I nodded. “Lots of change lately. Almost all of it good.”
She turned to me with a mischievous smile. “Speaking of which, I’m pregnant.”
I nearly choked on the sip of beer I’d taken. “Holy shit, there really is something in the water in Hawthorne! When did you find out? How are you feeling about it?” I questioned in shock.
She laughed. “I found out right before you guys got here. I would have told you sooner, but this is the first moment we’ve had alone. It wasn’t planned but I’m happy. And Ryker, well, he’s something way past happy.”
I didn’t doubt that. He’d been bringing up the baby topic for a while now.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ll such a great mom, Piper. The very best.”
Her expression grew sad and I knew she was thinking of her mother who’d passed away. “I learned from the best.” She nodded.
Ryker immediately strode over, always in tune with Piper. “Okay, babe?” he asked, looking concerned.
She looked up at him and offered a reassuring smile. “Yeah, honey. Was just thinking about mom. I told Sam about the baby.”
He took her hand, guiding her to stand up so he could wrap his arms around her.
“Congratulations, Ry. You guys are going to be fantastic parents.” I smiled
He rested his chin on his soon-to-be wife’s head and held her close. “Thanks,” he replied warmly. “Let’s get you to bed, baby,” he murmured in Pipe’s ear. “Night, Sam.”
Piper shot me a grin and a wave as he guided them toward the house.
“Night, guys,” I replied.
I watched them walk away, Ry’s arm slung protectively around Piper’s shoulders.
They’d loved each other since they were kids. It was beautiful to watch them together now, days from their wedding and already starting a family. I was so happy for my friend. No one deserved it more.
CHAPTER 21
After three days of preparing for the wedding and getting to know the members of the Knights and their wives better, the morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear. I woke up uncharacteristically early, too excited to sleep.
“Hey, baby,” I murmured, leaning over to kiss Sid in that sweet spot right below his ear.
“Hmmph,” he muttered. “What time is it?”
“Early.”
One of his eyes cracked open in adorably sleepy surprise. “You? Up early?”
I laughed. “I know, I know. I’m just too excited. Today my best friend is getting married!”
He pulled me down to his chest, sweeping his hand up and down my bare back. “Yeah.”
“Thank you for working it out so we could come,” I added, snuggling into his warm body.
He kissed the top of my head. “I’m glad we’re here too. It’s been fun.”
A soft tap sounded on our door. We both looked over in surprise.
“Come in,” I called quietly.
Piper peeked her head in, looking sheepish. “Are you up? I waited until the sun had at least sort of come up.”
I laughed quietly. She’d probably been up for hours, if she even slept at all. “Yeah, I’m up. Give me just a second.”
She nodded, shutting the door.
I dropped a soft kiss on Sid’s gorgeous mouth. “Go back to sleep, babe. I’ll go tend to the bride.” I grinned as Trixie crawled out from under the covers, jumping down off the bed. I threw on a pair of sweats and a hoodie.
I found her waiting in the hall and she immediately took my hand and pulled me down the stairs, all three dogs clambering after us.
“Shit, it sounds like a stampede. We’ll wake the whole house.” I laughed in a hushed tone.
“I didn’t sleep!” she wailed quietly once we hit the kitchen. “I’m going to be such a wreck! I can only have one cup of coffee. That won’t be nearly enough!”
I wrapped her in a quick hug. “It’s okay. You’ll be too excited all day to know you’re tired. You won’t even think about it, promise.”
“Shit, I hope so. Ryker passed out almost immediately. Lucky bastard.”
I shot her a sympathetic look as I started to make coffee. The two of them had decided against the tradition of spending the night before their wedding apart. Ryker had said he’d spent enough nights without her as it was.
I loved that for her.
We sat at the eat-in kitchen table sipping coffee and watching the sun come up over the backyard, now set as a gorgeous stage for a wedding.
The large space had been cleared, with white chairs set up on two sides to create an aisle. We’d strung gorgeous lights through the trees and hung paper lanterns from their branches. Ryker had surprised her by building a beautiful arbor under which they’d be married.