“While you’re here, I might as well remove the stitches.”
I follow him to his supplies and let him do his thing, but my eyes never leave Peppermint. After a few minutes, Tahiti and Fiona leave and Peppermint joins us.
“Everything okay?” I ask, nodding in the direction of the exit.
“Yeah. I sent them home.”
It dawns on me that she plans on sleeping here tonight. I glance at the Bends and can’t help but wonder if they realize how lucky they are that Peppermint was part of the team that saved them.
I lift Peppermint’s hand and bring it to my lips to press a kiss to the palm.
“I’ll set the alarm on my phone for six,” I tell her.
CHAPTER17
Peppermint
ONE MONTH LATER…
“I wish my mom was here.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat and sling my arm around Harlow’s shoulders. I wish Velvet was here too. She was only in my life for a few minutes, but I could tell she was a good mom. She was kind to me and not because she had to be. That’s just who she was.
Tahiti leans across the bar and grabs Harlow’s hand. “I guarantee Velvet is up there watching you, and she’ll be throwing a party to celebrate.”
“She’s right,” I chime in. “There is no way Velvet is missing your wedding day.”
Harlow swipes her hand under her eyes and sniffles. “Thanks.” She groans. “Gah, I hate crying. I’m just glad it’s happening now before Giggles does my makeup.”
There are moments in a person’s life that force them to reflect on the past. This is one of those moments for me. When I was a little girl, I dreamed of fairytales and happily ever afters. Then the Ricci Crime Family entered my world and flipped it on its axis.
My dreams died along with my innocence. I tried to get them back, but every step forward sent me flying face-first into another obstacle. I finally gave up on fighting for the things I lost and focused on the things I still had to gain.
Harlow became the sister I never had and the DHMC morphed into my home. Are there times when I wish things would’ve been different? Yes. But would I trade what I have now for anything? Not in a million years.
And part of what I have now is Nico. We’ve settled into a routine over the last month. Story comes to the house almost daily to work with him on tracking Nicholi. Evenings are the hardest moments of the day because that’s when Nico gets stuck in his head. Sex helps—when doesn’t it?—but I can tell that not finding his brother is wearing him down.
The door between the bar and kitchen swings open, and Fiona steps out carrying plates full of food.
“I’ve got pancakes,” she announces as if we can’t see the stacks of them she sets in front of us.
Tahiti and Harlow dig in, but all I can do is stare. My favorite breakfast taunts me from the plate. I know I need to eat, but my stomach is suddenly doing cartwheels.
“What are you waiting for, Pep?” Harlow teases.
Cartwheels turn into backflips and backflips alternate with somersaults. I slap a hand over my mouth and race to the bathroom. I drop to my knees just as the gagging starts and heave the orange juice I had this morning into the toilet.
Sweat beads on my forehead and my stomach starts to cramp. My body continues to make an effort to expel whatever has pissed it off, but there’s nothing left.
Cool hands lift my hair off my neck. “I’ve got you.”
Harlow sits on the floor behind me and holds my hair. She rubs circles over my back and whispers soft reassurances that I’m not alone. When I’m done, she helps me to stand. I brace myself on the counter and stare at my reflection. I barely recognize the pale woman looking back at me.
“So…”
I grunt.
“You and Nico?” Harlow prompts.