As soon as my screen lit up, it started going crazy with all the missed text and calls. The majority were, of course, from Dad, but I deleted them before I could second=guess myself. Cutting him out of my life wasn’t just a ruse to get him to do what I wanted. I’d meant it, and I wasn’t going to give in just because he was suddenly sorry for what he’d done.
I didn’t trust him any longer. My faith in his love for me had turned to ashes the day before, and I wasn’t ever going to give him a second chance to break my heart again. Maybe it was harsh, and maybe I might even feel a twinge of regret later on down the road, but I refused to let anything toxic touch my life any longer.
From now on, I was going to focus on healing. My heart was already battered and bruised from miscarrying my baby. But now, part of it was also shattered and missing, thanks to my father.
Before I got dressed, I texted both Mom and Aunt Willa to let them know Maverick was awake and out of bed. I shot Mila a quick message to remind her that I had a doctor’s appointment and that I might not get to the store until closer to dinnertime. I had graduation practice that afternoon that I really didn’t feel like going to, but I had been warned if I didn’t show up for it, I couldn’t walk with the rest of my class the next day.
Pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, I scooped my hair up into a ponytail and walked out of our bedroom to find Maverick sitting on the couch with his phone to his ear. He was leaning forward, his elbow propped on his knee while he pressed the palm of his hand into one eye socket like his head was throbbing.
“I said I’m fine,” he was muttering into the receiver. “River has a thing this morning, and then once she goes to practice, I’ll be there. Yeah…” He paused, listening to whoever was on the other end. “I know, man. Fuck. Okay. I’ll see you then.”
Lowering his hand, he glared down at his phone for a moment before lifting his head. Seeing me standing there, he quickly dropped his gaze back to the screen. “Give me ten to shower and change, and I’ll be ready to go, baby.”
I sighed. “You don’t have to keep things from me.”
“I’m not,” he denied. But we knew each other too well. I knew all his tells, so I could read him as easily as if he were an open book. The guilt that flashed momentarily in his gray eyes told me all I needed to know.
“Please don’t lie to me either.” I crossed to the couch and climbed onto his lap. Cupping his face in both of my hands, I leaned in and kissed him. “Listen to me. You don’t have to cut anyone out of your life. I’m not asking that of you. I know Dad is still your MC brother. I respect that. But I’m asking you right now, don’t start hiding shit. Don’t lie to me. And please, babe, please respect my decision to cut him out of my life.”
His groan was loaded with frustration. “I just want you to be happy.”
“Mav, my heart is one big ache right now,” I told him honestly, causing his jaw to clench. “Between the baby and now Dad? I’m going to need a little time to heal. Okay?” After a slight hesitation, he nodded, and I began to relax a little. “Thank you.”
Standing, I walked toward the kitchen. “I’ll grab us to-go cups of coffee while you get ready.”
Twenty-Two
Maverick
Stopping my bike in front of the clubhouse, I refused to feel guilty over what I was about to do.
River said she wanted nothing to do with her dad, but I knew my girl too well. At the moment, she was pissed and hurting. But in a week, or a month—fuck, maybe even in a year—she would wake up one morning and miss Colt so much, it would hurt her all over again. And as her man, I couldn’t just sit back and let that happen.
When her dad had called me that morning, asking for a face-to-face, I knew I had to straighten all of this out between the two of them.
Pocketing my keys, I adjusted my cut and walked into the clubhouse. The place was never empty. There was always a brother in residence and a few sheep to take care of their needs. When I walked in, Jack and Kingston were sitting on one of the couches, watching some sports talk show.
Seeing me, Kingston stood, his face dark with concern. “How is she?”
“Pissed. Hurting. Trying to tell me that she’s fine.” My jaw clenched. “She’s at graduation practice right now.”
Jack was slower to stand, turning off the television set as he nodded toward the stairs that led up to Uncle Bash’s office. “He’s up there. All the dads are. And they are pissed.”
