Epilogue
1 year later...
Texas
My fingers tapped impatiently on the hardwood of the sitting room side table. I bit the inside of my cheek as three of us waited for Harlow, Knix, and Marv to return. Across from me, Grayson shifted his right leg over his left, changing it for the tenth time. To my side, Bellamy flipped a page of the magazine he was pretending to read.
I almost made a comment. I knew he wasn’t reading it. For one, it was upside down, and for another thing, it was a women’s health magazine and his eyes had this glazed over look that he sometimes got when I tried to explain the process of hacking into a government database or something along those same lines.
None of us were as put together as we would have liked the others to believe. My heart pounded in my chest, beating a rapid thump that didn’t seem to be slowing down no matter how many times I took a deep breath and released it.
“Stop worrying,” Grayson finally said, glaring at where my fingers tapped out the tempo of my heartbeat on the side table.
I lifted a brow and smirked. “I’m not the one acting like he has to pee but doesn’t want to ask where the bathroom is,” I replied.
He shook his head at me and went back to his phone. I went back to tapping.
Minutes later, the door opened and Harlow appeared in her sundress, a bright smile on her face as she held the hand of a little girl with the darkest corkscrew curls and the biggest brown eyes. As soon as she saw us, she backed up and hid halfway behind Harlow’s skirt. I damn near stopped breathing. She was so cute. Sweat broke out on my forehead as Bellamy and Grayson stood and moved forward.
“Guys, this is Delise,” Harlow introduced, putting a gentle hand on the young girl’s shoulder.
Knix and Marv came up from behind her and Delise moved closer to our girl as they passed her. “She’ll be staying with us from now on.” Harlow looked down at the girl. “Honey, do you want to say hello? That’s Bellamy”—she gestured to Bell—“and Grayson”—she gestured again—“and that”—Harlow stopped and winked my way—“is the naughtiest one of all. That’s Texas.”
I stared at the little girl as I approached and crouched down as slowly as I could manage. “Hi, Delise,” I choked out.
I held out a hand, wondering if what people said was true. Could kids really tell if a person was good? As I watched, staring into Delise’s eyes—the same color as my own—I wondered if things had gone differently if we would be in the same place we were now.
I still had nightmares. I glanced up as Harlow smiled down at me. I knew she did too. For as long as I lived, I would never forget the sound of Stover’s gun going off. Seeing the blood soaking through Harlow’s clothes. Hearing her hit the floor. Having to face the line of doctors weeks following the event even as Stover was tried for embezzlement and attempted murder.
Knix stopped at Harlow’s other side, one wide palm going to her stomach as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. I felt like an ass, worrying as I had about the possibility of her getting pregnant. She never would now—the bullet had done too much damage.
A small hand touched mine. I slowly returned my gaze to Delise. She inched out from behind Harlow, settling her small grip firmly in mine. “Hi…”
I gulped. “Do you like games?” I asked.
She stepped slightly closer and nodded. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my cell phone. Clicking the screen on, I flipped through to a few of the apps I’d created and clicked on one, turning the screen her way. “Do you see this?” I asked, pointing at the monkey on the screen. “His name is Bruno. You have to help him get through the maze because he’s lost and needs to get home.”
“Home?” Delise asked.
I nodded, swallowing roughly as I gave the phone over to her completely and stood up. Her little face glowed with wonder as she tapped the buttons on the screen and moved the character around.
“Let’s go get the car, Delise,” Marv suggested, holding out his hand.
Distractedly, the young girl moved closer to him, reaching up with one tiny palm to latch onto his much larger one. Together, they headed for the door, leaving me to stare after them.
“What do you think?” Harlow’s voice was quiet, hesitant.
I looked back at her. I couldn’t do anything but admit the truth. “She’s beautiful,” I said.
Harlow smiled. “And now she’s ours.” I nodded. Knix glanced between the two of us. As if he sensed that I needed to say something, he backed away and followed the rest outside. “You’re still scared,” Harlow said as soon as he was gone.
I released a slow breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever not be scared,” I admitted.
She moved forward and leaned up on her toes to kiss me. Warmth infused every inch of the connection. I closed my eyes and reached up, holding her by her arms as I returned the kiss, pushing her mouth open and diving inside. My tongue met hers. I felt her eyelashes flutter against my skin.
“I love you,” I whispered as I broke away a moment later.
“I love you too,” she replied. “And I think you’re going to be a great dad. You all will be.”