My Absolution

Joz Maxel

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © Joz Maxel 2017

My Absolution

Editing: Rebel Edit & Design

Formatting: Kylie Sharp

Cover Art by: Pavan Kaur and Dawn Doyle

Cover Photo: Shutterstock

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher or author constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use the material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at jozmaxel2017@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of the author's rights.

FBI Anti-Piracy Warning:

The unauthorized or reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement including infringement without monetary gain is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

To those that think they can't or shouldn't...

Here's proof you can and should.

Contents

Prologue

1. Corey

2. Nova

3. Corey

4. Nova

5. Dane

6. Corey

7. Corey

8. Nova

9. Corey

10. Corey

11. Nova

12. Nova

13. Dane

14. Corey

15. Dane

16. Corey

17. Nova

18. Nova

19. Corey

20. Dane

21. Corey

22. Dane

23. Nova

24. Corey

25. Nova

26. Corey

27. Corey

28. Dane

29. Nova

30. Corey

31. Dane

32. Corey

33. Corey

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Corey

The constant hum of the machines in the room are slowly causing my sanity to slip away. The chair I'm sitting in is designed for quick comfort while visiting loved ones for short periods of time, not as a tether to the new reality I'm being faced with. I can't get comfortable no matter how many ways I contort my body. Giving up hope for one second of relaxation, I stand in front of the single window in the room and look out to the world that still goes by like everything is right in it. Nothing is right in my world, not a god damn thing. I slide my hands in my pockets and lean against the window frame, watching a couple leaving the main entrance of the hospital with a new baby in tow. They look happy and content, sharing one of many new moments in their lives.

I look away from the window and over my shoulder to see her chest rise and fall with each breath she takes. Her eyes are closed, not in a dream-filled sleep, but because of the swelling and bruising around them. Her succulent lips, marred by cuts and bruises, paint a dark picture of this beautiful creature, all at the hands of her husband and my best friend, Dane.

I rub my brows, trying to come up with any reason as to why the man who claims to love her would do this to her, when a reflection appears in the window. His stature is a menacing one, even more so now that his daughter is the one lying in the bed not moving, not making a sound. I turn around to see him nod his head in my direction, then disappear from the doorway. I give Nova one last look and walk out of the room to find Randall waiting for me. I lean against the wall across from Nova's hospital room, waiting for Randall to speak.

"He got picked up a few hours ago. Sounds like they're charging him with attempted murder."

"I was gone one month, Randall. One fucking month! What the fuck happened?"

He leans against the wall right beside me. "Dane's gotten in way over his head. Him and Crash have been running their own shit for a while."

I rub my hands down my face as I walk to Nova's open door.

"Where's Rourke?"

Randall removes the toothpick he's always got hanging from his mouth. "He's with Angela." He looks down both ends of the hallway, making sure no one's within earshot of his request. "I want you to do something for me."

I lean up against the wall, right by her door. That's when I notice how tired he looks. He looks at his boots, worn from years on the road.

"You still in love with my daughter, Corey?"

"Yes." He already knows this. I have for as long as I can remember.

"Take my girl and my grandson. Leave this place. Dane's going away for a while, but I'm not so sure about Crash. That kid is a live fucking wire." When he raises his head to look at me, I see the unshed tears desperate for release. "I can't lose them."

Swallowing the lump in my throat at the sight of this burley biker on the verge of losing his shit in front of another man, I tell him, "I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe."

He wipes his nose with the back of his hand and stands up straight. He stands a few inches in front of me to make sure no one else can hear what he has to say.

"My dad has a house a few hours north of here. Nobody knows about it. You take Rourke and Novalee when she's ready. I'll make sure you leave unnoticed."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Keep my eye on that little fuck. Can't touch him when he's incarcerated. Outside is a different story." Throwing his beloved toothpick back in his mouth, he steps inside her room. I take a deep breath, letting his request sink in. It's an easy decision.

Two nights later, Nova, against doctor's orders, signs herself out of the hospital and we head north under the dark veil of night.

* * *

Days later...

I look down at Rourke while he drinks the last remnants of his bottle. He seems content with his new room, new toys, new life.

"Okay, little dude," I say as I place the bottle on the night stand by the rocker. "Sleep well, my man, and we'll go shop for that skateboard tomorrow." I place him in his crib and make sure that his elephant is snuggled close to him under his blanket.

The memory of Dane buying him that elephant comes rushing back to me. He was so excited he was having a boy, he grabbed Nova in-between her bouts of morning sickness and dragged her to the nearest toy store and proceeded to fill the shopping cart full of boy toys. When he started heading toward the scooters and skateboards, she told him they didn't have the money for all the shit he was planning on getting, and instead, she picked up the grey coloured elephant and told him it was all his boy needed. It took a little convincing, but Dane finally relented and settled on the elephant. As he told me about the good news and the shopping trip, he confided in me that he also bought a black, banana shaped skateboard while Nova was in the store bathroom, no doubt losing what little she had for breakfast.

That skateboard was left behind as I grabbed what Rourke absolutely needed, but the elephant made the cut. He screams bloody murder when he doesn't have his elephant at bed time.

After I make sure Rourke is down for the night, I grab two bottles of Somersby cider from the fridge and go on the hunt for Nova. I find her sitting on the porch swing at the front of the house, her knees brought up to her chest, the oversized navy knit sweater pulled around her legs for warmth. Her head rests on the top of her knees while she stares out at nothing in particular. The creak of the door shutting brings her attention to me as I hold out the bottle of cider for her to take. I take up residence beside her and place my arm on the back of the swing behind her.

"He finally asleep?" she asks before taking a swig from her bottle. Her busted top lip is still swollen so she brings her hand to her mouth to make sure she doesn't reopen her wound by taking a drink.

"Yeah. It took a little bribery, but he's down," I reply with a smile. "Have to take him skateboard shopping tomorrow, though. Don't know how I'll handle it."

She narrows her bruised eyes as much as the swelling will let her. "I'm sure you'll manage," she says as tears start to fall down her cheeks. I place my hand on the back of her neck as a show of comfort. "Why did he do it, Corey? What did I do to deserve this shit?"

I haven't had time to process what the fuck Dane was thinking, beating the woman he claimed to love to a bloody pulp. This isn't the first time in the last few days she's asked me this.

"I wish I knew."

"I never should have married him." She turns to look at me." I always thought it was going to be you."

This, too, is not the first time she's said this to me. With our dads belonging to the same motorcycle club and our moms being best friends, Dane, Nova, and I grew up thick as thieves. Dane always told Nova she was his girl, but her smiles were always for me. I never made a play for her because it was clear my best friend had his heart set on her, so I was the noble, yet foolish one, and let it be. "You did what you thought was the right thing to do for your son. How could I stand in the way of that?"

Wiping her nose with the tissue in her hand, she states what I've always known to be true in my heart. "It was you I wanted most." She puts her hand in mine and gives it a squeeze. "Life has a funny way of working out."

I kiss the back of her hand as she gets up to go inside. Before she reaches the door, I say, "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. This won't happen again, I promise you that."

She nods her head and goes inside.

Corey

"Oh my God, Jenny, that looks fucking wicked! You're so talented, Corey." Leena beams at her friend, who I'm currently tattooing a tramp stamp on. It's a butterfly. How fucking original. Paying customers get what they want but seriously, make it your own. Is that so hard? But I've got to say, it fits her personality perfectly. Barely in her twenties with a rich daddy. This will definitely get her the attention she's craving.

Straddled across the back of the chair, Jenny turns her head to look at me. "You're really good with your hands," she says with a slight curve of her lips.

"Looks like we're done here. I'll clean you up so you can take a look."

"Hey, you wanna grab a drink with me and Leena tonight?"

After cleaning her up with a damp paper towel, I give her the hand held mirror to check out her new tattoo. She takes it and walks over to the full length mirror on the wall behind me, her friend following.

"It really is amazing, Corey." She hands me the mirror back and sticks her ass out a little more than necessary when she goes to sit back down in front of me. "You're my guy, Corey. I'll make sure all my friends come to see you."

Leena is now standing in front of Jenny, her left leg turned out, resting on the ball of her foot. Her left hand starts caressing up the inside of her thigh to lift her already short as fuck skirt. I can now see the hot pink lace that adorns her money shot. Is this chick for real? "I was thinking maybe a rose right here would look nice." She tilts her head to the side and bites her bottom lip. "Do you think it would look nice, Corey?"

I put the last of the medical tape on Jenny's bandage. "You're good to go." I stand up and walk over to my work bench in search of my care instruction cards. I rip off my gloves, grab said card and turn around to find Jenny and Leena standing side by side, looking at me seductively, but only one woman can look at me like that and get a reaction. These two look like they're auditioning for PornHub. Using my left hand, I hand the card to Jenny. "Just in case you forget."

She hesitates, then grabs the card when she notices my black wedding band. She looks up at me and smiles. "Lucky girl."

"I'll walk you ladies to the front." Smiling, I gesture to the door.

Walking down the hall, I can hear Lola yelling, "Matt! You have to stand like this so I can show you!"

"No way! I fell for that a few times already."

I turn the corner and see Matt protecting his balls with his hands, while my girl is in her Tae Kwon Do stance, ready to strike.

"Oh my God, how cute are you!" Jenny shrieks when she sees my daughter in a gold crown, pink body suit, pink tights, and pink tutu.

Laughing, I say, "Matt, can you help Jenny with her payment?"

"Gladly," he replies, with a look of relief.

Looking down at my pink ballerina fighter, I pick her up and set her on the counter. "We talked about beating up Matt. He bruises like a peach, remember?"

She turns to look at him, just as my wife walks through the door and says, "I thought you said he was a pussy?"

"What!" Matt turns to look at my now giggling girl. I look up at my wife, who doesn't find this as funny as I do.

"That's great, Corey. You and Rourke are officially done sparring with Lola." She places the bag on the counter beside Lola and comes to the side of the counter I'm standing on.

Jenny grabs the keys out of her purse on her way to the door. She stops and turns to face us. "Thanks again, Corey. Always a pleasure." She smirks and gives a little wave before she's gone.

"Another admirer, I see." Nova tilts her head to the side, and I give her the only response she deserves. I place my hands on both sides of her face and give her a slow, playful kiss she'll feel down to her toes.

"Ewww! Innocent eyes here, people!" Matt grabs Lola off the counter and places her on her feet. "C'mon, Lo. I need help stocking your dad's station again."

Keeping a strong hold on my wife, I smile and turn to look at Matt walking away from us with Lola. "She sees us all the time, dude".

From the back, he yells, "I was talking about me!"

Nova starts to pull away when my hold moves to her hips. Her smile lights up the entire room. I love that smile.

"Where do you think you're going?" I step forward as she takes a step back.

She grabs her bag off the counter and swings it over her shoulder. "Rourke will pick up Leni when she's done with volleyball practice. Lola's dancing is at five."

"Wanna go in my office? My next client isn't due for a few more minutes." My hands climb up her back, pulling her closer to me, if that's even possible. "I'll be quick, I promise." My tongue snakes out to lick her bottom lip. Just as I feel her body melt a bit into me, Lola comes running toward us with black disposable gloves adorning her way smaller hands.

Sighing in a frustration we both feel, I get that smile again. "Babe, what I want to do to you will take longer than a few minutes." She gives me a quick kiss on the lips and backs away from me, again. I hang my head and shudder. I love my daughter, I truly do, but some days, the word cock-block comes to mind.

"You be good for Daddy, and I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Running her hand over top of our daughter's brown curls, she leans down for a kiss, then heads to the front door.

"Daddy, are you cooking again?" As Lola says this, she holds her hands in prayer formation under her chin, waiting for my response.

Looking down at her, I put on my stern face. "Maybe."

Lola throws her hands in the air. "Yes! We get pizza again!"

Almost out the door Nova looks back to see me holding a giggling Lola upside down by her legs, and blowing zerberts on her pink body- suited stomach. Shaking her head, Nova turns and she's out the door.

Nova

It has to be a full moon. That's the only explanation for all the assholes tonight. Two gunshot wounds, one knife wound to the arm, and a questionable sex toy stuck up some guy's ass, and my shift is only half- way through.

Right now, I'm tending to a fifty-seven-year old biker who thought he was still young enough to be racing his Harley Davidson Road Glide down Hwy 6. He lost control of the bike and hit the guard-rail at lightning speed, but by the grace of God, he walked away with only a deep gash on his head, requiring a few stitches. Lucky me, I get stuck with a tatted up, old-school biker who's afraid of needles.

"Wh—what are you doing with that?" he asks as he tries sitting up to escape. His feet are just about over the edge of the bed when he gets dizzy and puts his hand over his mouth. "I think I'm gonna puke."

"Mr. Price, if you don't lay back down, I'll call security and have them strap you down. You have a head wound, you won't get far," I say in my most saccharine voice. He lays back down, putting his mud covered boots back on the bed with a thud. "Now, are you going to be a good boy and let me stitch you up?" I address him like I'm addressing my four-year-old, raised eyebrows and all.

He squints his eyes, trying to focus on my name tag. "Nova? What kind of fucked up name is Nova?"

I wheel my prepped tray closer to him and rip open the packets of sutures when Lisa walks in, and not a moment too soon. "Hey girl, you got someone waiting for you at the bay. Go ahead, I'll take over here."

I peel the gloves off and throw them in the garbage. "Thanks, Lisa. He's squeamish, so make it good." I smirk as I walk out of the room.

I'm tapping the latest song I heard on the radio on my lap while walking to the bay. Gloria, our ER unit clerk, is leaning across the desk, trying to flirt with our Head of Security, Manny. She's been relentless in her pursuit of his six foot , two hundred fifty-pound frame, but swears she's only playing around. Her husband of thirty-six years died a couple years ago fighting a house fire. He was the love of her life, and she has no desire to find another.

"You two need a room? There's a few vacant in the back I could hook you up with."

Manny turns a few shades redder. "I, uh...I gotta go." Turning on his heels, he marches down the hall, his massive collection of keys clamouring against his side as he heads toward the coffee machine. Giggling, Gloria falls back in her chair and rolls it under the desk. "God, I love messing with that man."

"Awe, he's a sweet guy. Lisa said I have a visitor. You know anything about that between your flirting tactics?"

Smiling to herself, she points to the man standing by the bank of windows. She leans on the desk, putting her hand under her chin and resting her elbow on the stack of papers she has yet to file. "Now that is someone I can abandon my husband's spirit for. Mmm, that man is nice looking, girl."

I roll my eyes at her. There's no mistaking who that man is. I can pick him out in a dark room just by his stance alone. Leaning over the desk, I whisper, "That's my dad, Gloria. He'd only break your heart."

"Good Lord, Nova! That tall drink of water is your dad?" she asks as she fans herself. "You tell him Gloria says to come by more often."

Laughing, I pick up a paper clip on the counter and throw it at her. "I'll be sure to do that."

Seeing my reflection in the darkened window, he turns around, his crossed arms unfolding to welcome me into his fatherly embrace. He's still the tall and strong man I knew growing up, only a little greyer in his hair, and wrinkles around his dark eyes. "How's my girl?"

"I'm good, Dad." I give him a tighter squeeze before I let go and take a few steps back. "What brings you all the way here?"