I exhaled slowly. “Whatever happens, tell my girl I love her.”
Kingston slapped me on the back as the three of us started for the steps. “Bro, they aren’t pissed at you. I seriously thought your pops was going to take Uncle Colt’s head off last night at Church. He’s lucky my mom, Aunt Raven, and Aunt Kelli showed up, or he’d probably be dead right now.”
Cursing under my breath, I knocked on the closed office door and heard a barked, “Come in,” before opening it. Squaring my shoulders, I stepped into the room, my eyes automatically clocking everyone and where they were.
Uncle Bash was behind his desk, my dad standing behind him on his left, Uncle Hawk on his right. Uncle Jet and Uncle Raider were in seats in front of the desk, while Matt and Tanner Reid stood against the wall, their gazes following the man who was pacing in front of them.
After a few more steps, Colt finally turned to face me. His face was set in hard lines, but pale. His green eyes, so like his daughter’s, were just as bloodshot as hers had been that morning, with dark shadows beneath them that gave him a depraved, haunted vibe.
Kingston and Jack flanked me, and I was thankful for their support as they stood behind me. Colt’s gaze locked with mine, and I crossed my arms over my chest, staring him down as he seemed to struggle to find words.
He was the one who’d asked for this meeting. I’d come out of respect to him as a brother, but more than anything because I wanted to fix the rift between him and my girl.
“It’s two fucking words,” Dad barked. “Repeat after me—I’m sorry. Not hard to say, dickhead.”
Colt’s jaw worked for a moment before he finally unclenched it enough to mutter, “I’m sorry.”
“You know, your plan was pretty genius,” I complimented him. “You just didn’t take into consideration one important aspect. River has been the only female I’ve seen from the moment I hit puberty. She knows more than anyone that I would rather chop off my own cock than touch anyone else.”
He grunted. “Yeah, well, I thought this whole bullshit relationship between you two was just you trying to fuck with me. I didn’t like you using my little girl to prank me. I didn’t realize you two had been together for years.”
I stood up straighter. “Our relationship isn’t bullshit. I’ve loved her since before I even understood what that kind of love really meant.” I pulled my brows together as I considered what else he’d just said. “And why the hell would I prank you like that? If I wanted to fuck with you, I wouldn’t use River. Trust me, old man. I have better ways to jerk you around than using the woman I love as bait.”
“Yeah,” Kingston muttered behind me. “If I were you, Unc, I wouldn’t be going to Mav for ink anytime soon. He’s liable to give you a big hairy cock or something.”
Colt’s lips twitched in amusement. “Noted.”
“When I asked you for permission to date River on her birthday, what I really wanted to ask was for your blessing to marry her,” I told him, needing to lay it all on the table so he understood where I was coming from. Maybe I should have just asked him that day instead of easing into it like Jack and Kingston had suggested. “Even though she’s vowed to cut you out of her life, I would still like your blessing.”
His jaw tensed again, and I witnessed him having trouble swallowing for a moment before he blew out a harsh sigh. “Yeah, boy. You have my blessing.” He thrust his hands into his jeans pockets. “But I want to walk her down the aisle.”
“I can’t guarantee that, man.” I gave it to him straight. “She’s stubborn, and right now, she’s
pissed. You broke her heart.”
His shoulders slumped, his throat working again as he fought his emotions. “I know.”
“Well, don’t just stand there, dumbass!” Uncle Jet grumbled. “Figure out how to fix it. You found a way to get Kelli to forgive you for all the shit you put her through. I’m sure you can sort this out.”
Colt sighed. “Kelli suggested a few ways that might win River over, but I don’t know if she’ll accept anything I do. Or if it would even be enough. That girl is worse than her mother. She can hold a grudge.”
“You never know unless you at least try.” Uncle Bash spoke for the first time. “You shitheads take a seat. We’ll do what we can to help.”
