Full Circle (Rockin' Country Book 3)

by Laramie Briscoe

  Brad stood up, red in the face. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”

  As he left, Garrett sighed. Chris sighed too. “You’ve gotta cut him some slack. We miss Jared too, and we both know that if it were up to you, he’d be here helping you.”

  “It’s nothing against the two of you, you’re family just like he is….”

  “But he’s the brother you never had. We get that.” Chris scooted over. “It’s a shitty situation all the way around, but I have to tell you, I’m happy he’s finally getting the help he needs. It’s been coming for a long time.”

  “I know. He’s needed it, no matter how he’s acted about things. Still doesn’t make it any easier.” Garrett shook his head. “You didn’t see him. I keep seeing him lying there. I keep feeling my fingers down his throat, forcing him to throw up that shit. It’s gonna take some time, that’s all.”

  “And that’s what we’ve got here, bro. All the time we need. We’ll get this put together, and then you and Han can finish whatever it is you need to finish. Nobody’s asking you to entertain us. We get it.”

  Brad made his way back into the room, carrying a can of Dr. Pepper. “Thought you might be thirsty.”

  Garrett accepted it and sat it on the ground while he finished tightening a screw. When he finished, he popped open the can and took a long drink. “Thanks,” he swallowed. “Fucker,” he added on the end.

  It was that word that made them laugh. It broke the tension and let them all know that things would be okay.

  Chapter Thirty

  * * *

  December

  “Do you remember our last Christmas?” Hannah asked as she and Garrett finished decorating their tree at their house in California. They were late in getting the tree up, it was already the second week of December, but they’d been able to finish all of their Christmas shopping early. Hannah was beginning to get more tired as the weeks went on, and Dr. Willis was almost positive Everett was going to come early. They were expecting him right after the first of the New Year now; there was even some speculation he would come the last week of December. The C-section had also been decided on, and that was one thing Hannah was not looking forward to.

  “I do.” He smiled over at her. “You got me that awesomely amazing guitar, and we spent a night in front of the fire in Nashville.”

  “That was a good time, wasn’t it?” She reached up to put some of the last tinsel on the tree.

  “Here, babe, let me grab that for you.”

  She gratefully lowered her arms. Anything she did now put a lot of strain on her back, and she hated that, but it was one of the pitfalls of being pregnant. “Thanks.” She pressed her hands to her back and stretched, trying to ease some of the pressure.

  He finished and turned to face her. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” She groaned as he put his arms around her waist and used his hands to massage the tender spot he knew hurt her more often than not. “He’s getting so big, and I’m not very big to begin with. It’s harder to breathe now; I feel like he’s getting cramped.”

  That was one of the reasons they were thinking he might come early. He was quickly running out of room, and she was quickly becoming more uncomfortable. “As long as you both are healthy, I’ll be happy either way.”

  Turning around in a circle, she smiled, clapping. “We did it. Everything is up.”

  “Where did Havock go?” Garrett asked as he also turned in a circle. Their boy hadn’t liked them moving everything around and cluttering up the living room.

  “Last I saw, he was headed upstairs. Probably in the nursery.”

  “It’s so weird the way he’s been hanging out in there, almost like he’s already ready to be a guard dog.” Garrett shook his head. “But I do have to admit, it makes me feel good to know that he’s feeling protective.”

  “I agree.” Hannah stretched out her back again. “If you have the rest of this, I think I’m gonna go take a bath, if that’s okay?”

  “Sure, go soak your back. Maybe you’ll feel better.”

  * * *

  Hannah slowly climbed the stairs, not liking the way she was out of breath, but for now this was her new normal. It was hard to catch her breath at odd times, and she had to laugh at herself before pregnancy when she thought she was so out of shape. Making her way past the nursery, she smiled as she saw Havock lying on the rug in front of the crib. It was obvious he was looking forward to being a new big brother guard dog.

  She got to their bedroom and shut the door before she began taking her clothes off. Even clothes felt tight on her right now. There was plenty of room in them, she made sure of that because she couldn’t stand anything on her stomach, but at this point, she was uncomfortable in everything.

  Walking to the bathroom attached to their bedroom, she leaned down and began running the bathwater. This was the only thing that helped her back anymore. She wanted Everett to be healthy, but she also hoped he came a little early.

  When the water was finally at the level she wanted it to be, Hannah stepped in and sank down, sighing with relief.

  “That sounds almost orgasmic for you,” Garrett commented as he walked into the bathroom wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants.

  “Lately it is.”

  The way she glanced up at him caused his groin to tighten. It had been a while for them. She was uncomfortable, and he was worried about hurting her. “Are you complaining?”

  “I’m just saying, it’s been a while.” The side of her mouth kicked up into a grin, reminiscent of the one he gave her often.

  “Well, now you’re insulting my manhood, babe.”

  She situated herself deeper in the water. “The question is, what are you gonna do about it?”

  He saw the challenge in her eyes and met it with one of his own. Pushing the clothing off his lower body, he motioned for her to scoot forward. “I’m gonna join you.”