He takes the toothpick out of his mouth and asks, "Is there somewhere we can talk?"

"Yeah. Everything okay?" Conversations are never pleasant when they start off like that. Coming from my father, I know this isn't good.

"Let's go somewhere quiet." He puts his hand around my arm and gives me a quick flash of a grin.

"Is Angela okay?" I can usually read my dad pretty well, but tonight, I'm getting nothing.

"Honey, she's fine, still riding my ass." He takes a deep breath and looks down at his boots. "Dane got out yesterday."

Looking at my watch, I note the date, almost fifteen years to the day. Interesting how a few words can make you feel like you just swallowed a handful of sand. "Shit."

My dad moves his hand to the middle of my back and urges me forward. "Nova just needs a few minutes to regroup. Is there a room we can use for privacy?" he asks Gloria, while pushing me toward the back hallway.

Gloria takes a look at me and purses her lips at my dad. "The family room, third door on the left."

Before I can say anything, my dad thanks Gloria and walks us to the quiet room. Once we are both inside, he locks the door and sits me down on the couch before taking up residence on the coffee table in front of me.

The room is decorated in monotone hues—from the beige walls, to the cream coloured furniture my ass is currently sitting on. The only light in the room is from the lamp that's humming, probably from being on all the time. It hits me that we're in the one room that no good news is ever delivered in.

Placing his elbows on his knees, he rubs his hands through his hair and down his face. My father clears his throat, taking my hands in his. "Dane came to see me yesterday after he was released. Almost didn't recognize him. He asked if he and I could talk." His eyes meet mine, and where his are tender, mine are furious. He clears his throat again. "He wants to see you and Rourke."

"Is this a joke?" I look at my father's mouth, his nose, then his eyes. Still no telltale sign. Fuck. I stand up and start pacing the room. It's safe to say I've gone from shocked to fucking livid. This man, my ex-husband, beat me senseless all because he was having a bad trip. And now my dad is sitting in front of me, telling me in a not-so-subtle way that I should let him see me and Rourke. I had to forgive him in order to have the life I wanted with Corey, but never considered seeing him again.

Awesome.

"No, honey, this is not a joke. But my fucking woman and her bleeding heart said I should listen to what he had to say. " He turns around on the table to see me pacing from one end of the room to the other. "Kiddo, please, sit down so I can talk to you."

I stop. "Don't call me that."

"He's had no choice but to deal with what he did to you. I wanted to kill him that night. I even thought I could get to him on the inside. He wants a chance to make amends with you."

I laugh at him, void of any humour in the situation. "Seriously? You want Dane to come and visit me so he can say he's sorry? Did you hit your head on the way here?" I stop pacing to lean against the locked door. All of a sudden, I feel like I can't catch my breath.

Standing from the table, he places both hands on either side of my neck so I can focus on him. I look everywhere else but him. "I'll tell him it's not a good idea. If that's what you want then I'll keep him away from you." I'm not sure if his look of concern is for me, or for Dane.

I put my hand on the door knob to ground myself. My head is pounding, and my stomach feels like it's ready to expel its contents all over my father. I try to slow down my erratic pulse by taking in deep breaths. After a few seconds, I can finally concentrate on my dad. "Why now? After all these years, why now?"

"I don't know. Prison changes a person, Novalee. Maybe it was the time he needed to come to grips with all he lost." He leans in to kiss me on the forehead. He no longer smells like leather and motor oil, but of Dove for Men soap and Old Spice aftershave. Looks like Angela finally got her claws into the unattainable Randall.

Pushing myself off the door, I turn my back to my dad and unlock the door. The Misfits tattoo on his forearm appears as he rests his left arm beside the door-jamb.

"Corey's aware of Dane's release. Talk to him, see what he thinks about it," he advises as he gently places his hand on my back, between my shoulder blades.

He can't see me purse my lips, but he can see me shaking my head. Of course, he would go to Corey first. Corey respected my father growing up, but they were never close, not like they are now. "Dad, I have to go." His hand slides down my back as I walk through the door, holding my head up high like everything is okay. My dad and I are usually on the same side, but tonight, we're worlds apart.

Corey

Glitter.

Whoever it was that decided to introduce glitter to a four-year-old should be fucking shot. How much glitter does said four-year-old need? Apparently, copious amounts. I can't fault her. It’s Nova's birthday today, and my daughter just wanted to make her a card.

"Daddy, do you like it?" I finish the remnants from my glass of water and turn to Lola, who’s dressed in her signature tutu and tiara.

She holds up the glittered birthday card at an angle, so as not to lose the colourful globs that decorate the pink construction paper.

With her eyes wide, she says, "I did it myself!"

"I see that, baby girl. Where did you get the glitter?" My focus lands on her ten-year-old sister, Maybelene, who’s looking at me with a blank stare.

"Mayberry, what happened to no more glitter in the house?"

She gasps. "Oh my God. Dad, please, stop calling me that! I'm ten. I'm too old for that name."

I only use that name to get a rise out of her.

I lean down to kiss the top of her head. "Leni, throw out what's left before your mom sees this mess."

"Are you gonna stop calling me that name?"

"Lola, help your sister clean up."

I smile at my girls before turning around in search of my birthday girl. Shaking my head, I revel in knowing that Maybelene's attitude comes from me, but Lola is her mother, glitter and all.

The smell of vanilla invades my senses, making all of me take notice. I grin, knowing exactly what my woman will get for her birthday surprise, and that she's as hot for me as I am for her.

Anytime.

Anywhere.

I go to reach for our bedroom door when Metallica's "Sad But True" floods the hallway.

"Hey, Corey. How was the run?"

"Good. You should come with me next time," I return, knowing full well that'll never happen.

"Are we still going for a ride after school?"

I taught Rourke how to ride when he turned fifteen. His mom wasn’t too happy with us, but she's accepted the fact that he is his father's son, and riding is in his blood. Every generation before him rod—I rode—so it was just a natural progression when he expressed interest in learning.

Looking over my shoulder, I nod. "You're still looking after your sisters tonight."

"Yeah, I remember. I'll meet you at the shop after school."

"Don't be late. I got plans with your mom."

"Dude, that's my mom. I don't wanna hear that shit."

"Rourke, go take Leni to school. And your mother would shit if she heard you say that."

Not mine by blood, but in every other way that matters, he's an archetype of me.

Closing the door behind me and making sure it's locked, I make quick work of stripping off my clothes as I make my way to my girl. Steam billows out of the almost closed bathroom door. I can see her feminine form stepping into the shower, a sight that never fails to make me hard.

As I slide my boxer briefs down my fully inked legs, my cock springs to attention. She sticks her hair under the water first, then turns around to face the stream as I enter the shower. My hands slip around her waist as I kiss her shoulder, then move up to her ear.

"Mmm. My husband will be home soon. He's a very jealous man," she says as she extends her neck and smiles.

I grab the hair at the base of her neck to turn her head to me.

"Saying things like that can get you in to trouble."

Before she has time to come up with a smart-ass comment, my lips connect with hers and our tongues collide in a lazy dance. As her hands caress up the back of my thighs, toward my ass, I glide my hands to her wonderfully heavy breasts. I find the hardened buds and give them a little pinch. Not too hard, but enough for her to pull her lips away from mine. She closes her eyes and moans.

"Eyes on me, birthday girl. Always on me.”

I lightly kiss the tip of her nose and turn her around to face me full-on. With both hands under the curve of her ass, I push her up against the grey tiled shower wall, lifting her legs to place around my hips.

"Corey...the kids—" Her breath catches as I slide into her. Her chest and cheeks flush just the way I like when I fuck her.

"You save the world last night?"

"Husband, do you really want to talk about my night, or do you want to get to the job at hand?"

She bites her bottom lip to control the smirk she's trying hard to stop, but fails miserably.

Shaking my head, I smile as I start to rock deeper and faster into her.

"Is this what my girl wants?"

"God. Fuck, yes!"

Her breaths are coming quicker, and that's her tell. She's climbing to the edge.

The deeper I am inside of her, the less need there is for words between us. The connection says it all. I lift her hands above her head and lock our fingers, all the while, nibbling down her neck and up again.

"God, Corey, I love you!" she cries as I release into her, feeling her walls pulsate around me.

Her eyes connect with mine, and I can't help being reminded that the girl I always knew was my future is mine.

Body.

Heart.

Soul.

"I love you, too, wife. Happy Birthday."

Nova

As I openly ogle Corey's bare ass while he decides what Saxx underwear to put on, I try to stir up enough balls to talk to him about last night.

God damn, that ass.

Jesus, I need to get my shit together if I'm going to have this conversation. He picks the black pair with red roses, my favourite. Just as he pulls his dark wash jeans over that delicious ass of his, I clear my throat. "Dad came to see me last night."

Corey stops doing up his button fly jeans and sits down at the foot of the bed. "I know," he says as he looks down at the floor. "Randall was here before he saw you."

My walk across the room is slow and deliberate. I don't need this turning into a fight, but this can't be pushed under the rug either. He finally looks up at me as I take root in front of him, leaning on the dresser.

"Were you going to say anything?" I bite my bottom lip, waiting for his response.

"Babe, you really wanna do this now?" He stands up and starts making his approach toward me. One touch from him and I'll lose my resolve. "It's your birthday..."

Wrong response.

I hold up my hand to stop him. He tilts his head a little to the left, giving me a smouldering look.

"Don't give me that look, Corey. It's not gonna work on me today," I tell him, shaking my head. "Should we save this talk for when he's sitting at our dinner table?" I fold my arms across my chest, so he knows I'm serious. He puts both hands up in a sign of surrender.

"That's not what I meant, Nova. Permission to engage?" His smirk is all it takes for me to lose the tension I've felt since seeing my dad. The loud sigh and eye roll answers his question. He takes up space right beside me, shoulder to shoulder, leaning on the dresser and folding his fully sleeved tattooed arms, mirroring my stance. "We both knew this day would come. It's been fifteen years."

Looking at my feet, I take in a deep breath. "I don't know if I can see him."

"Nobody's expecting you to. But, if what your dad said is true about him being clean then maybe you could finally get the answers you've been waiting for." I feel him looking at me, but I can't take my eyes off the floor.

"He wants to see Rourke."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Corey nod his head. "I would want the same if I was him. Rourke is a part of him, there's no changing that."

I finally raise my head to look at the family picture hanging over our bed. It's not your traditional posed family portrait. The girls are in the middle of the picture, sitting Indian style on a pile of leaves, pulling each other's hair. I'm standing behind them, off to the right, shaking my finger. Off to the left, is Corey holding Rourke in a headlock, his million-dollar smile plastered on his face. I smile with the memories of that day. It truly captures our chaotic life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Doesn't any of this worry you? Dane is going to want a relationship with his son, and I'm not sure..."

Corey spins on the ball of his foot to cage me in. With each arm on either side of me, his towering presence gives me no choice but to look into his crystal blue eyes. He kisses the tip of my nose, and both corners of my mouth before he speaks. " Novalee Spencer, you and the kids are my entire world, and I will do whatever it takes to keep any of you from harm. Rourke is no different. We may not have made him together, but we sure as fuck raised him together. If he wants to meet Dane, I'm not gonna stand in the way. If he gets hurt in the process, ex-best friend or not, I will put Dane in his place."

"You'd be okay with him meeting Dane?"

"Right now, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Right now, I'm making sure my sexy as hell wife is okay with this." His hands caress my arms, starting from the elbow, and work their way up, past my shoulders to rest at the base of my neck. He tips my head up so he can take my bottom lip between his teeth. I gasp as his teeth bite into my lip, but is quickly soothed by a slow flick of his tongue. "Okay?"

Sliding my arms around his waist, I pull him closer to me. "You and your god damn charm—" His lips crash against mine. As his tongue slips past my lips, my hands find the globes of his perfect ass. Our make out session is cut short with a quick knock, then a parade of glitter, tutus, and smiling faces.

Corey leans his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. "I'm buying a dead bolt for this door." He sighs as I giggle. When he pulls away, he gives me a wink and an air kiss.

Rourke is first in line to give me a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Happy Birthday, Mom."

I gently pat his cheek. "Thank you, baby."

"Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you, and I'm not to blame for the mess," Maybelene declares as she shrugs her shoulders at her dad.

I kneel down to Lola's level to ask her what mess, when a mountain of glitter is shoved in my face. "Oh my goodness, baby girl. Is this for me?" Not a second after I have the card in my hands, Lola crashes into me and wraps her little arms around my neck, knocking all the unglued glitter down inside my bathrobe. "HappybirthdaymommyIloveyou!"

To no one in particular, Rourke asks, "Is that the look animals get before they eat their young?"

"Leni said my card was ugly. You like it, don't you, Mommy?" She backs up a few steps to stand by Corey and hooks her left arm around his right leg. He absently rubs her on the head, staring at me like he's waiting for me to have a breakdown.

"Mmhmm," is all I can manage to say as I try to gather as much of the glitter in my robe as I stand. "I love the card. I love you all. I'm just going to go take a shower, again." Before I close the bathroom door, I hear Maybelene ask Corey if animals really do eat their young.

Dane

Sitting on the hood of my car, halfway through my fifth cigarette, right knee bouncing wildly, I stare at the house attached to the address Angela gave me. The house is dark grey in colour, with black shutters adorning each window. A front deck, complete with a porch swing, takes me back to my childhood.

We must have been about seven or eight when the three of us sat on Corey's parents' swing in the backyard. We swung so hard the springs broke off, sending us flying into the air and landing on our backs. Corey and I walked away unscathed, but Nova wasn't so lucky. It wasn't until a few days later her mom took her to the doctor when the swelling wasn't going down on her arm. Turns out, it was broken. Me and Corey got ripped a new one by Randall, and Nova spent the rest of the summer in a cast up to her armpit. But my girl took it like a champ. She made us boys do everything for her. We even taught her how to ride a skateboard with one arm. Wasn't easy, but she begged us to teach her, so we did, gladly.

Movement in the big window catches my attention. I take one more drag, throw the cigarette down on the ground and stand up. I rub my hands together and give myself a little pep talk. It's now or never, asshole.

As I approach the front steps, I hear a female voice, but she sounds way too young to be Nova. With my last step on the porch, I see a larger silhouette leaving the living room.

Shit.

I prepared myself for Nova, not Corey. I look up at the black inked sky with a few pinholes for stars. I shouldn't be here. What the fuck was I thinking? I haven't been seen yet. I could totally slip off the porch and make a run for it...

"Are you lost?" The sweet voice brings my attention to the now open door.

"I, um...Hi. Is your mom here?" I'm smiling at the young girl who's standing right out in the open, her hand poised on the handle to slam the door in my face.

"She's out with my dad."

"Oh, well..."

"Leni, popcorn's ready. Did you pick..." A man comes around the corner holding a bowl in his right hand, while stuffing his face with popcorn with the other. All the air in my lungs leaves me. He's not a man, he's a boy.

My boy.

He's looking at who I now know as Leni, and when he finally notices me, he stops chewing. His steely grey eyes are staring right at my watery ones. He's exactly like me, only eighteen years younger and a clean canvas of skin.

"Rourke." I take a step back and put my hands over my mouth. My head is spinning. He's a beautiful sight I never thought I'd be blessed enough to see again. This is not how I thought this would play out, not even fucking close.