“She’s going to think you’re trying to buy her forgiveness,” I growled at my future father-in-law as he suggested what he wanted to do to win River back.
“You take her on vacation, and by the time you return, the repairs on that house will be done,” Colt argued.
“She wants us to fix it up ourselves,” I told him. “It was why we even put in an offer on that house. She loves that place and has all these do-it-yourself projects planned. You need to think of something that doesn’t involve money.”
His eyes went blank, and I could tell he was clueless as to what that even meant.
“Okay, Unc,” Kingston spoke up, trying to help. “Let me try to simplify this for you. What’s River’s favorite movie?”
He frowned, his brain working on overdrive as he tried to find the answer. “I got nothin’.”
“Her favorite color?”
“Blue.” He was quick to answer this time.
“You only know that because I told you at her party,” Dad said with another glare. “And her favorite movie is The Princess Bride.”
“How the fuck do you know all that about my kid?” he demanded angrily.
“She spent more time at my house as a kid than at yours,” the enforcer said with a shrug.
“And when she wasn’t at Spider’s, she was at mine,” Uncle Raider added. “I lost count of the times River made Kingston watch that princess movie with her. Got Quinn hooked on it, too. I get them both themed presents from the movie every year for Christmas. Don’t you pay attention?”
“I…” His eyes grew damp, but he quickly looked away, hiding his emotions from us all. “I guess I don’t.”
“Okay, asshole, once we fix this thing between you and River, I think you need to start taking that girl on a father-daughter date once a week,” Uncle Jet suggested. “I take Nova out every Sunday if possible. We go to a movie, have dinner, and then get dessert. And she tells me all about her week. Even when I don’t have two minutes to spare, I still make it work.”
“Yeah,” I agreed with a nod, liking that idea. “I bet she would like that.”
His green gaze snapped to me, the tears gone and replaced by a glimmer of hope. “You think so?”
“It will be a step in the right direction,” I affirmed. “But first, we have to get her to forgive you. And like I said, you buying us that house or paying to have it remodeled isn’t going to work. Dropping some cash isn’t going to repair the damage already done to her heart. She needs a big gesture that comes from your love for her, not your wallet.”
Frustration tightened his face, and he got to his feet so he could start pacing again. “I don’t know what to do to show her without buying her something. It’s what I’ve always done.”
“Then don’t expect an invitation to the wedding,” I told him point-blank. “There’s a difference between saying sorry and actually making amends. And that is exactly what you have to do this time.”
“You have to show her a big gesture,” Jack suggested. “Something that shows her that you’re going to take her relationship with Maverick seriously. That you respect them as a couple.” He pushed away from the wall where he’d been standing and observing us for the past half hour. Jack had always been the quiet one of the Hannigan offspring. The one who sat back and observed, and who didn’t talk unless he had something important to say. So, when he did speak, everyone usually shut up and listened. “I have an idea, but it’s going to take some fast moving, and we’ll need Aunt Raven and the other women to help.”
Twenty-Three
River
Holding my diploma in one hand and my cap in the other, I pushed through the crowd of my fellow students and their families in search of my own.
All throughout the ceremony, Garett had sat beside me grumbling about how boring the whole thing was. I couldn’t have agreed more, and all I wanted was for the damn thing to be over so I could find Maverick and go home.
While I was at practice the day before, Mav had been sent on a run for the MC, and so the plans I’d had for us to spend the night getting as little sleep as possible had been ruined. He promised he’d be back in time for my graduation, but I hadn’t seen him before the ceremony started. When my name was called, however, I heard him cheering for me the loudest, and I had glanced out at the auditorium to find him sitting with my parents and the rest of my extended family.
But as I walked through the crowds, I couldn’t find anyone, not even an aunt or uncle. Frustrated, I fished my phone out of the pocket of the dress I was wearing under my gown and called Maverick.