  Eagerly, she leaned so he could climb in behind her. He situated himself and got comfortable before wrapping his arm loosely around her neck. “Things have been crazy lately,” he whispered.

  “I know, and I feel like it’s only going to get crazier. Jared’s in rehab, we’re so close to having this baby, and then in a few months, you’re going to go tour Asia for two weeks.”

  “You’re right, but nothing is more important to me than you and Everett. I will do everything in my power to make things right for the two of you.”

  She knew he would, and that was one of the things she loved most about him. “I never doubted that for one second.”

  They lapsed into a comfortable silence, and Hannah let herself lean back against his strong chest. She closed her eyes and let herself be enveloped by the strength of his body. Everything was better when he was with her. She sighed again when she felt his lips on her shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” she breathed, her body already responding.

  “Reminding you that no matter what, I always want you.”

  Taking her hands off the sides of the tub, he placed them over her breasts. “You do this, while I do this.”

  Her intake of breath was sharp a she felt his hand travel down her stomach to the spot on her body that wanted him the most.

  “You ready to fly, babe?” he whispered, his voice dark against her ear. He pushed against her, getting a rough sound of pleasure from her.

  “Please,” she begged him, grinding down against the thrust.

  “Just relax, I got you.”

  He always did.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  * * *

  Christmas Eve

  “You okay?” Garrett asked Hannah as she grimaced.

  “Yeah, I don’t think that last bit of dip really agreed with me. I’m getting heartburn again,” she huffed. “I’m gonna go check on Shell, and I think the air will do me some good,” she told him, levering herself off the couch.

  “Alright, if you need anything, let me know.”

  She nodded as she made her way out
of the house and onto the back patio. Shell sat there, staring out at the water. “How’s it going?”

  Quickly, Shell wiped under her eyes and tried to compose herself. “It’s going.”

  “Have you talked to him?”

  Her bottom lip trembled as she shook her head. “He won’t take my calls, won’t accept my visits.” She heaved a breath. “Han, this hurts.”

  Emotional already, Hannah wasn’t sure how she was going to keep her tears in check. Pulling Shell over for a hug, she wrapped her as best she could in her arms. “I know, I know. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”

  “I don’t deserve it, dammit. I let my guard down one fucking time, I let someone besides you in, and this happens. I don’t know how to make this ache in my chest go away. I miss him,” she cried, hanging on tightly to her friend. “I want him here with me, and I want him to want to be here, not because he feels like he has to be.”

  “I don’t know what to say to make you feel better, just know that I’m here for you.” Hannah hugged her tighter. “Dealing with someone like him is hard.”

  “It is, but I would have done it forever. I feel like a dumbass saying that. He is so goddamn hard to love, but I love him. I love everything about him, even the bad parts. How stupid do I sound? It’s Christmas Eve, you’re going to have a baby in a few weeks, and I’m out here crying.”

  “It’s not stupid.” Hannah grabbed her hand. “You’re sad and that’s okay. You’re allowed to be sad. It’s a life-changing thing you’re going through.”

  “I just wish he would talk to me. I know he talks to Garrett, and I can’t understand why he won’t talk to me.” She cried, brushing the tears away again. “I can’t figure out what I’ve done to him that’s so awful.”

  “It’s him, honey. He has to get himself into the type of headspace so he can deal with the things life throws. Not all of us are equipped with the emotional capability to do that. Some of us have to learn it.”

  Shell blew out a deep breath and tipped her head back, licking her dry lips. “The rational part of me says that I know that, it says that I understand that, but there’s an entirely irrational part of me that says this is his way out and I should let him take it.”

  Hannah’s heart broke when Shell’s voice cracked. Anyone who knew the two of them knew that Jared and Shell belonged together, they only had to figure out how to make it work. “It’s gonna work out, I know it will. The two of you have overcome so much to make this work already, I can’t see how it won’t.”

  Shell really wished she could believe that. “C’mon, let’s go inside and open presents.”

  Following behind, Hannah looked up at the sky and made her own Christmas wish, throwing up a prayer that her friends would find their way back to one another.

  * * *

  “Thank you so much for my stuff,” Hannah grabbed Stacey in a hug. “I really appreciate the gift card for new running shoes. I’m gonna need it as soon as I have this guy.” She reached behind her, rubbing her back.

  “I figured it would be something you could use. Are you good?”

  Everybody stopped what they were doing to look at her.

  “I’m good. My back is just killing me again, nothing new.”

  “I don’t know.” Marie looked at her. “You have that look.”

  “What look?” Garrett laughed. “You’re acting like she’s a turkey in the oven with a done timer fixing to pop.”

  “That’s exactly what she looks like.” Marie took another look at her daughter-in-law. “Are you sure you’re not having contractions?”

  “I’ve never had contractions before, so I wouldn’t know.” She laughed to soften the smart answer.

  “Mom, I think we’ll know when it’s time to go to the hospital or whatever. The doctor said he may come the last week of December, doesn’t mean he’s going to.” Garrett stood up for her, grasping her around the shoulders.

  “But she’s never had a child, Garrett. I’ve had two.”