"Len, take the popcorn and get the movie ready." He hands the bowl to Leni in hopes she'll walk away from the scene about to unfold.

"You okay, Rour?" Her look of concern isn't necessary. I look down at her and give her a wink, and Rourke gives her a tight-lipped smile. "I'll be right there, okay."

"Okay." Leni takes the bowl and slowly turns around to head to the living room. Before she's out of sight she looks over her shoulder. "You're Dane, aren't you?"

Sliding my hands in my pockets, I pull my shoulders up to my ears. "How'd you know?"

Leni looks to Rourke, then to me again, and says, "My brother looks just like you." And then she's gone.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding and focus on the sight before me. In a small sliver of time, I've picked out all the features that he got from me, and what his mother has blessed him with.

Rourke clears his throat and closes the gap between us. Using the door as a shield, he closes it enough, just so his frame can be seen. "They're gone for the night, so..."

"Yeah. I, um...I just wanted..." Deep breath in, deep breath out. "I'm staying at the Sheraton, downtown, room five thirteen." To my right, I look at the piece of shit car parked in the neighbour's driveway and a couple at the end of the street, walking their poodle. Looking left, I see a few vehicles passing by in each direction. I look down at my black and white chucks and scratch the back of my neck. I chuckle to myself at how idiotic I must look to him.

"I'll tell them. I have to get back to my sister." Using his thumb to gesture behind him, I take my cue and nod my head.

I turn to walk back down the stairs when Rourke very quietly gets the last word in. "Mom always said how much we look alike."

I'm fucked.

Corey

Redstone's is a trendy hot spot nestled in the belly of the downtown core. From the street, all you see is a store window displaying the intricate interaction of copper and steel metals roped together, making up an old whiskey distillery.

Sitting with us at one of the high tables, situated by the floor to ceiling, fully stocked bar are our best friends, Brenda and Grant, the owners of this trendy eatery.

Grant is giving us the highlights of when he found out his wife was blessing him with twins. "By the time I came to, Bren was already dressed and waiting for me in the car." He looks at his wife, who's shaking her head at how ridiculous he was.

"You guys have waited so long for these moments. Cherish all of them, even the crazy ones." My wife is beaming at them with her hands crossed over her chest. "I can't wait to snuggle those babies."

Grabbing Bren's hand, Grant directs his question to me. " You gonna try for that boy of yours?"

"Not so sure about that, but I sure like trying." I turn my focus to Nova, who's looking at me like I have six heads. "What?"

"You want another one, do you? Have you forgotten how much fun Lo was as a newborn?" I'm not sure how to proceed, be cause the look she's giving me is uncharted territory.

Putting my arm on the back of her chair, I lean in to whisper in her ear. "How could I ever deny making something that's a part of me and a part of you?" She leans her head to me so I can taste the sweet spot just behind her ear.

"Okay, you guys are getting me horny and I have to go to the bathroom. Girl code, Nova." Grant stands up to help Bren pull her chair away from the table. Before Nova pulls away I nestle my nose in her hair, knowing I got her mind going on the possibility.

"Right, sorry." Nova places her napkin on the table and moves her chair away from the table. Before she's too far for me to notice, Nova looks over her left shoulder and gives me a wink. There's going to be some baby making tonight.

A small slip of a woman walks up to our table holding on to some papers. She whispers something to Grant and he starts to nod his head. "Tell him I'll be right there, Denise. Sorry, my friend, but duty calls." He stands from the table and grabs his phone. "This shouldn't take long."

"No worries, man, take your time." As he walks away, I pull my phone out of my front pocket when it starts to vibrate. The display shows HOME is calling. I check my watch to see it's after eleven.

"Hey, Rour."

"Hey. Is mom with you?"

I glance toward the bathrooms to make sure. "Not right by me, no. What's up?"

"I have a message to give her when you get home."

"Rourke, just spit it out."

"My father was here."

I push the phone closer to my ear and cover my other ear with my hand to drown out the noises. There's no way I could have heard him right.

No fucking way!

"What did you just say? It's loud in here. I must not have heard you rig—" I stand up to scan the crowd, making sure Nova doesn't sneak up on this conversation.

"My father!"

I stop scanning at the same time I see Nova and Brenda emerge from the ladies' room. Taking a deep breath, I sit back down in my chair and rest my free arm on the table. "He was at the house?"

"He was, but I told him to leave."

"You okay?" I close my eyes and squeeze the bridge of my nose.

"I guess."

"We'll be home soon."

"Okay. Corey, I didn't mean—"

I know exactly what he's going to say, so I cut him off before the girls reach the table. "Don't worry about it." I end the call and put the phone back in my pocket before Nova notices.

"Babe!" Nova steps in-between my legs and throws her arms around my neck. "I'm ready for you to take me home and fuck me until I can't see straight." Her hooded gaze usually gets me going, but not after that call. Right now, my mind is on Dane and what the fuck he's playing at, but I'll play along for my girl's sake. "You ready to take my fine ass home?" And now she's chortling. Playing my part, I run my hands over her ass and push her into me.

"Why go home? We can use Grant's office in the back. Wouldn't be the first time." I start kissing along her jaw from her chin to her ear.

"Oh my God, just go! You guys are making me sick. I'm gonna find my husband and tell him to take his whale of a wife home. My feet hurt." Brenda sees Grant behind the bar, serving drinks to a group of women.

Nova gasps at her and puts her hands on her hips. "Bren, you're beautiful , glowing and blossoming, and my best friend. I love you the way you are."

"Uh-huh, sure." She makes her way over to our side of the table and gives us each a kiss on the cheek. "Love you, too. Drive safe, and Corey, do your woman right. I hear she's just hurting for an orgasm these days."

My slightly intoxicated wife is trying to stifle her laughter with her hand over her mouth, but it's of no use. I give her a quick smile and a swat on the ass to get her moving. "Hurting for an orgasm my ass! Get your shit together, woman, and let's go so I can do you right."

My thoughts wouldn't stop racing on the way home. Every so often, I would look over at Nova and she would be staring at me, her perfectly shaped eyebrows pulled together, eyes narrowed. I would give her a wink or a rub on her thigh to soften her features, but knowing her as well as I do, she knew something was up. When we got home, I made sure all the windows and doors were locked while she checked on the kids.

Nova finds me sitting at the foot of our bed, elbows resting on my knees, with my hands covering my face in thought.

"Corey?" I hear the hesitation in her voice. I look up and see her leaning against the closed door. I raise my left hand and motion for her to come to me.

"Come here, baby. I need to feel you."

I toe my shoes off and kick them to the side. She makes her way to stand in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders. My hands make their way up the back of her legs, around her perfect ass, and rest on her hips. She takes her right hand and places it on my cheek, using her thumb to caress over my eyebrow. I turn my head slightly to kiss the pad of her thumb, and in turn she rubs along the seam of my lips.

"Take off your shirt." As she unbuttons her red, long sleeved blouse, I unbutton my black shirt and they both end up on the floor together. I lay kisses over her breasts, which are barely contained in her black lace bra. She reaches behind to unclasp the bra and throws it to the growing pile of clothing. My tongue makes contact first with her hardened nipple, and then my mouth. She arches her back and lets out a soft moan while she runs her fingers through my hair. Hooking my fingers in the waistband of her pants, I slide them down her toned legs.

My wife is standing in front of me in nothing but a smile.

I would love to taste every inch of her, but tonight, my head's not in the game. I need to be inside her and feel her tremble in my arms. I unbuckle my belt and start to undo the zipper when my beautiful girl kneels before me, licking her lips to get a taste. I stand long enough to slide my pants down my legs and kick them to the opposite side of the room. I sit back down as I pull Nova up by her arms from her kneeling position. "Straddle me."

She gets up and places her knees on either side of me on the bed. "Is this what you want?" Her forehead is resting on the top of my head as I guide her onto my hard cock.

I notice the flush of her skin starting between her breasts, working its way up to her neck and cheeks as she grinds onto me. I palm her left breast, bringing her rose coloured bud into my mouth, while playing with the other sensitive tip. Throwing her head back, she increases her speed and rides me harder. "Oh God, Corey, you feel so good."

My right hand follows the path of her flushed skin, up her neck and cheek then rests on the side of her face. I tilt her head toward me, and our lips melt together in a frenzied kiss.

I need more.

I circle my arm around her back, holding her close, and turn us so she's now lying underneath me. I quicken the tempo of my thrusts as I feel the sting of her nails graze my sides. She wraps her legs around my hips, drawing me deeper into her. I know I've hit her sweet spot when she starts biting my neck.

"Oh my God! I'm gonna come!" A few more thrusts and we're both lost in the moment, moaning each other's names on whispered breaths.

Resting on my elbows, I brush the hair from her face and kiss the tip of her nose. "You're my world, you know that?" Her beautiful brown eyes search mine.

"I do."

Rolling onto my back, I pull her close to my side. She rests her head on my chest, right over my heart. I absently trace the cluster of deep red roses I tattooed on the top of her left arm. Over the years, I've added more roses, all the way down to her wrist, with different size skulls peeking through.

"Corey?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," she tells me as her hand grazes over my abs to rest on my other side. I kiss her on the top of her head and hold her closer before saying, "Love you, too."

Hours later, I look over and see Nova lying on her stomach, arm tucked under her pillow, facing away from me. I pull the covers far enough off of me so I don't disturb her, swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand. Walking over to the closet, I put on a pair of black track pants, black hoodie, and my high top, grey and white chucks. Reaching the bedroom door, I look over my shoulder to see Nova hasn't even stirred.

Dane's the reason I can't sleep, so I might as well go right to the source.

Corey

I need a fucking cigarette. The slow pull of the chemicals going down into my lungs always had a very calming effect on me. The growing red glow eating up the white paper was hypnotizing. Once the cigarette had finished its purpose, flicking it to the ground and stepping on the bud was the final release.

I quit when Rourke became my priority, but when shit happens, I crave one. Right now, I'm craving a pack.

My entire body is wound up tight. I grind my jaw, trying to figure out what the fuck Dane was thinking coming to my house unannounced. I know I made it sound like I would support whatever Nova and Rourke wanted, but standing here, seconds away from seeing Dane again, I'm not so sure anymore.

I brace myself against the door frame and try to take a few deep breaths before I knock. A slamming door at the end of the hall has me turning my attention toward the sound. A man struggling with his small child and three bags of luggage has me shaking my head. Sucker.

I turn my focus back to the task at hand but instead of a beige door with the number five thirteen in black in front of me, I'm looking into the grey eyes of my best friend. Correction, ex-best friend. Everything about him is the same as the last time I saw him, only he's aged.

I don't even process my reaction to him until it's too late. A right hook to his eye sends him stumbling back into his room. I put my hand on the door so it doesn't close on me. "Fuck, Corey! Right off the hop?" He's covering his left eye and trying to focus on me through the pain.

Shaking out my hand, I gain entry into the room and close the door behind me. The only illumination in the room comes from a bedside lamp in the far corner of the room. There's a blue ribbon of smoke coming from a makeshift ashtray perched by the open window. There's a small suitcase to my right on the floor by the television stand. The only bed in the room doesn't look slept in; maybe just laid on for a few hours.

Dane's standing in front of the mirror that hangs above the small computer desk, checking out the damage I caused. "Jesus, man, nice shot." It's already turning a deep red and swelling, giving me sweet satisfaction.

Both hands curl into fists, ready for the second strike. "This funny to you?"

He takes a deep breath in, looks down at his bare feet, and lets his breath out in a slow and steady stream. "No." He raises his head and looks everywhere else but me. "I needed to talk to you and Nova."

I give him a quick nod before making my way around the room. "So, you thought showing up at my house uninvited was a good idea?"

"What would you have done if you were me, Corey?"

"Telephones were invented before you went to jail. How about using one of those first?" I stop at the bedside table and see a very worn out and faded picture of Rourke when he was about four or five, riding the skateboard we got him for his birthday. "Where did you get this?"

"Does it matter? I'm allowed to keep up with my son's life, Corey."

I turn around to face Dane. "Is that so?"

Running his hands through his hair, he tilts his head to the side, eyeing me up and down. "Corey, I have every right to know about Rourke. Yes, I screwed up. I missed out on so much with him. I just want the chance to get to know him."

In two strides, I stand toe-to-toe with him. "What makes you think he'd want anything to do with you? You destroyed his mother. You left him. You lost all rights to him when you couldn't keep your shit together!"

The corner of his lips start to curl into a smirk. "Well, we can't all be as perfect as the almighty Corey now, can we?"

I grab his shirt in both of my fists and hurl him against the wall by the window. I lean in close enough that our noses touch, both of us breathing heavily. My voice drops an octave and in a very calm manner, I deliver the warning he had to know was coming. "Stay the fuck away from Rourke. He doesn't need your shit." I let go of his shirt and take a few steps back.

Dane straightens out his shirt before replying. "And what if I can't?"

"You come to my house again, Dane, and there won't be words to say when I'm done with you. Go back to wherever the fuck you came from."

Nova

When I open my eyes, I turn in bed to snuggle into Corey, but his side is cold. His running shoes are still in the same place he left them yesterday, and his running hoodie is still hanging on the back of the door on the hook. The clock on the nightstand reads 6:24 a.m. I hear no voices, so I decide to get up and start my day, maybe even have a cup of coffee, uninterrupted.

Making my way downstairs, I notice the television in the living room is muted, and a head is resting on the arm of the couch. Leaning over the couch, I grab the remote still gripped in Rourke's hand and turn it off. Placing it on the coffee table, I take a seat in front of him and watch as he stirs awake.

Turns out Rourke couldn't sleep, so he thought watching some late-night television would cure his insomnia. The problem with his story is that he sleeps like the dead, so I ask what's up, and that's how I find out he told Corey about Dane's visit to the house last night.

What the ever-loving fuck!

"He was here? In this house?"

"Only for a few minutes, but I didn't let him in. I thought he was in jail?" He's looking down at his hands resting in his lap. I move the blanket bunched up at his knees and take up root beside him. Grabbing his hand, I hold it tight.

"He was released a few days ago." I turn my head to study the profile of my son, who is not so much a boy anymore. I can dumb down this conversation for him and give the bare necessities, but that would just be an asshole move on my part. He knows about how Dane, Corey, and I grew up together, and the Cliffs notes version of what happened that night.

He squeezes my hand and offers me a smile. "You always told me how much I look like him." My eyes instantly well up. "It's okay, Mom." Putting his arm around me, he says, "Please, don't cry."

"Jesus, Rourke, this is so fucked up," I manage to say, before I hear the rumble of Corey's Softail Slim S Harley in our driveway. I grab a tissue from the coffee table and try to compose myself before my husband feels my wrath.

"You're telling me." He looks out the window, then back at me. " Are you gonna say anything to Corey?"

I give him a wink and a little smile, just as Corey walks through the front door. He takes a few steps toward the stairs when he notices us sitting on the couch. He fidgets with the keys in his hands and slowly walks into the living room.

"Hey." He comes around the couch to stand in front of us. "What's going on?"

I bring my knees up and wrap my arms around my legs. "Not much. Where've you been? I missed you this morning."

