When the plane finally stopped, I peered out the window. “Oh, we’re in Winters. I’ve never been to the airport here.”
Piper got up to exit with Dante. “Let’s go.”
“I guess this is it.” I inhaled a deep breath. “Are you sure you can’t stay a few days… forever?”
She smiled. “I’d love to, but I doubt my dad would let me. You know how bossy biker presidents are.”
I certainly did.
Hustler helped me out of the plane. My swollen knee made going up and down the stairs difficult. I guessed that when the adrenaline kicked in when I was running, I hadn’t experienced any pain. It hurt quite a bit now.
At the club, Piper had checked it out—unofficially. She thought my knee might’ve gotten dislocated when I landed on it. Nothing serious. I figured Patch could take a look at it once I got to the clubhouse.
I sucked in a breath as I lifted my head once my feet hit the ground. There was no activity at the airport. Just us. It was approaching nine, so not entirely dark during dusk. It was light enough that I could make out Danny’s face as he stalked toward me, but the rest of him was different.
He looked a lotbigger.
If I could run into his arms, I would. It’d be a romantic scene. Two young lovers reunited after being ripped apart…
His eyes were locked on me. We stared at each other. Butterflies wreaked havoc in my stomach as if I were a silly lovestruck schoolgirl.
Piper nudged my elbow. “There’s your guy, Em. See? He’s here, and you were worried.” Piper loved being right.
I almost smiled, unable to take my eyes off Danny. His expression was unreadable, which was not entirely unusual, given he didn’t like to show emotion. He was usually stoic and reserved. For months, we’d hidden our relationship so my dad wouldn’t find out about us. We didn’t have to hide anymore, but maybe old habits died hard.
I held my breath, unsure of what to do.
He stopped in front of me. “Emilee. I… Are you…” His voice trailed as he sought out the baby. “Wow, he’s a lot bigger than Birdie.”
Birdie?
I couldn’t form a response. Everything was awkward and so not what I had expected. I thought after being apart, Danny would wrap me in his arms and kiss me. Maybe comfort me after the ordeal I’d been through. I’d dreamed of this moment hundreds of times. It wasn’t happening how I’d imagined it.
Piper nudged me again. “You okay?”
I flicked my eyes at her, then darted them away.
Oh my God! He has a new woman.
That was it. Danny was cold and distant because he had moved on.
He didn’t take his eyes off Dante. It was adorable, but wow, was I invisible?
Storm and Track joined us. Both were watching Danny, adding to my feelings of neglect and anxiety.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Storm hugged me tight and whispered, “He’s just overwhelmed.”
“Of course.” My heart still hurt anyway. I was overwhelmed too. It was like I was hanging off the edge of a cliff, my grip weakening. At any moment, I’d fall, giving way to the building tsunami of emotions inside me.
Storm pulled back. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged. I couldn’t say yes because it’d be a lie. If I said no, I’d come across as fragile and delicate, the way my dad always made me feel.
Storm squeezed my shoulder. “I need to talk to Hustler. Maddy sent Birdie’s car seat. It’s in the backseat of the cage.”
“Birdie?”
Storm smiled. “Our little girl.”