Page 107 of Say it Ain’t So

“Especially love.” I bent to kiss his lips, and the baby at the foot of the bed let out a tiny squeak.

Jen pulled little Rosie from her car seat, and she let me hold her while Rylan and I told them our story. I couldn’t help but notice the way my husband looked at me while I held her. There was a softness on his face I couldn’t ignore, and it made me ache to be closer to him. To hold him and love him, and to let the world know he was mine.

It felt good to finally get the weight off my chest, to finally be open about my and Rylan’s relationship. And it was even better when we were met with the love and support of our friends. I hadn’t had that before. Peter had taken everything away from me, until I had no support system. I was all alone, with no one but him to rely on, and he was nothing but a monster who sucked the life out of me.

But here in Chicago, I’d found a family I hadn’t expected when I fled from my past and hoped for a better future. Jen and the men at Bridgewater Security were exactly what I needed, and I had no doubt they’d have my back and watch over me.

When the little family had left and it was finally quiet, Rylan turned his blue gaze my way. With what little energy he had left, he patted the bed beside him, then lifted the blanket, inviting me in. Exhaustion weighed on me like a heavy blanket, and I curled myself around him, holding him close as we fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

31

RYLAN

It took months of rehabilitation and healing for me to get back on my feet. Joss helped me every step of the way—from dragging my ass to physical therapy, to making sure I did my exercises, to massaging my sore muscles to help ease my pain.

What helped the most was that she moved in with me shortly after I left the hospital. I’d mentioned it briefly one night when she said she needed to go home to feed her fish, and by the end of the week, her entire twenty-gallon tank was sitting in my living room, with Clyde and Gary and all the other critters gawking at me as I sat on the couch.

She somehow convinced Van, Kolton, Weston, and Zane to give up their Saturday, and the next thing I knew, she was living with me for good. She was sleeping in my bed. Cooking for me or making fun of my lack of cooking skills. She made my life a thousand times better, giving me that sense of adventure I was always searching for.

Joss and I were soon back to the dates we’d had before I was shot. Until I was walking on my own, she’d drive me all over, bringing me to bars and restaurants where we could watch and sometimes enjoy the fun. Once I was walking again, our dates moved outside at times, and often involved strolling around parks with Frank bringing us trinkets and begging for nuts.

Outside one of our new favorite country bars, Joss dropped her phone to her side and glanced up at me. “Okay, Mom and Dad should be here in the morning. They have to leave bright and early the next day, but at least they’ll make it to the reception.”

“That’s good.” I pulled her against me, hoping the warmth of my body would soak into hers. “I’m glad they’ll be able to be here.”

Her parents’ inability to get away from the zoo was something Joss had mentioned when we first started talking about our wedding reception. I hadn’t believed her—hadn’t believed her parents wouldn’t want to drop everything to be here for this. But I didn’t realize just how much their lives revolved around the animals. From feedings to injuries to the sudden, unexpected birth of a monkey that forced them to hand-rear the infant and take it everywhere with them.

All in a day's work at the zoo.

“I just wish Cheyenne could be here,” Joss murmured, snuggling closer against the cold.

“You know she would if she could,” I offered, my stomach twisting with my lie. I hated keeping secrets from her. But with Joss planning every last piece of our reception, from the food to the venue to the decor, I wanted to do one thing for her.

I had Vinny and his hacker friends hunt down Cheyenne. After assuring her that Peter was in jail and she and her family were safe, I convinced her to come to our wedding to support her friend. I may not have been able to offer Joss much help with the planning, but paying for Cheyenne and Dakota to come see her was the least I could do.

It was a surprise. One that should have been here at the bar about three minutes ago.

Inside, where it was warm and dry and the drinks and food were ready and waiting, our friends had gathered for our last-minute bachelor/bachelorette party—if you could call it that, considering we were already married. I’d convinced Van to pick Cheyenne up from the airport and show up late, with some excuse as to why Joss and I needed to meet him outside.

He’d played his part, and as I caught sight of his head popping out of the cab of his truck, a grin stretched across my face. Because the passenger door swung open, and out stepped Joss’s surprise.

“Look, gorgeous,” I told her, edging her back and pointing down the street. “He’s finally here.”

“About time,” she muttered before she turned her head and sucked in a sharp breath. “Cheyenne? Dakota? Oh my God!”

I hobbled after her—the cold made my thigh throb, just like it did Joss’s hand—and laughed as Joss threw her arms around her best friend, the two of them jumping around like a couple of teens. My heart swelled at the sight, my smile going wider with each step I took.

Dakota smiled down at the girls, though he looked up as I got close. Joss stopped her jumping and wiped a tear from her cheek before embracing Dakota too.

“What are you two doing here?”

Cheyenne gestured to me as I shook hands with her brother. “Someone hunted us down and threatened us with your unhappiness if we didn’t show.”

“Rylan!” Joss admonished me, but I shook my head.

“Now, come on, gorgeous. Don’t even try to pretend this surprise isn’t the best thing in the world.”

Joss wrapped her arms around my neck, tugging me down for a kiss. “Maybe not the best thing.”