"Yeah?" He sits down on the right side of me and rests his hand on top of my knee. "I couldn't sleep, so I went for a run."

I tip my head away from him and raise my eyebrows. "Yeah? On your Harley?"

He first looks to Rourke, sitting on the other side of the couch, then back at me. He takes his hand off my knee and extends his arm to rest on the couch. "I drove to the park for a change of scenery."

"Your running shoes are still upstairs. What else you got?" I glance down at his hand and notice his knuckles are red and swollen. "What happened to your hand, Corey?"

He looks down, stretching out his fingers a few times. "Rourke, you wanna give your mom and me a minute?"

Rourke stands. "Yeah, I'll go start the coffee." He leaves the room, leaving us sitting side by side, staring at each other.

"Where were you?" I know my husband well enough to know when he's reaching for an excuse. I stare at his lips, waiting for the sign. Corey grazes his top teeth over his bottom lip. And there's my sign.

"I told you, to the park." He changes his focus from my eyes to his hand playing with my hair. "I left my shoes behind, so I went for a walk instead."

"How about," I stand up and turn to face him, "I wait for you to stop with the bullshit excuses upstairs, give you some time to get your story together." I try to walk in front of him, but he grabs my arm and stands in front of me, blocking my escape.

"Rourke told you."

I cross my arms and look up at him. "Tell me what? Something you should have shared with me? Why didn't you say something last night, Corey? I thought we were going to handle this together?"

"I don't know, okay! It's one thing to talk about it, another when he actually shows up at my doorstep when we're not home."

"So what? You went to go see him?" Corey looks to the side, then back to me. I narrow my eyes as he grazes his teeth over his lip again. I ask him again in a louder tone. "You saw him?"

"Yes! I went to see him. We had words and that's it."

"Is that why your hand is swollen?" I point to his right hand that's grown in size since I first noticed it.

He looks up to the ceiling, weighing his words before he speaks again. "It was a knee jerk reaction. I wasn't planning on hitting him, it just happened." He looks back down at me, putting his hands on his hips. "He wants a shot at being father of the year to Rourke."

Letting out an exasperated breath, I try to rein in my anger so this situation doesn't escalate. "I'm sure he didn't—"

"Jesus, Nova. The guy came to our house uninvited, took one look at Rourke and is determined to pick up his fatherly role in the kid's life. Why the fuck would I stand back and let that happen?" Folding his arms across his chest, I see his muscles straining.

I mirror his stance by crossing my arms and leaning forward, wanting to change the subject. "Honey, we haven't even talked to Rourke about this. He may not want anything to do with Dane. Us fighting about it isn't helping the situation. And even if Rourke does want to meet Dane, you said you'd be okay with it."

"Well, now, I'm fucking not!"

"Daddy, why are you yelling?" I turn toward Lola and Leni standing by the stairs, looking at us with worried faces.

He looks down to the floor to gain some control. I walk over to the girls and hug them together, giving each a kiss on the head. "Daddy and I are just talking, sweetie. There's no need to worry."

Lola turns her form to her dad and smiles." Do you need to go back to bed, Daddy?"

He softens at the sound of his little girl calling him out on his attitude, just like we do to her when she's cranky.

"No, baby, I don't. I'm gonna go for a ride. I need to clear my head." He passes us on the way to the front door, without so much as a glance. "Rourke! Get your shit, we're going for a ride."

"I think we need to talk about this, Corey." I stand in front of him and try to see any resemblance to the husband I had with me yesterday, but he's been replaced with the moody, and too far in his thoughts to be reasoned with Corey.

On his way up the stairs, Rourke yells, "I'll be right out!"

"I'll wait outside." He slams the door as he leaves.

Leni stands beside me and slides her hand into mine. "Is Dad gonna be okay?" I will the tears not to fall before I turn my focus to Leni, and give her a small smile. "He'll be okay. He just needs some time to think. How about us girls go out for breakfast?"

"Yay!" both the girls say in unison, and run up stairs to get ready. I look out the living room window and see Corey straddling his bike, looking down at his riding gloves. Rourke comes running down the stairs, kisses my cheek, and he's out the door. I watch the two look over Rourke's bike, get their gear on and back out of the driveway. A lone tear makes its path down my cheek when the men I love most in the world drive off down the block.

"Mom! You gotta get ready too you know!" Leni yells at me from the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, baby, I'm coming." I lock the front door and go upstairs to get ready with my girls.

Corey

About an hour north, there's a little diner in the middle of nowhere that Rourke and I have been going to since he got his license. Truth be told, I found this little gem when Nova was still healing. To give her space, I strapped Rourke to me, and we would get breakfast and talk. Well, I would talk, he would just babble and stare at me.

It's unseasonably warm for this time of year. We've shredded every layer we put on to just our T-shirts, pants, and shoes. We're sitting on a picnic table located beside the parking lot, eating breakfast burritos and soaking up the morning sun.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see he keeps glancing my way, like he has something he wants to say. I'm about to put him out of his misery and ask him what's up, but he beats me to the punch.

"Hey, Corey, when are you gonna tattoo me? I already know what I want."

"You don't want me married to your mom anymore, do you?" Nova would flip her shit. I'm okay with it, but her, not so much. Something about she wants more for him, blah, blah, blah. We both have more ink than most, so her argument fell on deaf ears.

He laughs with a mouthful of burrito. "I don't see what the big deal is. Other than your face, is there any skin left untouched?" He's looking me up and down, like he's studying me. I give him a side glance and wink.

"Never mind, I don't need to know." I give him a friendly elbow in the ribs.

After finishing off his burrito, he shifts his body so he's facing me. "Can I ask you something?"

I take a few bites of my burrito and grab my drink before I turn toward him. "You can ask me anything, you know that."

He rubs his hands together and looks out to the open field in front of us. "Why have you never pushed me to call you Dad?"

I use the napkin to wipe off my hands and miss the trash can when I throw it.

"I guess because you have a dad, and I never wanted to replace him."

"I don't know Dane as my dad."

"Do you want to know him?" I extend my arms over my knees and rub my hands together. After the last few hours, I'm not sure having this conversation is a good idea, but it was bound to come about.

He shrugs his shoulders and turns his focus to me. "I know what he did to Mom. It was weird seeing him in person. I look just like him." He kicks his legs out in front of him to stretch before placing his elbows on his knees. " Do you think he wants to know me?"

"I know he does. He was so excited when your mom told him she was pregnant with you. That guy bailed on me all the time when you arrived, saying he was hanging with his boy." I smile at the memory of how proud he was to be a dad. "Somewhere along the way he got lost, messed up with drugs and the wrong people. If he was in his right mind, I have no doubt he would have been a big part of your life right now."

"What about you and Mom? Do you think you would be together if Dane never did what he did?"

"I've been in love with your mom since I was five years old. Dane was always convinced he would win over your mom. He was my best friend. I would have burned the world down for him, so when he went for it, I stepped back. I never stopped loving her, and I think your mom always knew she loved me. Dane was just very convincing they were meant to be together."

"I think I'm okay if Dane wants to know me, but not at the expense of your marriage."

"Rour, what happened this morning was all on me. I didn't expect my reaction to Dane to be so strong, and taking it out on your mom was a shit thing to do. If you want to know Dane, then I won't stand in your way. I'll do my best to be civil, I promise you that." I hold out my fist and he fist bumps me.

I get off the table to go pick up the napkin to throw in the garbage. I turn around to grab the rest of the garbage off the table when Rourke gets the final word in. "No matter what happens, you will always be my dad."

I look like a mean mother fucker. At six four, two hundred and twenty-five pounds, tatted from neck to toes, and a muscular build, not much gets to me. Well, besides the last few hours. But this sixteen-year-old just brought tears to my eyes, and I'm man enough to admit this is one of the proudest moments in my life. I always treated him as my son, loved him as my son, but hearing him say it out loud is just...fucking awesome.

Corey

Nova's avoided me for four days now, since our blow out. I've tried to talk to her, but she says she's got stuff to do with the kids, or has to work. Normally, I would push her to talk to me, but I'm still high from my Saturday morning with Rourke. After our breakfast stop, we went shopping at the Harley Davidson store, then he actually joined me on a run.

I'm standing at the front counter, going over some paper-work with Matt, when the bell above the door chimes. Matt looks up first to greet our guest. "Hey, man. How's it going?"

"All depends on this guy." He gestures to me and smiles.

"He's a gentle giant. Don't let the tats intimidate you." Matt slaps my shoulder and chuckles. "You got an appointment? Or you wanna set something up?"

Gathering the papers into a pile, I look at Dane and see his left eye is a beautiful shade of dark purple and green. "He doesn't have an appointment."

"All right. A friend, I see. Name's Matt, shop bitch." Matt holds his hand out to shake.

Dane comes forward. "Dane."

"Matt, we'll be out back if you need anything."

"Yeah, sure. Take it easy, man." He gives Dane an upwards chin nod as we head toward the back patio.

It's a little overcast, but still warm enough to have this conversation outside. Dane stands by the door, leaning against the wall, and I lean opposite him against the deck railing. He pulls out his pack of cigarettes and shakes out two before putting the pack back in his pocket. He tips one my way in offer, but I shake my head.

"Who knew the mighty Corey would ever stop smoking?" He lights the smoke with his Zippo lighter and puts it back in his front pocket. "When did you quit?" I watch him take that first hit of nicotine, hypnotized, until he blows out the smoke.

"When I became a father to Rourke."

He nods and takes another drag. "Why'd you call, Cor? You made it pretty clear you didn't want me around." I couldn't stomach Nova avoiding me anymore, so this is my feeble attempt at making things right again between us.

"What happened that night?"

He looks at everything but me and takes another drag. "My world was crashing down around me. Couldn't cope, I guess."

"That's shit, Dane. Even you know it."

"You really wanna do this here, at your work? Won't you get in trouble starting alley fights?"

I cross my arms and smirk. "I own this, all of it. Today's my catching up on paperwork day, so lucky for me, we don't have to worry about fuck all. Answer my fucking question, Dane."

Dane flicks his unfinished cigarette by my Harley and sits in one of the chairs by the makeshift fire pit. He leans his elbows on his knees and keeps his eyes on the ground when he starts his explanation. "Your parents' death really messed me up. When you left to deal with their estate, Nova was beside herself. She wouldn't let me touch her, much less comfort her."

I walk over to stand in front of Dane, trying to keep my shit together. But blaming my parents' death is a low blow, even for him. "You're blaming their deaths for your fucking bullshit?"

He turns his head to the side to look up at me. "Corey, you asked me here to find out what happened. You wanna let me finish before you give me the beating I rightly deserve?" I pull the remaining chair in front of him and take a seat. "Fine, go on."

Leaning back in his chair, he rubs his mouth before he tells me his version of events. "In our drug induced samplings, Crash would feed me lines about how Nova always wanted you, and how could I keep putting up with that shit. That night, I came home after hanging out with Crash. Nova was sitting on the couch in the dark. I thought something had happened to Rourke, so I started panicking and asking where he was. The more I asked, the more I yelled, and the more she cried. She was finally able to tell me Rourke was at Angela's. Then she told me she talked to you and you told her you didn't know if you were coming back."

"Shit."

The memory of what sparked that conversation comes flooding back to me. It was so hard to see Nova every day and not tell her how I felt. I thought if I kept myself busy, I wouldn't have time to think of her, of us together. After my parents' funeral, we had a wake at the clubhouse. It was dark already, and everyone was scattered around, drinking and fucking. Nova found me sitting alone by the fire pit out back.

"Hey, you. This seat taken?" She takes the seat next to me on the bench. I just stare into the fire, not saying anything. "Thought you could use some Jim Bean by now." She holds out the tumbler of amber liquid in front of my face. Without thought, I grab the glass, drink its entire contents and hand the glass back to her. "Looks like I was right." She offers me a subtle curve of her lips that I catch out of the corner of my eye. I'm too numb to care about how she affects me.

"What are you doing out here, Nova? Don't you have a husband to fuck or something?" Jesus, I'm an asshole.

"I know this is hard for you, Corey, but taking it out on me isn't gonna make things better." She stands up to leave when I grab her arm. Her features are highlighted from the fire, and all I can think of is how god damn beautiful she is, and I can't fucking have her.

"Please, don't go," I plead as I stand up too fast and almost lose my balance. "I'm sorry."

Nova places her hand on the side of my face and caresses my unshaven cheek. I close my eyes to savour the moment. "What's going on in that head of yours, Corey?"

I open my eyes and stare into her watery ones. "Nova, you need to stop." I place my hand over hers, still resting on my cheek. "My head isn't in a good place right now."

She moves herself to stand toe-to-toe in front of me. "Maybe I don't want to." She looks from my eyes to my mouth, biting down on her bottom lip. "Corey..." is all she gets out before I take her face in both my hands and bring my lips to hers.

It's a sweet touch between two people that know every scar, every smile, every dream of the other, but it quickly turns to something more...something we're not prepared for. Nova moves her hand from my cheek to just over my heart, and I'm done for. I pull her closer to me and kiss her with all that I have. If this is the only moment I have with her like this, then it will be one that neither of us will forget.

But it ends as fast as it started when Nova pushes me away, touching her lips with her fingers. Before anything can be said, I hear Dane coming around the building, calling out her name.

It was a few weeks after that kiss, sitting in my parents' empty house that I made the call to Nova. She accepted I needed time to get my shit together, but she wouldn't agree that being apart was necessary. That was when I knew things were changing for the both of us, and I didn't know how to handle it. The next day, Randall called to tell me Nova was in the hospital.

"She told me about the kiss, how she felt about you...everything. She was tired of hiding it from me and I lost it." He lights up another cigarette and takes a long pull. "What I did, Corey, was fueled by drugs and head games. I always knew she belonged to you and I made a play for her anyways. After I realized what I did, I went to Carter's Motel and took a shit-load of pills. I couldn't live with myself anymore. I don't know how, but when I woke up, I was in the hospital, handcuffed to the bed with police guarding me. That's when they told me I was being charged with the attempted murder of my wife. Nothing I can do or say can change what I did to her, I know that."

My fingers are turning white as I hold them interlocked in front of me. With my rage boiling to astronomical heights I start to rock back and forth in my chair. " Is this where I'm supposed to feel sorry for you?"

He throws his cigarette on the ground and stands. "No, Corey, I don't expect a fucking thing from you. I'm trying to tell you I'm owning my mistake and I'm trying to make it right. I don't know what else to say or do!" He puts his hands in his pockets and looks up to the sky. "I'll do anything you want me to do to make it possible to get to know my son, that's all I want."

I stand up and see a glimmer of the man I used to know. I know he's sincere in wanting to know Rourke, but he hasn't confronted Nova yet. I told Rourke I was willing to put my issues aside if he wanted the chance to know Dane, but Nova has to give her blessing or it's no deal. Rourke agreed to the terms, now I'm about to make the same deal with Dane. God help me.

"Rourke wants the same."

Dane's focus immediately falls on me. "He does?" He starts to rock from side to side, left foot to right foot.

"I'll put aside my issues with you and let Rourke have this. But I swear to fucking Christ, Dane, that if you screw this up with him, you won't be allowed anywhere near him again. You read me?"

"Absofuckinglutely!" Even my threat of never seeing his boy again can't school the smile he's so freely sporting right now. "What about Nova? She gonna be okay with this?"