  “Mom,” Stacey said as patiently as she could. “They’ll figure it out. They are their own family now.”

  Hannah smiled up at her sister-in-law right as she felt something trickle down her leg. Her smile faltered, and she spoke calmly to the group. “Either I just peed on myself, which has happened recently, or my water seriously just broke.”

  Chaos ensued as everyone rushed this way and that. Everyone except the new parents to be. Hannah turned in Garrett’s arms. “This is gonna happen, isn’t it?”

  He smiled down at her, one so wide she could see his dimples. “It sure is. You ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be. I can’t wait to start this journey with you.”

  He grabbed her hand. “I feel like I’ve been waiting to start this journey since we met. This is exactly what I’ve wanted, and I can’t thank you enough for giving it to me.”

  “We’re coming full circle.” She clasped their fingers together. “And it’s never felt more right.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  * * *

  Garrett had never heard of “skin to skin” before this whole process had started. He’d kind of thought it was a weird notion, but now, as he sat in a chair in Hannah’s hospital room, holding his son against his bare chest, he completely understood.

  “You look like a natural.” Hannah smiled sleepily over at him from where she lay in the hospital bed.

  “I never want to put him down,” he admitted, placing a kiss on top of his son’s head.

  “Oh babe, you’re gonna have to, ’cause you’re gonna have to share him with me,” she teased.

  “And with us.” Marie smiled as she, Kevin, and Hannah’s parents walked through the door. “I hope it’s okay that we’re here?”

  He had to give it to his mom, she was being way more respectful than he’d thought she would be.

  “It’s perfectly fine,” Hannah answered for them. “In fact, we wanted to take a family picture, but we weren’t sure who to ask.” She thrust her cell phone out, wanting someone to take it. When her mom grabbed it, she motioned to Garrett. “C’mon, I want a picture with you two, even though I know I look like death.”

  “You don’t,” Garrett assured her, coming over to sit on the bed, handing their son over to her. “You’ve never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now.”

  “Alright you two, smile.”

  They did as they were told and smiled for their first picture together as a family.

  * * *

  Tiny hands and tiny feet. Everett James made his way into the world on December 25th. We’re all doing fine, but we request privacy as we learn to be…can you believe it…parents.

  “Do you think they’ll really leave us alone?” Hannah asked from where she sat on their couch in Nashville. They had waited until January 2nd to make the announcement they’d had their son. It had allowed them time to get home and get situated, even though she was moving slower after having had a C-section.

  “I think we were smart to come here. I don’t think we would have any privacy in California. My first priority was to make sure we could get here, so now I hope we can relax.”

  Hannah glanced over at him, noting the darkness under his eyes. “Thank you for taking care of us.”

  He had a seat on the couch beside her and pulled her close. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I’ve told you that before, but now it feels like it means so much more.” He looked over to where Everett lay in his bassinet and felt his heart skip a beat. His son looked like the perfect mix between him and Hannah. He had his hair and her eyes.

  “I hope he has your dimples.” She smiled sleepily as she snuggled up to him. “I really hope he has your dimples.”

  “Well, I hope he has your temperament, because we all know that my temper gets me into trouble.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, glad to finally be able to snuggle against him again without her belly in the way. “It does, but it’s also super sexy, and it only comes out when others dese
rve it.”

  “If anybody messes with him, they’re going to see my temper on full display,” he vowed.

  They sat in awe as they watched their son.

  “I wonder if he’ll be a gifted athlete or if he’ll be musically inclined,” Hannah whispered.

  “I’d say with the both of us around he’s going to have to be musically inclined.”

  She nodded. “I’ll support him in whatever he wants to do.”

  “I know you will, we both will.”

  “Is it bad that I’m already thinking about having to leave him in a few months?” Garrett asked, dreading it.

  “No, it makes you a good dad,” she assured him, which brought her to another subject. “Do you think that Jared’s going to be ready by then?”

  “I hope so.” He kissed her forehead. “I sent him a picture of Everett, and he actually replied back to me, so I think he’s getting better. We’ve had a few conversations, and it seems as if he’s more aware of his surroundings, he knows more of what he wants out of life. I hope he can keep this up.”

  Hannah agreed, not only for her husband, but for Shell too, and for the little boy who lay in his bassinet oblivious to the world. He needed his uncle as much as the rest of them.

  Epilogue

  * * *

  Valentine’s Day 2016

  “Are you sure you’re okay with him by yourself?” Hannah worried, even though she’d left her son with her best friend before. She always worried.

  Shell rolled her eyes. “For the hundredth time, we’re good. EJ will probably sleep all night anyway, and Havock’s here to make sure that nobody gets in who shouldn’t. We’re good. It’s time for mom and dad to go off duty.”

  It was hard to call them mom and dad still, but Garrett and Hannah were the epitome of what she thought parents should be. They shared duties and took turns changing diapers; Hannah wasn’t always the one to get up in the middle of the night, and Garrett more than pulled his weight. Tonight was their night to go out and have a good time. The first night they were going to take for themselves since EJ had been born.