Before the night was over, I shifted her crib until it was squished against my bed, so she was no longer all the way across the room from me. I could only fall asleep when I slid my hand through the crib's slats and rested my fingers on her. If I hadn't feared I might roll over and accidentally suffocate her, I would've kept her in bed with me.
Morning came before I knew it, and I woke to what I swore was the sound of Pick's laughter. At first, I thought it was part of the lovely dream I was having. He was holding Skylar, telling her what a princess she was, right before she passed gas.
He threw his head back and laughed. I thought he'd add something like, "Princess of Gas," but instead he said, "Christ, Lowe. I can't believe you actually bought this piece of shit."
My lashes fluttered open, and my bedroom at Reese's duplex came into focus. Daylight bounced off the pale walls, telling me it was no longer five in the morning, which was the last time I'd been awake with Skylar. The curtains shifted, letting in a warm spring breeze because I'd left the window open all night. The light gust dusted my cheeks, making me smile.
These past few hours were the most sleep I'd had all night. My body ached and I needed to take my pain meds, plus my milk-logged breasts were on fire and hard as stones. I was in the worst physical condition of my life, and yet I couldn't remember feeling so content.
Then I heard Pick's voice again. "I'm frankly surprised the thing is still running. Have you looked at this engine?"
I bolted upright in bed. Oh my God! Pick was here, right outside my window.
Oh my God times two. That hurt. Oh, hell . . . Ouch. That really hurt.
Wrapping my arm around my middle as white-hot pain slashed across my healing C-section incision, I gasped and tried to breathe through the waves of agony. But, wow. Sitting up too fast after you'd had your gut cut open did not feel good. It didn't help that my abdomen was still bruised from where Alec had punched me, but this . . . this had come straight from that stapled-together line.
"I wasn't there when Reese bought it." Mason's voice floated in through the window behind Pick's. "It was sitting in the drive by the time I got home from class."
"Want me to help you beat the hell out of the asshole who sold it to her?"
I smiled softly. It should probably bother me that Pick was so ready to use his fists, but that very trait about him had saved me and my child's life. I couldn't help but cherish it instead.
"God, no," Mason muttered. "I've seen how you beat the hell out of people. I'll pass. Just see if you can get this thing safe enough to drive."
"You got it. Hey, do you want—"
But Pick didn't get to finish the question, because another voice broke in, this one loud and obnoxious. "Yo, mother fuckers! Wuz up?"
Hearing the newcomer made me tilt my head in curiosity. Whoever it was sounded vaguely familiar.
Mason obviously wasn't expecting more company, because he said, "What the hell are you guys doing here?" I guessed more than one person had just walked up the driveway to visit him.
"I heard Pick got a golden invitation to your house and I was feeling left out."
"I'm only here because Ten was my ride to football this morning," another voice chimed in. "We started summer practice today, so I was dragged along without consent. Don't worry; I'll be out of your hair soon. My girl's going to swing by and pick me up in a few minutes."
"I'm sorry," a third voice interrupted. "Ten told me we were hanging at your place today, so I followed him. I didn't know we weren't invited."
"It's okay," Mason answered. "I don't mind you other two being here."
"Hey!" Ten yelped, clearly offended, which only made Mason laugh.
"Yo, Gamble," Pick called, his voice more muted than it'd been before. "Hand me that wrench by your feet, will you?"
"You're not going to jack some guy in the face with it, like you did last time we were here, are you?"
Wow, had he actually hit Alec in the face with a wrench? Even though I winced over how much that must've hurt my ex, an uncontrollable grin spread across my face. I hope Pick had left a scar; Alec had always been so proud of his pretty face.
"Funny," Pick muttered. "Bastard had it coming. Hey, I heard you got your girl back. I haven't worked much with you lately to offer you a congrats."
"Thanks," Noel said, sounding pretty proud of himself. "Though I have no idea why she took me back; I lost her her job and then basically saddled the responsibility of three kids on her when I took my siblings away from my mom. But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. She's here and I'm appreciating her for as long as she decides to stay with me."
"Yeah, I heard about your brothers and sister moving in with you, too. That sucks, man."
"Actually, it doesn't. I'm less worried about them now, plus they're in a better place. It's better for all of us . . . except maybe Aspen, who's taking it upon herself to get them settled in and enrolled in school here. She's been such a godsend."
"Hey, whose beer?" Ten butted back into the conversation.