I take a deep breath and look down the alley. "I'll talk to her."

He nods in understanding and takes a few steps toward the stairs of the deck, then turns around. "Corey?"

I pull out the keys to the back door and start to fidget with them. "What?"

"A few days ago, you told me to stay away. Why the change?"

"Because," I look over my shoulder, "Rourke wants this and I love him enough to not get in the way." I unlock the dead bolt and pull the door open just enough to let myself back in, then slam it shut.

Nova

"What about Accaius and Delilliah? Those are pretty original, no?" Brenda asks me while she thumbs through a baby name book we picked up on our shopping excursion this morning.

"Jesus, Bren. That's borderline child abuse, and I will not have my godchildren subjected to that."

I put two steaming mugs of Green Tea on the table and a plate of squares Brenda just had to buy for Grant, which by the looks of it, won't make it to their final destination the way she's stuffing them in her face. I sit down across from her with a look of bewilderment. "Honey, I thought those were for Grant?"

"They're soooo good. Want one?" She holds a gooey square out in front of me and I smile.

"No, sweetie, they're all yours."

"So..." She pops the square in her mouth and wraps her hands around the hot mug. "You still haven't talked with Corey?"

I slump down in my chair. "No. I'm not sure what to say to him. This whole situation is just...fucked, you know?"

Brenda takes a sip of her tea. "Here's what I think. You've moved on from what happened, right?"

"As much as a person can, I guess."

"And you're willing to let Rourke get to know Dane, right?"

"Well, he has every right to know him if he wants."

"You love Corey?"

"Yes, of course I do. More than anything."

"You love Rourke?"

I tip my head to the side and sigh. "Is there a point to these questions?"

"Corey is fierce in protecting those he loves, and Rourke is his boy in all the ways that matter. He feels threatened by Dane wanting to be involved in Rourke's life. Make him see nothing will change."

"What if I can't?"

"Honey, I know you better than you think I do. You have it in you to make that crazy ass man see he's being stupid over all this. He will always be Rourke's dad, father, bro, whatever the fuck he needs to call him."

"When did you get to be so wise, Yoda?" I squeeze her hand and offer her a smile.

"When I watched my best friend blossom into the gorgeous wife and mother she is today." She squeezes my hand in return and stands up. "Now, I have to pee again. Fuck me!" I giggle as I watch her waddle to the bathroom. I hear the front door opening at the same time I notice Corey's bike in the driveway.

"Nova?"

"In the kitchen." I take a bite from one of the squares Brenda can't get enough of and not even two chews in, I'm looking for a napkin to spit it out in. "That tastes like feet."

"What tastes like feet?" I finish wiping the remnants of the square off my tongue when I look up at the amused look on Corey's face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Wanted to talk, if that's okay with you." He leans his body against the door frame and crosses his arms.

"God damn it. If I wasn't knocked up, Corey, I'd climb all over you." Brenda smacks his ass as she walks back into the kitchen. She grabs her purse off the back of the chair and turns to face Corey. "I could give it a try if you're willing. Grant doesn't have to know."

He leans down to kiss her on the cheek. "As tempting as that is, I only have eyes for one girl, if she'll still have me." He gives her a wink and a smirk. "But if she's done with me, I'll come knocking on your door."

"You'll be coming all over something by the time I'm done with you." She pats his chest and turns to me. "Bitch." She blows me a kiss on her way out of the kitchen. Before she's out the door, she shouts, "Love you! And remember what I said, Nova!" Then she's gone.

"Nice to see Grant still has his hands full."

"He's a very lucky man to have her. Might drive him to drink, but he's still lucky." I smirk and start to clean up the kitchen.

"I asked Dane to come by the shop today." I stop what I'm doing and take a deep breath. I'm scared to look at Corey in case the two came to blows and I'll see it all over his features.

Pushing off the door frame, he walks over to me and grabs the mugs out of my hands to put back on the table. He takes my hands in his and pulls me down to sit on the chair behind me. He grabs another chair and pulls it in front of me to take a seat.

"We talked, and I think we're on the same page. Nothing he says or does can change the past, but he wants a chance at knowing his son. Rourke and I talked the day I stormed out, and he wants the same." Corey looks up with a worried expression. "I told them both I would make that happen, but only if it's okay with you."

I stand up from my chair in a slow and steady rise, and make the few steps toward him. Putting my feet on either side of his chair, I lower myself onto his lap to straddle him. Both my hands find his stubble covered cheeks, and I gently kiss the soft lips that belong to the man I love with all my heart. I rest my forehead against his and offer him a subtle smile. "I'm okay with all of this. I have to be."

Rubbing his hands up and down my back, he raises his head. "I don't want this to set you back."

"Honey, I'm strong only because you helped heal me. If it gets to be too much, I'll tell you, I promise."

"He upsets either of you ,he's done."

I nod. "I have no doubt."

He folds his arms around my waist and stands up. "Corey, what are you doing?"

"I need to make up for lost time. It's been four days since I've been buried deep inside you, and that shit's gonna stop right fucking now." His kisses start at my chin and move along the curve of my jaw. I tilt my head to the side to give him better access when I notice the clock on the stove. It's almost noon, which means Lola is about fifteen minutes away from walking through the front door.

"Lola's going to be home soon," I inform him as I run my hands through his hair. "We better make it quick."

He lays me on the table and starts running his hands down my sides. "I can do quick." His strong hands grab the flimsy material of my leggings and yank them off in one strong pull. He leans down to kiss the top of my thighs before he moves the thin material of my panties to the side, giving me a quick flick of his tongue on my clit. He closes his mouth over my heated centre and dives in like a starving man. The licks, the sucking, the biting becomes too much The need for him is overwhelming.

"Jesus, babe. That feels so good." My back arches off the table as my hands slip into his hair to hold him close.

As he pulls me to the edge of the table, he kisses his way up my body until his mouth is a breath away from mine. "Taste how sweet you are." He places his lips on my mine, sliding his tongue against mine. There's nothing hotter than tasting myself on the lips of the man I will never get enough of. As I savour the taste of myself on him, he slides his pants down his legs, just enough to free his rigid cock, then slides into me. "Fuck, I missed you." Our bodies moving together is creating a delicious friction against my already sensitive and taut nipples. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I draw him in deeper, closer.

Being where we are, and the chance of being caught is feeding into the build of my release. I hold his face in my hands and see that he too is feeling the same. His hands go into my hair as my nails graze down his sides. A few more thrusts, we both find our absolution.

Panting, he rests up on his elbows, hands still entwined in my hair. "You are so fucking beautiful when you come." He smiles before he lays a tender kiss on the tip of my nose.

"I love you," I circle my arms around his neck, still feeling him pulsing inside of me.

"Love you, too." He places a soft kiss on my lips before he leaves me on the table, sated, and at peace.

As he does the button on his dark wash jeans, he takes in the fact that I have yet to move. Smirking to himself, he asks, "You okay?"

I turn my head in his general direction, still unable to focus properly. "Yeah. Why?"

He glances out the window to see Lola jumping out of our neighbour Stacey's car, skipping toward the front door. "In about five seconds, our youngest will be bouncing her way in here."

"Shit!" Rolling off the table, I quickly grab my discarded clothing and get a smack on the ass, shouting, "You'll pay for that!" while making a mad dash to the ground floor bathroom.

"I'm counting on it."

Nova

Today is our "End of the Season" family barbeque, and today of all days, Corey thought it would be a good idea to invite Dane. He thinks having everyone I love around will help lessen the blow, but I'm not so sure. Corey and Grant are sitting on the deck, drinking beer, while watching Lola try and pin Rourke on the lawn with her Tae Kwon Do moves. Brenda and I are in the kitchen. She's scowling at me, sipping her herbal tea, while I enjoy a glass of Dr. Zen Zen , prepping the food, when I hear the rumble of my dad's chopper pull into the driveway.

"Angela nail down your dad yet?"

"Don't even go there, woman. You're knee-deep in baby making, and if you keep talking like that, you'll give your husband a complex."

"Grant knows I love him. I just never thought becoming a fucking whale could make a girl so god damn horny!" I burst out laughing at my best friend's expense. "Fuck you, woman. I give Grant the look and he suddenly has work projects in the garage. We're running out of batteries, Nova. This is serious shit." I have both hands bracing myself on the counter because I'm about to pee my pants listening to her tribulations.

"Oh my God, honey. Look at you." Angela throws her bag on the table in front of Brenda and drops to her knees to put her hands on Bren's stomach. "You're so big. How far along are you again?"

Rubbing her belly, she rolls her eyes at Angela. "Five months, and I've enjoyed every moment."

Wiping the mascara I'm sure is running down my face from laughing so hard, I turn around, just as my dad walks into the kitchen. "Hey, Dad. Did you bring the steaks?"

He takes the tooth pick out of his mouth as he walks toward me, putting the package of steaks on the counter. "That's the greeting I get these days?"

"Hello, Dad. Nice to see you again." I wrap my arms around his waist and give him a hug. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and holds me tight to him. "Is he here yet?"

I release my hold on him and take a step back. "Not yet."

Angela hits him in the arm to get him to move to the side and holds out her arms. "How are you doing, sweetheart?" Her hug is quick, but heartfelt.

"I'm good, keeping busy." I'm saved from Angela's concern by Maybelene throwing herself at my dad. "Leni! Take it easy on your granddad. He's getting old."

"Never too old for this. How's my Mayberry doing?" He moves her a step away from him to size her up. It's been a few months since he's seen her. No doubt she's grown a few inches since then.

"I made captain on my volleyball team, and I got 97% on my math test. Jenna said she wasn't gonna be my friend anymore because Brandon asked me to the school dance coming up, so I told her she could go—"

"All right, Leni, you have all afternoon to tell your grandpa your life story. Say hi to Angela, and take these snacks outside, please."

"Come on honey, I'll help you." Angela grabs the plate and walks out to the back with Leni.

"Well..." Bren gets up from the chair, holding her belly. "I'm gonna go grind on my husband's lap. Nice to see you again, Randall." She gives him a wink on her way out to the back.

Shaking his head, he leans against the counter and crosses his arms. "Are you okay with all this?"

"Yeah." I start grabbing salad stuff out of the fridge. "This if for Rourke, right?"

"You say the word and he's gone, okay?"

" I know, Dad." I offer him a smile. "Lola's out back waiting to show you her new moves."

He puts the toothpick back in his mouth and pushes himself off the counter. "I can just imagine what injuries I'll be walking away with." He kisses my head on the way out.

This is going to be a long ass day.

Dane

I'm not so sure about this anymore.

Not only will I be seeing Nova for the first time in fifteen years, but I'll be hanging out with my son. What does one bring to an occasion such as this? Flowers for Nova, a few magazines on skateboarding and Harley's for Rourke, and Kinder Surprise for the girls, none of which sound like a good idea now that I'm standing at the front door. I take a deep breath, smooth the invisible wrinkles from my shirt, and knock. I hear Nova's voice getting more distinct the closer she gets to the door, and when it opens, our eyes instantly connect. She's even more beautiful than I remember, and still able to take my breath away.

"Dane?" She throws the towel she has in her hand over her shoulder and comes a few steps closer, her eyes roaming all over my features. "Oh my God." I'm not sure if her whisper is of awe or consternation.

Fifteen years of regret are finding a new home in my throat, making it hard to form the words I want— I need —to say to her. In a strained breath, all I can form is, "Nova."

She visibly swallows, takes a deep breath, pulls her shoulders back and smiles when she sees the flowers in my hand. "Those for me?" She arches an eyebrow when her eyes meet mine again.

Clearing my throat, I take a step back from her to pull the flowers in front of me. "Ah, yes. I wasn't sure if roses were still your thing."

She takes a moment to enjoy the scent before she grabs them from me. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

"Well, there you are! So nice of you to join us, handsome." Angela walks by Nova to give me a hug, but my eyes never part from Nova's. "Come on in, sweetheart." She keeps one arm around my shoulders to guide me in. "Everyone's out back waiting for you."

"Yes, come in." She stands back to give me room to enter, but I don't miss the glare she gives Angela. In the time it takes me to walk from the front door to the back, I can see that Corey and Nova have had a very good life together; the blueprint evident in all the captured moments on the walls. I can't help but think what moments we would have had together if I didn't fuck it all up.

Angela feels my hesitation before we walk through the back door. "Just like taking a Band-Aid off—quick, and painless as possible."

I turn my head to look at Angela. "What?"

"Honey, the hard part is already done. Now you get to meet your son, and he's been waiting to meet you."

"Really?"

She smiles and gives my shoulder a squeeze. "You gotta take that step, sweetheart, and find out for yourself."

Corey

I'm sitting in my chair, shaking my head while listening to Grant and Rourke banter back and forth about last night's hockey game. Across the table, Randall is cuddling an injured Lola, who hurt her hip when she tried to show her grandpa a kick she'd just learned in Tae Kwon Do and fell. I stare at my girl long enough to catch her attention and give her a wink. She winks back at me and burrows herself further into Randall's lap. He gives her a kiss on the top of her head and jumps into the conversation when over his shoulder, I see Angela, and then Dane. Rourke glances at me and notices how intently I'm looking over Randall's shoulder.

"Why are you looking..." he turns his head and sees the same thing I do, Angela and Dane looking right at us. "Oh." Randall turns around to see what has captured our collective attention.

Angela heads toward Brenda, who is trying to braid Leni's hair, while Dane stands there, looking unsure of what to do. Still holding on to Lola, Randall walks over to Dane, shakes his hand, and brings him over to the table.

Grant looks at me first, then stands from his chair and reaches over the table to offer his hand to Dane. "Hey, Dane, I'm Grant." Dane nods his head and shakes Grant's hand.

Dane turns his attention to Lola, who is now very interested in the chocolate Dane has in his hand. He realizes what she's looking at and reaches out a Kinder Surprise to her. "Ask your dad if it's okay."

She looks to me with pleading eyes. "Daddy, can I have it, pleeeeeeease?"

"Go ahead."

She snags it from Dane like I'm going to change my mind. "Here, take this to your sister. She gets one, too." Dane hands the other chocolate to her and she wiggles out of Randall's arms and runs to her sister.

"Ah, Randall, you were gonna show me..." Grant moves from behind the table.

"Yeah, it's over here." Randall claps Grant on his shoulder and they walk toward the garage. Real fucking subtle.

Dane is still standing there, trying not to stare at his son, and Rourke is looking straight ahead, not sure what to do. I look between the two, and with no signs of moving forward, I decide it's all on me to get this going. "What are those?"

Dane takes a deep breath and puts the magazines in front of Rourke on the table. "Wasn't sure what you were in to, so I bought a few different mags." His focus is now glued on Rourke, who is looking at me for assurance. I give him a small nod and take a swig of my beer.

"Thank you." He grabs the magazine on the top and starts to thumb through it. "This is awesome."

"You like skateboarding?" Dane pulls the chair out that was previously occupied by Randall and sits down. "Corey and I were always skateboarding downtown, getting stopped by the cops."

"Rourke here is a natural. He pretty much slept with his board until he was ten." I smile at the memory of Nova and I trying to break him of that habit. We told him he wasn't allowed to skateboard after school anymore if he continued to sleep with his prized possession. It took a few restless nights, but he managed it.