It rang three times before he answered. “Hey, babe. There was a problem at the clubhouse. I didn’t want it to ruin your and Garett’s graduation party, so I’m going to take care of it myself.”
“Oh,” I said with a pout. “Will it take long? I missed you.”
“Mila and Monroe are waiting for you in the parking lot. They’re going to doll you up at the store and then bring you over.” His voice dropped. “I missed you too.”
“But I don’t want to be dolled up,” I complained. “I don’t even want to go to a party. Can’t we just have our own celebration at home?”
I heard his agonized groan. “Soon, baby. I swear, very, very soon.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, stomping toward the parking lot. “But we aren’t staying long at that stupid party.”
“See you soon. Love you.”
“I love you too.” Hanging up, I looked around for any sign of the twins. Spotting one of Monroe’s bodyguards, I marched toward them.
The guard stood outside of a monster of an SUV. The thing was bulletproof, probably even bazooka-proof if Gian had his way. The thought made my lips twitch as I approached. The guard turned and opened the back door, and I saw the twins inside already laughing and seeming to be having a good time.
Before I climbed in beside them, I took off the gown and folded it over my arm, then slid in beside Mila.
“That dress is pretty,” Monroe commented, handing me a glass of champagne.
“Thanks.” I tossed back the contents of the glass before holding it out for a refill. If I had to wait to get my man alone, I planned on having a nice buzz going on beforehand.
Mila poured me half a glass, and I only glared at her until she topped it off. “That’s your last glass until after you get ready,” she informed me.
“Whatever,” I grumbled unhappily as the driver pulled into the slow flow of traffic leaving the school.
“I know you wanted to go home and bone my brother,” my best friend said with a wicked grin. “But he’s got plans of his own. He wants to make today special. It’s important to him.”
Guilt hit me dead center, and I lost my pout. “Okay, okay. I’ll try my best. But I’m just…”
“Horny?” she supplied, making Monroe snort the expensive champagne out her nose and causing us to burst out laughing.
“Yeah,” I said while Monroe coughed and tried to get the bubbles out of her sinus cavity. “I haven’t been without it this long since I was fifteen.”
One of the guards turned in the front seat, making sure Monroe was okay, but we shooed him away, already taking care of her. The drive to the store was quick and full of more laughter from the three of us.
The store was already decked out and ready
for our grand opening, but we still had a few things left to do before we could let customers in. When we walked in, Aunt Willa and Mom were already waiting with two younger women I recognized from the twins’ double wedding. They’d done their hair and makeup for the event and were supposedly makeup artists to the stars.
“This is a little much, don’t you think?” I muttered as Mom grabbed my hand and tugged me over to the corner where we’d set up the nursing mother’s area. “It’s just a party.”
“Maverick wants everything perfect,” Aunt Willa said as she sat down across from me. Mom took the seat beside her, and the two women clasped hands while keeping their eyes glued to me. It was a weird picture for me to witness. Aunt Willa was all kinds of huggy, but Mom, not so much. Yet the two of them were practically clinging to each other’s hands.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, concerned.
“It’s great,” Mom said with a small smile. “You just sit there and be pampered.”
I sighed and glanced around for Mila. “I need more champagne!”
“Coming up,” she called from somewhere in the store. “Just getting your dress options for the party sorted out.”
“You’re all acting really weird.” I lifted my brows at the two moms. “Have you guys been drinking?”
“Maybe,” Mom said with a wink. “Like I said, just sit there and be pampered. Don’t you worry about us, little girl.”
When my hair was done, the other woman started on my makeup, but I wasn’t allowed to look in a mirror to see how I looked. Muttering under my breath at how crazy everyone was acting, I stood with my champagne glass in hand and went to get dressed.
The moms followed Mila and me into one of the huge dressing rooms in the back. We’d wanted to make them spacious enough that a mother could take her stroller and toddler into them and still have room to move around freely. With the five of us in the room, we still had plenty of space to stretch out.
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