She blushed as he pulled her in close to his side. “Hey. I think we’ve got them settled. Everyone else should be here soon, right?”
He nodded. “In about an hour, I’d guess.” His gaze turned to Sid, his expression serious. “Want to brief me on the latest? We can step out back.”
Sid nodded as he wrapped an arm around me, kissing my temple. “I’ll just be a minute, babe.”
I nodded as he released me and followed Ryker and Declan out to the back deck.
Piper clapped her hands and just barely stopped herself from jumping up and down. “It’s so freaking amazing to see you two together! You’re so fucking cute!”
I blushed as Caden snorted. “Yeah, really fucking cute and occasionally nauseating.”
I turned to glare at him. “Like you and Danny are much better?” I accused with a lifted brow.
Danika giggled. “She’s got you there, baby.”
An hour later, the backyard was packed full of Knights MC members and their women. Sid stood with his arm wrapped around me talking with Cole, their VP, while I talked with his wife, Scarlet.
It was a gorgeous evening with a clear sky full of stars and a hint of a chill in the air.
Connie and Ettie soon joined us, two of Piper’s friends who I’d met the last time I’d been in town.
I looked down around the yard where little kids, all very close in age, toddled around. “Is there something in the water in Hawthorne?” I quipped as I leaned in to hug each of them.
“Maybe.” Connie laughed, her blue eyes shining in delight. “We all got pregnant around the same time.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “Better stick to beer, then.”
“What’s that, babe?” Sid asked, picking up on the tail end of our conversation.
“I was just saying there seems to be a fair amount of knocked up happening around here,” I explained, gesturing to all the kids running around and babies wailing. “Might be something in the water.”
Everyone laughed as Sid dipped his head low, pressing his lips to my ear. “Wouldn’t mind you having a sip or two.”
I blushed crimson as he kissed my neck before returning to his conversation with Cole.
I spotted Piper sitting under one of their trees, and went to join her, scooting close to her on the comfortable-looking bench. “Having fun?” I asked.
She nodded, looking more peaceful than I’d ever seen her. “It all sometimes still feels like a dream.”
“I can relate to that,” I agreed, my eyes on Sid as he talked with Cole and Axel, Sophie’s man. “We bought a house. Or really, Sid bought a house,” I amended.
She turned to me with surprise. “That’s amazing, Sam! Where?”
“Right down the street from Cade and Danny. He wanted me close for when he’s overseas.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you guys. Any talk of getting married?”
I shook my head. “It’s all been so fast. We’ve only really been us for a short time. Moving in together feels like enough for now, anyway.”
“It would be fast for a couple just getting to know each other, but you two have been working up to this for years. I’d just go with what feels right.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m still learning how to be more open. How to verbalize what I’m feeling. We both are.”
“You’ll never stop learning—or at least I hope you never do. That’s what Ryker taught me. We’re constantly making each other better. It’s a process.”
“Yeah. Having something so horrifying happen to me really opened my eyes to how fragile life is. No sense holding back. I learned a lot about myself. I’m stronger than I realized. In a fucked-up sort of way it was kind of freeing.”
“That is sort of fucked-up,” she agreed with a short laugh. “But I get it. Traumatic experiences have a way of shining a light on parts of your life you couldn’t otherwise see.”
That was so it. I knew she’d get it.
I looked up at the trees overhead. “We starting back here tomorrow?” We had a lot of work to do to turn their backyard into a venue for a wedding.
“That’s the plan.” She nodded. “We’ll have more help than we need. I don’t think it should be too bad.”
“Nah, it’ll be fun,” I agreed, laughing as Roxie and Tank made their way through the backyard with Trixie in tow. The sight of Piper and Ry’s Boxer and Pitbull mix shepherding our tiny Chihuahua around was hilarious. “Looks like she got over the fear of being eaten.”
Piper laughed. “She’s running the show. I’m still getting used to seeing you with a dog.”