"Thanks, Cor. I appreciate that." Both Dane and I chuckle as Rourke turns red-faced.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

After a few minutes of swapping skating stories, Rourke seems a little more comfortable with Dane, so I excuse myself to go find Nova. Not finding her on the main floor, I go upstairs to find our en suite bathroom light on. "Nova?"

"I'm here." I walk into the bathroom and see she's standing in front of the sink, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"You okay?" I stand beside her and lean against the counter, facing her.

"Yeah, I just needed a few minutes." She folds the washcloth in half and looks at me. "I'm just trying to process him being here."

"Say the word and he's gone." I circle my hand around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

She blows out a deep breath, blowing her bangs out of her face. "Are you okay with all this?"

"I am if you guys are."

She tips her head away from me and gives me a side look. "You're okay seeing Dane talking to Rourke?"

I take a deep breath to get my thoughts together. "It's weird, I'm not denying that. It's hard to put into words how I feel about this."

"God, what kind of mother am I? I wasn't there for Dane's big entrance."

I lean into her and smile. "No, but I was. He was fine."

"I'm sure he was with you there. You're his everything, you know that?"

"I know." I give her a wink. "You ready to go down, or do you need more time?"

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

I kiss her on the head, hoping to fuck this works out for everyone.

Dane

Perched on the stairs of the back deck, nursing my second beer of the night, I take in everything that's happened today. I saw how the love of my life moved on to have a better life with my best friend. And how said best friend did a fucking stellar job raising my son; better than I ever could have. The path that I was on, who knows where Rourke, or Nova, would have ended up. No doubt she would have found herself in the arms of Corey one way or another.

"Hey."

I look up to see Rourke standing beside me, holding on to a bowl of chips. "Those Ketchup?"

"Is there any other kind?" He smiles and sits down beside me, putting the bowl between us.

"No, there's not." I take a few chips and pop them into my mouth. "Kid after my own heart."

Rourke pauses midway to putting a chip in his mouth. He lowers his hand and clears his throat. I can see I made him uncomfortable, so I need to think fast to get him back. "So, you're graduating in a few years?"

"Yeah, finally."

"What are you gonna do after school's done?"

He shrugs his shoulders and pops a chip in his mouth. "Take some time off and travel, I guess. I've been working the past couple summers helping Corey out in the shop, learning the ropes a bit."

"Ah, so you wanna follow in his footsteps, do ya?" I give him a friendly nudge with my shoulder.

"Maybe...dunno."

"You gonna travel by yourself? Take a friend?"

I look at him and he gives me the smile. The smile that's only reserved for the one the heart wants. I know it well. It's the same damn smile I had for his mother. "She have a name?"

"Christian."

"Kristen's a nice name. What's she like?"

He turns bashful and starts to fidget with his fingers. "Um...I guess I should tell you." He rubs his hands on his thighs, stands up, and walks down the few remaining stairs.

"Tell me what?"

Standing a few feet away with his back still toward me, he slides his hands in his pockets and lets out an exaggerated breath. "It's not Kristen, it's Christian, as in a boy, Christian." He turns around slowly. "I like boys, men...guys." He's getting flustered, so he starts running his hands through his hair. "This isn't going well."

Before I have a chance to respond to him, I hear the back door close and approaching footsteps. I look over my shoulder to see Corey closing in on us.

"Everything okay out here?"

"Just trying to have a conversation with my boy." The words come out before I even realize the impact of what I said. I stand on the stairs and turn toward Corey. "Look, I just need a few minutes with Rourke."

Corey looks at Rourke, then back at me. "Is that what you want, Rourke?"

"This is so fucked up." Rourke tips his head to the stars, running his hands over his face.

"Corey, we're just talking. Don't need to be a dick—"

"What did you just say to me, asshole?"

I put my hands out to my sides. "What is wrong with you?"

Rourke lets out a frustrated growl and climbs up the few stairs to stand between myself and Corey. He turns to me first. "It's probably best you go."

"This conversation isn't over, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

I look at Corey and shake my head. "Thanks, bro. Tell Nova I said good night."

"Not likely."

As I make my way to the driveway, I can faintly hear Rourke tell Corey "You can be a real asshole sometimes, you know that!" Then the back door slams closed. Not my victory, but proud of it none the less.

Corey

Since Saturday's barbeque, I've been trying to talk to Rourke, but he's been avoiding me like the plague. It's now Tuesday, and I'm sitting in the arena, watching Christian and Rourke talk while in line for drills. I don't think he knows I'm here, and if he does, he hasn't acknowledged me. It wasn't that long ago that Rourke finally told us he liked Christian, but it wasn't much of a surprise.

During one of the rare nights Nova had off, we were cuddled on the couch, watching some stupid ass show she picked when Rourke came down from his room. He looked a little pale as he stood to the side of the couch. Nova looked up at him and grew a little concerned.

"Hey, honey, you feeling okay? You don't look so good."

"Can I talk to you guys for a second?"

I put the TV on mute to give him my full attention. "Are you in trouble?"

"No, not yet, anyway."

"Sweetie, you're scaring me. What's going on with you?"

He sits down on the coffee table in front of us, running his hands through his hair, and then on the top of his thighs. "I think I'm interested in someone, and that someone is interested in me." He looks at both Nova and I, waiting for the firing of questions his mom would usually pelt him with, but we're just staring at him, waiting for the rest of the story. He clears his throat and continues, though an octave lower than when he started. "It's Christian."

Nova sits up and takes his hands into hers, giving him her megawatt smile. "Does he make you happy?"

"Yes." He starts to tear up. "You're not upset?"

"Oh, baby." She hugs him like he's about to float away. "How can I be upset if you're happy? We've known for a while you liked him. We were just waiting for you to say something." She pulls away and cups his face in her trembling hands. "All I want is for my babies to be happy, and if he makes you happy, then I'm over the moon excited for you."

"Thank you." He gives his mother a kiss on her cheek and hugs her again. When they pull apart, he turns his body slightly to fully face me. He uses the back of his hand to wipe the stray tears, waiting for my response.

I look at Nova, who's waiting for my response, and then at Rourke. "Be responsible about your relationship. He's a good kid, but if he breaks your heart I have no issues giving him a talking to, okay?" He smiles and starts to cry. I place my hand on the back of his neck and pull him closer to me. "I'm proud of the man sitting in front of me." Rourke and I very rarely, if ever, have public displays of affection, but he doesn't hesitate to throw his arms around me, as I do in return.

I'm brought back to the here and now by a tapping on the glass below me, where Rourke is trying to get my attention. I throw my cold cup of coffee in the garbage and walk down to the glass where he's waiting. He takes his helmet off, rubbing the sweat off his hair.

"I don't need a ride, Corey. I brought my truck."

"I know. You haven't been answering my texts, so I thought I'd come in person to ask if you'd meet me at Stoney's Grill after practice."

He looks at the line of guys waiting to get off the ice for the dressing room, then back at me. "Why?"

"I have some things to say to you and I don't wanna do it here."

He takes a few moments to think about it, then nods. "Okay."

* * *

Stoney is a Grade A asshole to most people, but because he and Nova's dad used to run the streets here when they were teenagers, he always welcomes us with open arms. He sits us at the best table and gives us the hottest, youngest, perkiest, and most annoying waitress he employs. After she takes our orders, she gives us both a wink and does her best imitation of a model runway walk.

After taking a sip of his Coke, Rourke moves the glass to the side and rests his forearms on the table. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

"I'm sorry for the way I acted Saturday."

"Did Mom put you up to this?"

"She knows, but this was all my idea."

"Dane and I were just talking. I told him—"

"I know what you were telling him. I guess I got a little worked up about it."

"Why? Are you ashamed of me now?"

"No, I'm not ashamed of you, Rourke." I rub my eyebrows to give me time to think of how to go forward. "I honestly don't know or understand what happened, but I will try to rein it in in the future."

"Yeah, well." He starts to play with the straw in his drink. "Not so sure if there will be a future."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just a feeling, I guess."

"Do you want me to talk to him? Smooth things over?"

He looks up with a shocked expression. "No! God, no. I think you've done enough." He smirks and takes a sip of his pop.

"Are we good now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then." I take a swig of my beer, relieved this conversation is over. A few minutes later, our food arrives, and we waste no time digging in to our bacon cheeseburgers and basket of fries.

"Hey, Corey, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"How did you know?"

I finish chewing the bite I have in my mouth and wash it down with the rest of my beer. "Know what?"

"About me being gay." He dips a fry in the ketchup glob adorning half his plate and pops it in his mouth.

I wipe my fingers off with the napkin. "Father's intuition, I guess." I look at him and smirk.

He accepts my answer with a nod and keeps eating.

Nova

"Oh my God, this is not happening!" I'm digging around in my purse, then giving myself a pat down, all in search of my damn car keys. Today started off shitty, and the shit just keeps coming.

Lola ate too many oranges this morning, and just as we were leaving the house, she puked all over her new dress, making us later for drop-off. Corey twisted his ankle during his run, and because Rourke already left with Leni for school, I got to be the lucky one to not only pick him up, but set him up on the couch so he could rest his ankle. Then, he had the nerve to ask me to go get his paperwork from the shop, which I'm currently standing in front of, looking for my keys.

In frustration, I hit my driver's side window and notice something silver in the console. Looking closely, I see my keys, taunting me. They must have fallen out of my purse as I was getting out of the vehicle in haste. I look around the street to see if there's anyone around with a coat hanger or something, when I notice Ace's Garage is open down the street. Perfect.

Ace sees me approaching the garage and holds his arms out, waiting for a hug. "Well, my day just got better."

I give him a quick hug and step back. "Mine is not. Ace, I locked my keys in the truck in front of Corey's shop. Can you help me?"

"Have you looked at where we are?" He chuckles. "I'll get my new grunt to help you out, sugar." He turns into the shop and yells," Dane!" A few seconds later, a grease covered Dane comes around the corner, wiping his hands on a well-used rag. He sees me and smiles.

"Our beautiful damsel in distress locked her keys in her Tahoe. Go help her out; you got five minutes. Say hi to your boys for me." He raises his hand in a wave and goes back to work. Dane grabs a toolbox by the door and follows me to my vehicle.

"Thanks, Ace." I look at Dane in wonder. "How long have you worked here?"

"I started Monday. I didn't get a chance to tell you Saturday. I hope that's okay."

"Yeah, sure." I give him a quick smile and just stand there, staring at him.

"Nova?"

"Yeah?"

"The Tahoe?"

"Oh, right. This way." Of all the garages in all the world...

"So, you're working at Ace's. Does that mean you're sticking around?"

"If that's okay with you, I'd like to give it a try. If this makes you uncomfortable, Nova, I can go."

The man I knew fifteen years ago, I knew well enough to know when he was being sincere and when he was trying to pull one over on me. Standing before me is a very sincere man.

"You really are back to your old self?"

He puts the toolbox down and grabs a wedge and a slimjim, and gets to work. "I had fifteen years to work on it."

"And you're serious about being a part of Rourke's life?"

The lock pops and he opens the door, turning to me. "As a heart attack. There's lots I need to say to you, Nova, and I'm not sure how much I can get through with Corey around. Can I meet you somewhere? At the very least, I owe you an explanation."

When I take a step closer to him, his body goes rigid. "I'm working tonight. Come by the hospital anytime after nine and we'll talk." I climb into the driver's seat.

"Dane, what the fuck! I told you five minutes seven minutes ago! Get your ass back here!" Ace shouts from the front of the garage.

"I'll be there."

Nova

Thursday nights in the ER always feel like the calm before the storm. Only a few of the bays are occupied, nothing life or death, so I'm talking with our unit clerk, Jen, and not doing the paperwork I should be filling out. With my back toward the front entrance, I look over to Jen when she stops in the middle of explaining last week's blind date. She's blushing before my eyes, smiling like she's in a beauty pageant and pulling her scrubs top down to show off her cleavage.

"What in the world is wrong with you?"

Without moving her lips, she tells me, "Twelve o'clock, hot as fuck."

"What?" I turn around and see Dane approaching the desk. I look back at Jen, who now looks like she's not breathing properly. "Jen, you're turning purple. Breathe, woman!"

"Hey, how's it going? Can I help you? Do you need my assistance with anything?"

He raises his eyebrows at her and gives her a smile. "Hi."

"So, are you here to see your girlfriend...or wife?"

"No, just her." He points to me.

Jen turns on me with a shocked expression. "But you're married."

I burst out laughing at my poor, dear Jen. "I'll be in the cafeteria. Page if you need me."

"Whatever." She goes back to pretending she's working, but knowing her, she's checking out his ass as we walk away.

* * *

Dane and I are sitting in the back corner of the empty cafeteria. We both have our hands around our to-go cups filled with steaming hot tea and waiting for the other to start talking. Dane lets go of his cup and sits back in his chair.

"There's so much to tell you. I'm not sure where to start."

"Start from the beginning."

He places his hands on the table and spreads his fingers, then curls them into his palms. He does this two more times and begins to talk, looking down as he begins.

"That night, I was a fucking mess. Crash and his fucking mouth wouldn't stop running at me about how you were fucking Corey right in front of me. I heard it so much that I started to believe it. I was so high that night, and you told me how you felt about Corey. I lost my control and..." He curls his fingers into his palms again and leaves them as fists. "I went to a motel after I left you and tried to kill myself. I had no intention of surviving what I did to you. The next thing I knew, I woke up handcuffed to a hospital bed and told I was being charged with attempted murder."

Clearing his throat, he continues. "They put me on suicide watch after I got the divorce papers. I was done with it all, until I saw a picture of Rourke. He was four years old, I think. He was riding his skateboard on the basketball court by the clubhouse. I held on to that picture as a lifeline and vowed if I ever got out, I would do everything in my power to know my son and try and right every wrong I did to you."

Letting go of my bottom lip I had no idea I was nervously pulling at between my teeth, I tell him my truth. "You broke me, Dane."

"I know I did. No words can tell you how sorry I am, but all I have is to tell you from the depths of my soul, I will forever be sorry I hurt you."

I use both hands to wipe my tear-stained cheeks. " How did you get a picture of Rourke?"

His eyes connect with mine and I see the anguish he's living with. "Crash."

"Crash," I repeat with malice. I hate that fucking name. He doesn't belong on this earth.

"Does Rourke know what happened?"

"Corey had a talk with him a few years ago."

He nods his head. "And he still wanted to meet me?"

"Corey picked up the pieces of what you left me with. From day one, he never wanted to replace you in Rourke's eyes, but he's the only father he's known. There's no doubt in my mind he loves Corey to no end, but when you showed up, he felt a pull to you. Christ, he's you at sixteen. You can't fault him for wanting to know what you're like."

"Thank you for that, both of you."

"Dane, I want to explain something to you." I lean on the table with my arms stretched out in front of me. "I was committed to a life with you and our son. I know you weren't in your right mind that night, but that doesn't excuse all the scars and pain you've caused me. Corey put me back together. Corey gave me strength when I didn't have any. Corey helped raise Rourke with the love a father would, all while telling Rourke about you. So, when Corey gets protective and overreacts, he has every right to. We, all of us, want Rourke to be happy, and if having you in our lives again does that for him, then I, we, will make this work."

