for me later.”
She plants a sloppy kiss on his cheek, then plops down on his lap to watch her uncles fly. Colt holds her like he’s been given the most precious jewel. His eyes fall closed as he lets the tears fall. Evie leans into him, crying too, knowing how big the moment is.
I focus back on the brothers, but my thoughts are a million miles away. On the future I thought I had all worked out. And the big gaping hole that sits there now. I could still end up in jail. I know that. But if I don’t, maybe my future could be something I never even imagined.
And maybe I am a kid person.
I sit, dazed, until we’re suddenly surrounded by all the men. Declan’s eyes meet mine, but I’m too lost in my own thoughts to engage, giving him a small smile instead.
“No way we’re letting this party end,” Nick crows. “Let’s hit Freemont Street.”
“Let’s go!” Becca yells, running ahead. She stops, spinning back to us. “I smell puke. Which one of you blew chunks?”
33
CARA
I ’m not sure if there’s a buffet etiquette, but if there is, the guys definitely aren’t following it. We’re still in the lineup and already there’s been complaining, shoving and they’ve done a little too much looming over the other people in the line. Declan’s eyes have been on me the whole time. If we’re supposed to be keeping what’s between us private, then he’s doing a shit job of it. Trying to distract myself, I turn to Jonas.
“Your hotel has way nicer restaurants than this, and there’s a buffet there, too. Why exactly are we here?” This place isn’t fancy. It’s not even particularly well-kept. But the lineup to get in was out the door, so obviously, it has something going for it.
“Meat,” Jonas grunts, eyeing the front of the line impatiently. Nick snickers and elbows him. Jonas elbows him back distractedly.
Nick leans in to be heard over the noise of his brothers. “He means the guy who owns this place is a master with the smoker. We come here every time we’re in town. It’s been too long this time. I swear my stomach is about to eat me from the inside.”
“So when we get in there, we should stay out of your way?”
He grins, his teeth gleaming white against the tan of his skin. “Pretty much.”
Somehow, I’m lucky enough to be at the front of the line. Colton has Mia on his shoulders and Evie tucked under his arm. They’re bickering happily over god knows what. His nose is still swollen, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering him any. Mia leans down, and she and Colt start whispering to each other.
I turn back to Nick. “Where did you learn to fix broken noses? I mean, you snapped it back in place like it’s your job.”
Nick laughs. “It pretty much was. We lived in cramped quarters for a few years on Knight Street. We didn’t always handle it well. Someone got punched weekly. I’m not sure how I ended up being the go-to, but it turns out it’s still a handy skill to have.”
“I guess it is,” I say distractedly. Something is up. Colt and Mia look sketchy. As I’m watching, Mia throws herself dramatically onto the top of Colt’s head.
“Daddy, I so hungry,” she wails pitifully. She sniffles, but her dark curls hide her face. Then the sobs start. Colt awkwardly reaches up, patting her back.
“Oh, my poor princess. She’s wasting away. Mia, baby. I’m so sorry. It’s important to wait your turn.” He starts patting his pocket, dramatically turning them inside out to show how empty they are. “I’m sorry. I don’t even have a crumb to give you.”
A sweet older lady starts rifling through her purse, and Colt’s eyes flash with panic. “We’ll get you your macaroni soon, I promise.”
Mia, fucking three-year-old con artist Mia, sniffs dramatically. “My tummy hurts. I need macaroni.” Then she gags dramatically. Jonas gags next to me, and I clamp my hands over my mouth and drop my head onto Nick’s shoulder. He’s shaking, but he doesn’t make a sound. Mia gags again, and Jonas follows suit. Colt starts up too. Now the baby and two giant men are gagging. The people around us clump together as far from us as possible, not wanting to be in the line of fire.
