“Looks like you’ve got strong swimmers,” Malachi jokes.
Delight and irritation wage a war against each other in my soul. I’m gonna be a father. Holy shit. But the mother couldn’t even bring herself to tell me. Son of a bitch.
Irritation wins, spurring me into action. I race out of the room, ignoring Malachi and Harlow calling after me to stop. The reception remains in full swing, which is good. Because something tells me that carrying Peppermint out of here caveman style is going to piss her off. The less of a scene I create, the better for me later.
Peppermint is still sitting at the table, the knife back in her hand. She’s alone, and the black streaks down her cheeks tell me she’s been crying. My heart bleeds at the sight, and my irritation dies a quick death. I force myself to slow down, to keep my emotions in check because something tells me she needs me to be strong right now, even if I’m feeling anything but.
When I reach the table, I make a point to gently touch her shoulder so as not to scare her. She flinches, but when her eyes land on me, her body relaxes.
“I thought you left.”
I crouch down in front of her. “I’ll never leave you,cuore mio.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
I take the knife from her hand and set it on the table. As I stand, I shift so I can lift her in my arms.
“What are you doing?” she screeches.
“Taking you home.”
“I can’t leave. They haven’t even cut the cake yet.”
“Harlow will understand.”
I kick the door open and step out into the night air. Peppermint shivers in my arms so I hold her a little closer, a little tighter.
“I was planning on staying here tonight,” she reminds me.
“I know. The plan changed.”
“I don’t understand,” she argues. “Why did it change?”
When I reach my car, I set her on her feet so I can open the passenger door. I urge her inside the vehicle and then lean in to buckle her seatbelt. As I’m scooting back out, Peppermint grabs my arm.
“Nico, why did the plan change?”
I really didn’t want to get into this here. It would be so much easier to handle her unpredictability out of earshot of so many people. But we don’t always get what we want.
“It changed because I refuse to let the mother of my child sleep in a glorified frat house while drunk asshats party directly below her bedroom.”
CHAPTER19
Peppermint
The driveto the house is tense, to say the least. We’re only five minutes away when I decide to text Harlow.
Me: You prob noticed we left. Nico’s really mad. I’m sorry, Har. This was your day and I ruined it.
I stare out the window at the trees passing us by. I’d much rather be on my Harley, especially when my whole being feels so out of whack, but Nico refused to let me out of his car. My phone dings with a text.
Harlow: You didn’t ruin anything. I’m married to Malachi and that was kinda the only goal today. Talk to him, give him a chance, P. Nico is just hurt right now.
Me: Love you, Mrs. Ricci.
Harlow: Love ya back, future Mrs. Ricci.
Me: Fuck off.