Dane covers his face with his hands for a private moment, then places his hands over mine. I flip my hands over to take his hands in mine and give them a little squeeze. "The only way I could have a life with Corey was to forgive you, so I'm telling you, I forgive you."

Dane turns his head away from me, but not before I see a few tears falling. He wipes the right side of his face with the sleeve of his T-shirt, and when he turns back to face me, he lets go of my right hand to wipe his eyes.

"I don't deserve it, but thank you." He tilts his head up to gain his composure, then looks back at me. "So, Rourke's gay?" He laughs without a hint of humour.

I tip my head to the side. "After all this, you have a problem with that?"

"Nova, I don't have a problem with him being gay. I would have told him that, but I didn't get the chance."

I look down at my hands, now resting in my lap. "Corey's trying, he really is. Just give him some time."

"All I have now is time."

The vibration of my cell phone startles me. I dig it out of my pocket and see it's Jen texting.

Is he single? Does he like me? He has a sweet ass! I would love to grab it while he's fucking me up against the wall.

I burst out laughing and shake my head. "I think Jen likes you."

"Yeah?"

"You should ask her out." I put the cell back in my pocket and take a sip of my tea.

"It's been awhile since I've been on a date."

"Fresh start and whatnot, right? You might even enjoy it."

He smiles. "Yeah, maybe."

Corey

After a busy day, all I want to do is cuddle up to the soft curves of my wife, drink some beers and relax. So, when I walk through the front door and hear lots of voices in the kitchen, I get suspicious. Lola comes around the corner to greet me, holding onto some cards in a fan fashion.

"Hi, Daddy."

"There's my warrior princess. Where's my hug?"

She walks over to me and puts her hands up for me to pick her up. I snuggle into her neck to give her kisses, making her giggle. "Daddy, I need five bucks."

"For what?"

"I'm losing my shirt to Dane, so I need five bucks to ante up."

What the fuck?

"Excuse me?" I put her down and stare at her, unblinking. "Dane's here?"

Her eyes grow wide as she strains her neck to look up at me. "Ah, no?" She then gives me a big smile before she runs into the kitchen. I follow her and see Dane sitting at the table with Rourke and Leni, teaching them how to play poker.

"What are you doing?" I look at Dane. "You're teaching my kids poker?"

"It's fun, Dad. Wanna join in?" Leni asks, while struggling to keep her cards fanned out in her hands.

"Where's my wife?"

Coming up from behind me, she's holding three frozen pizzas. "I'm here. How was your day, babe?" She tilts her head up to give me a kiss. I bend to give her a quick kiss and smack her ass as she walks away.

"Busy. Nova, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"No." She looks at me as a smile parts her lips. "Girls, go put the cards back downstairs, please. The men and I need to have a talk."

Leni looks at Nova, then to me, and rolls her eyes. "Come on, Lola, the adults have to talk." She starts to clean up the cards, while Lola holds the box open for her. Once the cards are gathered and put in the box, the girls are gone.

Nova meets my stare, still smiling. "Beer, honey?"

I sit at the table, our eyes still connected. "Sure."

Opening the fridge, she grabs my beer, but before closing the door, she asks, "Dane, do you want another one?"

"Sure. Thanks, Nova."She grabs another beer and puts them in front of Dane and I. She grabs her own beer and sits at the table with the rest of us. After taking a pull, she sets it on the table and looks at Rourke, then Dane, and settles in on me again.

"Honey, Dane came to see me last night at work."

"Really?" I turn my attention to Dane, who's already looking at me while taking a drink of his beer.

"Yes, and we talked."

"Did you?" I turn my focus back to Nova. She has to notice how fucking unimpressed I am.

"I forgave him, Corey, and I think you should too. I've made my peace with it to have my life with you. Rourke and Dane want to know one another, so you need to be on the same page as us and stop being...well, you." Her look is sincere. I know she means well, but I feel like I walked into an ambush, and I don't fucking like it.

I stare at the bottle in front of me, peeling the label off and remaining quiet. I could be "me" and walk out of this whole ridiculous setup, punch a few holes in the wall on my way up the stairs. Or I could just shut up and let things happen. I nod my head, then take a long pull from my beer.

"Great! Pizza will be ready in a bit." Nova finishes her beer and gets up to grab the plates.

Dane starts to ask Rourke about school, so I excuse myself from the table and make my way over to Nova, who's busy getting stuff ready for the table. Before she has a chance to move, I cage her against the counter, my arms resting on either side of her. Her eyebrows raise in wait for my next move. I lean in close, my lips grazing her ear so she doesn't miss how much trouble she's in.

"I know you mean well, wife, but I'm gonna spank your ass red tonight for this." I lick the outer part of her ear and she shivers. "I'll give you what you want, but you will owe me big." I turn my head more into her neck and nibble on the soft skin of the curve where her neck and shoulder come together. Her shaky intake of a breath is all the confirmation I need to know she gets me.

She turns her head slightly toward me and responds with, "Looking forward to it."

I pull away far enough so I can look into her eyes and smile. "Game on." I place a tender kiss on her lips and push myself away from the counter.

After we have dinner and a few drinks later, I actually begin to relax and enjoy the evening. Once the girls are in bed, Dane, Nova and I share our stories growing up with Rourke, laughing and living in the moment.

Dane

It's been six weeks since we finally put our past behind us and started living in the now. I can tell Corey is still a little unsure of things, but he's giving it an honest try, and I can't ask for more than that. Rourke and I have been hanging out quite a bit, getting to know each other, which brings me to my plans for today. Last night, over the phone, he told me he has a PD day, and because Corey is fully booked and Nova has to work a double shift, he's taking care of Lola when she's done with preschool.

Finding the front door unlocked, I walk in to find Lola sitting on the couch, watching TV and eating a sandwich.

"Hey there, ninja girl. What you watchin'?" I lean both hands on the back of the couch and take in what she's so engrossed in.

Without turning around, she says, "It's Monster High, so quiet, please."

I look down at her. "And the horse you rode in on."

She waits a few seconds until a commercial comes on, then tilts her head up toward me. "I didn't ride a horse. Rour picked me up."

I shake my head and laugh. "I see." I turn around to see Rourke walking into the living room.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Well, I took the afternoon off to hang with you guys. Did you know there's an indoor skate park not far from here?"

"Yeah."

"So let's hit it. You got a few hours until Maybelene's home, right?"

"Yeah, but I told you I'm hanging with Lo today. I promised her ice cream." He looks over my shoulder to Lola. "If she finishes her lunch." She raises her plate over her head to show she has a few bites left. Apparently, conversation while watching television is a no go.

"So bring her. We can show her a thing or two."

He looks at me and sighs. "I don't know. I don't think that's a good idea."

At his hesitation, Lola turns around on the couch and rests on her knees, crossing her arms over her chest. "I think it's a good idea."

I raise my arm and point to Lola. "See! She thinks it's a good idea. This place has pads and helmets to rent—"

"She has her own,"

"I have my own,"

they say in unison. I love it when a plan comes together with little effort.

I clap my hands and rub them together. "All right, little lady, finish your lunch, then go get your stuff." Turning back to Rourke, he has a bothered look on his face. "If this goes bad, I'll take the heat from your mom."

"Fine, I'll go grab our stuff." As he walks away, he instructs, "Make sure she eats everything on her plate."

I look down at Lola and give her a wink. She gives me a toothy grin as she has the last bite of her sandwich.

* * *

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who had this idea. The place is packed with pimple-faced preteens trying to impress the teenage girls too engrossed in their phones to notice. I look around to see in the very far corner, maybe three men, surveying the scene who look to be closer to my age.

Turning to Lola, who is adorned with a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a smile, I ask , "Okay, kid, you ready to show me what you got?"

"Yeah!" She raises her hands in the air. She looks to Rourke, who's not sharing in her enthusiasm. "Come on, Rour, it'll be fun!"

"Mom is gonna kill me for this." He runs his hands through his hair, exasperated.

I chuckle, turning my head to look at Rourke. "Lighten up. What's the worst that can happen?"

No sooner do I get the words out, I take in Rourke's growing look of fear. I follow his stare to see Lola is already three quarters of the way up the other side of the half pipe, her arms stretched out to her sides for balance, leaving the faint sounds of her uncontrolled giggling following her.

"Oh my God, Lola, hold on!" Rourke is grabbing at his hair, getting ready to run down the ramp to grab her. Without switching the direction of her body, she doesn't quite make it to the top, but starts to descend back into the mouth of the ramp. Her momentum only takes her a quarter of the way up the side that she started on, and when she turns her head to smile at us, she loses her footing and falls, skyrocketing her board right past us to land a few feet away. Both Rourke and I drop our boards and run down the ramp toward her as she lays there, face up, and not moving. By the time we get to her, a small crowd is forming around us to see if she's okay.

"Holy fuck, do I touch her? Do I move her?" Rourke is starting to panic, running his hands through his hair, when Lola opens her eyes and grins. He looks at her, confused. "Lo?"

"That was awesome!" She looks at me and giggles.

"Lola, are you hurt anywhere?" I brush her hair out of her eyes and she shakes her head giving us the thumbs-up. The small crowd breathes a collective sigh of relief and starts clapping. Rourke, too freaked out to process what just happened, helps her up and makes sure she can stand on her own.

"I wanna do that again!" she proclaims as she brushes the dirt off her bum.

"Fuck no! You scared me half to death, Lola!" Rourke grabs the top of her arms, kneeling down to her level. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"

She wraps her arms around his neck, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "I'm not hurt, I promise."

He lifts her up in his arms and kisses her cheek. "Don't ever do that again!"

Sheepishly looking down, she nods her head. "Okay."

"Hey." I rub her back while she's still in the vice grip of her brother. "How about I buy you some ice cream."

She jumps out of Rourke's arms and starts to walk off the ramp. "See?" I clap him on his shoulder. "She's fine. You worried for nothing."

"If Mom finds out, you realize we're both dead." Rourke warns me as we follow Lola to the concession.

"Who's gonna tell her?"

Rourke points over to Lola, who's reliving the entire experience to a complete stranger, who in turn is mesmerized by her exaggerated animation. I turn to Rourke, shaking my head. "We're fucked." Rourke nods his head in agreement.

Corey

"Open it, Rour, I picked them out myself!" Lola is standing in front of her brother, trying to keep from ripping the present open for him.

"Lola, sit down. I can't see him open it. Mom, tell her to sit down so I can see too!" Leni starts to pull on Lo's arm to get her to move away, but Lo stands her ground even more.

"Come on, Lo, you can help me." Rourke moves the present to the side so she can climb on his lap.

Rourke turned seventeen today. He didn't want the big party his mother wanted to give him, just family, and unfortunately, that includes Dane. With all the time they've been spending together, it's getting more and more difficult to find my time with Rourke.

"Do you like them?" Leni asks as he holds the pair of Harley Davidson winged skull gloves the girls bought as a combined gift.

"I love them. Thanks, girls. I'll always wear them." He tickles Lo and gives her a kiss on the cheek. He places her on the floor and pulls Leni up to stand to give her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"Okay, girls, you gave him your present. Go upstairs and get ready for bed. Your mom and I will be up shortly to tuck you in." The girls give Dane a high-five on their way up the stairs.

"Dane, you wanna give Rourke your present next?" Nova tucks herself into my side, curling her legs underneath and holding her herbal tea close to her body.

"Are you sure? Corey over there looks like he's ready to bust." Rourke turns to me and smirks.

Since Rourke was nine, he's been wanting to join us on our annual ride to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Nova has flat out denied his request to be "one of the guys," but with him wanting to travel the world after he graduates and turning eighteen while he would be God knows where, I made it hard for Nova to say no. Randall and I planned out a week-long ride, doing whatever the fuck we want whenever we want, all while making our way to Sturgis. As his present, I'm giving him a map with the route highlighted.

I kiss Nova on her head before I tell Dane, "Nah, man, you go ahead. I can wait."

"Okay." He stands up and rubs his hands together before reaching into his back pocket, then displays a key on his palm. He moves to stand in front of Rourke with his hand out. "There's nothing I can say to make up for all the years I lost being in your life, but I'm humbled to be given the chance to now. I put a lot of hard work into it, but everything worthwhile in life doesn't come easy."

Rourke looks at us, then at Dane, his smile growing by the second. "What is this?"

"It's sitting in the driveway." He looks at Nova and I with a smile that rivals Rourke's.

He grabs the key from Dane and runs to the front window to see a refurbished black and chrome Sucker Punch Sally sitting in our driveway. Rourke puts his hands in the air and turns to face us. "Are you fucking kidding me? Oh my God, Dane, this is unreal!"

I get up to see what's in the driveway, Dane following close behind. I look over my shoulder to see Nova's quizzical stare. "You're gonna wanna look at this."

Nova puts her tea on the coffee table and hesitantly walks over to the window. "Oh God. Dane, you didn't." She puts one hand to her throat and the other on her hip. "You bought that?"

"Yeah, I got it in an estate sale just south of here. With all the hours I've been putting in with Ace, he let me use the garage after hours, fixing it up and making it shine." He turns to Rourke in anticipation. "You like it?"

"I love it!" He turns to Nova. "I can keep it, right?"

I put my hands in my pocket and lean against the window frame. "Where did you get the money for the bike, Dane?"

He looks at me, exasperated. "I just told you, Corey. And some people owed me—"

I cut him off. "And there it is."

Dane switches his focus to Nova. "For the work I did on their vehicles off the clock. I was talking to a customer about vintage bikes, and he told me about the estate sale. I checked it out, the price was right, so I bought it."

"I can keep it, right?" Rourke is slowly inching his way to the front door, beaming.

With his focus still strong on Nova, Dane continues to plead his case. "I missed so much already. I just wanted something he could have for as long as he wants. He's already riding, and he's fucking good. Let him have it, Nova." The look he gives my wife is the same one he would give her when we were kids to win her over.

Nova looks to me for guidance. I shrug my shoulders, rubbing my hand over my lips. She looks to Rourke and softens at the excitement she sees in her son's eyes. "Fine."

Rourke starts jumping up and down, slapping Dane on his shoulders. "Dane, let's go take it for a ride!" He grabs his jacket hanging on the coat rack and he's out the door. Dane gives us each an apologetic, yet amused look, and is not far behind Rourke.

Still leaning against the window, I look down at the floor, lost in my selfish ways. Nova moves to stand in front of me, putting her hands on my chest. Tipping my head up, I'm met with her loving gaze. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I softly kiss her lips. "Go check on the girls and I'll lock up down here."

"Okay." She makes her way to the stairs. Looking over her shoulder to flash me her smile, she then goes upstairs. I look back out the window just as Dane and Rourke mount the bike, and watch them as they drive away.

Nova

I find Corey standing in front of our bedroom window, posture rigid, arms folded over his chest and jaw clenched. He's stewing over something-or someone. I quietly make my way over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing in-between his shoulders. I rest my chin on his back while running my hands up and down his delectable abs.

"Honey, what's wrong? You seem a million miles away."

He takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly as he looks down at my hands, placing his over mine. "How long do you think the novelty will last?"

"The bike?"

"No." He turns around to face me, arms still crossed. "Dane."

I take both his hands in mine and pull him over to the bed. "Sit." He leans up against the headboard while I sit with my legs crossed in front of him. "He's always wanted to know about Dane. He never thought he'd get the chance to talk to him, let alone meet him. It's new and exciting, like any other new relationship. Don't you remember when we started, how fun and exciting it was?" I tilt my head and smile.

"We were kids, Nova."

I lean closer to him and start rubbing the tops of his thighs. "That's not what I meant and you know it." I get up on my knees, placing my hands on either side of his thighs and look up at him. "The first time you kissed me." I place a tender kiss on his lips. "The first time you touched me." I take one hand and run it up his stomach, under his shirt. "The first time you made love to me." My hand starts to travel south, reaching for the belt on his jeans, when he grabs my wrist and tilts my chin up with the other.

"I feel like I'm losing him."

"Baby." I sit on his lap, my legs and arms curling around him as I nestle into his neck. He brings his arms around me, crushing me to him. We sit like this for a few minutes when we hear the front door open and close. I pull away until I can see his eyes. "He's home now. Go talk to him and give him his gift."

He leans forward to give me a quick kiss, then lifts me off his lap. "Maybe tomorrow. I'm gonna have a shower." He starts taking his clothes off as he walks toward the bathroom. Before I can see him in all his glory, he closes the door, shutting me out in the process.

Dane

"I'll have another whiskey, please."

"Sure thing, sugar." The bartender, who I now know as Sally, gives me a wink before she takes my empty glass.

She eye fucks me every time I come in here, which has been pretty much every day. My daily routine has gone from working long hours and hanging out with Rourke, to working long hours and coming here. Ever since Rourke's birthday a few weeks ago, I've been spending less and less time with him. Seems he's always busy, but I know how Corey operates, so I call bullshit. He doesn't have to admit he's jealous, I know.

Just as Sally leans on the bar to hand me my drink and show me her ample, yet wrinkly cleavage, a group of women walk in, chattering and giggling. My gaze follows them to the table by the window, settling in for what looks like after work drinks, judging by the different colours of scrubs some of the girls are wearing. The one with long, strawberry blonde hair slips her jacket off and approaches the bar, stopping a few feet away from me. From the corner of my eye, I see she's checking out the tattoos that cover every inch of my arm.

"Three rum and Cokes, Sally." She reaches in front of me to grab the bowl of peanuts and slides it in front of where she's standing. "Sorry, I'm starving." She looks at me with recognition. "Dane, right?" Her whole body turns in my direction, ready to engage.

"Yeah, you work with Nova."

A smile adorns her beautiful face. "Jen."

"Jen." I repeat to myself, like it's the first time I'm hearing it. Smooth, asshole. "Just getting off work?"

She nods her head. "Me and the girls are grabbing a few before heading home. Wanna join us?"

"Nah, I'm good here. You have a good night." You are a fucking idiot!

She blinks away the split-second look of disappointment and turns fully to the bar to collect her drinks. As she walks away, balancing all three drinks in her hands, she looks over her shoulder, catching me staring at her ass—her very ample, sexy ass—and winks.

About twenty minutes later and two more whiskeys in, I order one more drink and decide to buy the girls a round before heading out to have a smoke. The cold air feels heavy and wet, signs the snow isn't too far away.

"Can I borrow one?" I turn toward the door where Jen is now standing in her thin, long-sleeve shirt, and skinny jeans. I hand her my pack and watch as she slides one out and puts it between her full, glossy lips. "I need a light."

She smiles and covers my hands with hers to shield the flame from the wind. As I watch her take her first pull of the cigarette, then tip her head to the sky to blow it out, I notice her nipples are hard peaks fighting against her shirt. As she brings her head down to look at me, I look down to the pavement, hoping she didn't catch me ogling her.

"So, how long have you known Nova?"

"Awhile." I take a drag of my cigarette, holding in the nicotine as long as I can before I probably make an ass out of myself. "You work with her long?"

"Awhile." She giggles. "Thank you for the drinks. It was a nice gesture for blowing me off at the bar."

I look up at her and realize she's teasing me. And wouldn't you know, that smirk on her face is making my cock twitch.

"You're welcome."

"You don't say much, do you?"

I can't help but smile at my conversation skills. "Not really much to say, I guess."

Finishing my smoke, I put it out on the ground and slide my hands in my pockets, eagerly waiting to see what she's going to say.

"How about I repay you for the drinks? It's the least I can do."

"It's not necessary."

She takes a last drag and tosses it to the ground. Standing beside me, she leans in close enough that I can smell the rum on her lips. "I want to." I turn my head to look at her hooded eyes and see what she wants.

"My apartment is just down the street. Grab your shit and let's go."

"Sounds good."

I open the door and usher her inside. I finish off my drink in one gulp and pay the tab. Jen meets me at the door and I press myself against her for the door to open. Even though my place is only a few blocks down the street, it feels like cities away until we reach the door. I haven't been with anybody since Nova, so to say I'm due a good fuck is an understatement.

I let her into my apartment, and before I have the chance to close the door, she's taking her jacket and shoes off, asking where the bedroom is. I point in the direction of where she needs to go, and as she makes her way, she slowly peels off her clothes. I'm quick to follow her lead, leaving a trail of clothing in our wake.

Just as she reaches the bed, I come up behind her, moving her hair off her shoulder to expose her neck. She smells of coconut and tastes like honey as I lick from her shoulder, up to her ear. A soft moan leaves her lips as I slide my hands over her rock-hard nipples, still covered by a black lace bra. "Take this off." She makes quick work undoing the front clasp, sliding the straps down her arms. She circles her arms around my neck. Arching her back, she pushes out her chest for me to caress. I pinch her nipples hard enough for her to draw in a quick breath. By now, she's sure to feel the raging hard-on I have for her, rubbing against her lower back.

"I wanna suck your cock."

I step away from her to give her room to turn around. Grabbing the top of my boxers, she pulls them down as she falls to her knees. She circles her hand around my shaft, squeezing and tugging me close to slide into her eager and hungry mouth. She takes me as far as the back of her throat, then starts to hum as she slides her lips up to the head, licking the precum off the tip before sucking me in again. She looks up at me through hooded eyes, sucking and licking her way up and down my cock. I tip my head back and close my eyes, losing myself in the moment. If I'm not careful, I'll blow my load down her throat before I can explore the rest of her.

"Stop." I pull away from her and grab her hands to lead her to stand.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I wanna fuck you, if that's okay."

She giggles before laying on the bed. "I'm all yours."

I crawl between her legs, leaning down to kiss her greedy lips as she moans when I glide inside her ready pussy. Our tongues collide, fighting for domination. She curls her legs around my waist, drawing me further into her. Years of pent-up energy are about to be unleashed in her, and I'm losing what little control I have.

Her pussy walls are pulsating, my spine is tingling, and as we both fall over the edge, being lost in the intense wave is the only defence I have to offer when I moan Nova's name. Jen instantly stills beneath me as I realize what I just said. I rest my forehead against hers and close my eyes. "Fuck me."

"Fuck you is right! My name is Jen!"

I carelessly fall beside her on the bed, bringing my hands to cover my face. The bed dips beside me and when I finally look up, Jen already has her bra in place, and is marching out of the bedroom in search of the rest of her clothing. I lean up on my elbows, pondering how I'm going to salvage what's left of the night. "Jesus, Jen, I'm sorry."

A few moments later, she stands in front of me, fully dressed, with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. "I know we just met and all, but what the fuck was that?"

I get off the bed and slide my boxers on before bracing myself for the conversation that is sure to follow. "Nova and I have a very sordid history. I guess it was just habit saying her name."

"How sordid?"

"We were married. She's the only girl I've been with."

Jen tilts her head to the side and studies me. "Married? When? She said she's been with Corey all her life."

"I'm sure she would prefer that." I put my jeans on and sit back on the bed. " We got married because she got pregnant. Shit went down between us and she moved on with my best friend, Corey. End of story."

"That's Jerry Springer fucked up."

I lean my elbows on my knees and put my face in my hands. It suddenly hits me that Nova was the only girl I'd been with, until tonight. Flashes of Nova and I together for the first time are drowning me in emotions I long forgot about.

The music downstairs matches the beat of my heart, ready to tear through my chest at what is about to happen. We're both lying naked under the sheets of my friend's bed. We've touched each other before, licking, sucking, and kissing each other's most intimate areas, but what we're about to do is a game changer.

Nova pulls at my bottom lip with her teeth before pulling away from me. Without breaking our stare, she lays her head on the pillow and pulls me to lay on top of her. I can feel her quivering under me. I'm not sure if it's nerves, or if she's as ready for this as I am. I place my elbows on either side of her head and brush her hair away from her face.

"I love you, Nova." I kiss the tip of her nose. "Are you sure?"

Caught up with emotion, she nods her head and bites her lip. I bring my lips to hers as I enter her for the first time and fuck me, it feels like heaven. Slowly, inch by inch, I slide deeper and deeper into her, until I hit a barrier. I look down at Nova as she closes her eyes, waiting for the pain to come. Thinking it's better to get it over with than prolong the sensation, I drive past the tightness, calling her my beautiful girl and kissing the stray tears cascading down her temples. I stop moving to make sure she's okay, and when she opens her watery eyes, she smiles, giving me the unspoken words to carry on. I slow my thrusts, kissing her brows, her cheeks, her nose, until I reach my climax and spill into her.

After we get dressed, I hold her hand, kissing her knuckles as we make our way back to the party. Nobody's none the wiser of what life-changing moment just occurred between us, except maybe one.

Standing in the corner, surrounded by high school seniors drinking their way to a nasty hangover, is a pair of steely blue eyes belonging to my best friend. And if looks could kill, I think I'd be dead.

"Dane!"

I look up to see Jen has her coat, shoes, and purse hanging over her shoulder.

"Where'd you go? I've been calling your name for a while."

"Sorry." I move up the bed to lean against the headboard, grabbing a cigarette from the pack on my nightstand.

"Listen." She makes her way to stand in front of me. "I'm not sure what the deal is with you and Nova, but you're seriously hot as fuck. When you figure out what's going on in that head of yours, give me a call."

She drops a torn-off corner of the newspaper she wrote her name and number on and walks out of the apartment. Blowing blue smoke out of my nose, I look down and notice she wrote her name, heavy-handed, and drew four lines under it.

Nova

For the last couple weeks, Brenda's been feeling unwell and out of sorts, and with Christmas just around the corner, we figured we'd buy the guys tickets to Vegas for a UFC fight, Nunes vs Rousey. Corey needs time with his guy friends, and Grant needs to stop hovering over his pregnant, and very volatile wife.

Corey and I are leaning up against their kitchen counter, side by side, listening to Grant plead his case as to why he shouldn't leave, and she's screaming at him to get out of her hair. There's not much more I can listen to, and this stress isn't good for her. So, before my husband can tell me to stay out of it, I walk over to them and lean on the table with my arms braced in front of me.

"Grant, this is the Christmas present your loving wife has decided to gift you. She knows how stressed you are about her and the high-risk pregnancy, but you need a break as much as she does. Now please, go get your bag and have a guy's weekend in Vegas. It's Friday and you'll be back Sunday night. Bren is staying with me, in my bed, so if there's anything going on, anything, I won't hesitate to call you." I turn my focus to my emotional best friend. "And you, honey, need to calm your shit before your blood pressure skyrockets and you dive into the world of preeclampsia. Grant loves you beyond measure, you know this. It's making him crazy to see you suffer, so take it with a grain of salt, okay?"

Grant looks at his hot mess of a wife, to me, then to Corey. "My bag is upstairs, give me a minute." He stands up from the table, wearing a look of utter defeat, and walks out of the kitchen.

Brenda stands up and turns to Corey. "Please, make him relax. He needs to be away from this, at least for a little while."

Corey bends down to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll do my best, but only if you promise to let Nova take care of you."

"I always do. Don't know why you guys think I don't." She rubs her belly, taking a few deep breaths.

Grant comes down a few moments later with his bag in his hand. "I'll call you tonight when we land."

"Okay. Have a safe flight."

"I will. Enjoy your weekend with the girls."

"I will." She purses her lips to stop the tears from forming, but one look into Grant's eyes and the damn breaks. He's over to her in a heartbeat, holding her close and whispering calming words in her ear.

I turn to Corey. "Bye, babe. I love you. Keep the spending money for the strippers to a minimum, okay." I flash him my megawatt smile before he grabs me by the waist and crashes his lips against mine. He grabs my ass and squeezes hard enough to leave his handprint on me until he gets back, and leaves. Grant reluctantly follows behind, blowing one last kiss to Brenda.

* * *

Our Saturday is spent shopping and eating at the various kiosks in the mall. Exhausted, we've come back to the house to settle in for the night. The snow hasn't stopped falling since we got back to the house, and it's starting to wreak havoc on the roads.

The girls are upstairs getting their pajamas on, and I'm in the kitchen getting popcorn ready for our chick flick movie marathon when I hear the front door opening with stomping boots and bantering male voices.

"So much for our marathon. Don't cheap out on the seasoning, Nova, or the butter. My babies are gonna be butterballs when they come out." She giggles as she walks to the bathroom. Rourke comes into the kitchen, laughing about something, with Dane close behind.

"Mom, check this out. Dane thought he could bet this girl twenty bucks if she—"

Dane elbows Rourke in the side. "Hey, c'mon, now. That's between us, dude."

Pouring half a cup of butter on Brenda's oversized bowl of popcorn, I start shaking the seasoning on. "How come you guys are back so early?" I tip my head to the side. "You're just in time for Dirty Dancing."

Both groan in unison. "I was getting tired of spending more time on my ass than on the snowboard. Besides, the roads are getting shitty, so here we are." Dane makes a disgusted look once he notices the amount of butter swimming in the bottom of the bowl.

Just to torture him, I hold the bowl up to his face. "Want some?" I grin as he looks like he's ready to dry heave, when I hear a shriek coming from Brenda. I drop the bowl of popcorn, scattering it all over the floor as I run to the bathroom. The latch on the sliding door hasn't worked properly in years, so gaining access inside is a non-issue. I see her sitting on the toilet with a panicked look on her face.

"Honey, what's wrong?" I stand in the doorway and see that everything around looks undisturbed, but there's a puddle of water in front of the toilet. "Bren?"

"I think my water just broke. My water just broke, Nova. It's too early and Grant's not here. I can't have the babies now because he's not here, Nova!"

I cup her face in my hands and try to get her to focus on me. "Brenda, listen to me. I'm right here with you, okay? I need you to focus on me and tell me what you feel. Are you having any pain?"

She's so panicked she can't speak, but she shakes her head, allowing the tears to flow faster down her terrified face. "Sweetie, I gotta go back to the kitchen and grab the phone to call 911."

Her eyes grow in size and she starts to panic. "No, please, don't leave me! This isn't happening! Grant isn't here!"

"Brenda, I have to go get the phone in the kitchen. I'll only be gone a few seconds."

Dane stops short of the bathroom and hears the panic in Brenda's voice. "Nova, what's going on?"

I look at Bren and reassure her that everything will be fine. "I need you to concentrate on your breathing. Can you do that for me?"

She nods her head and starts to take shaky, but deep breaths. I walk to the door and see the guys standing in the hallway, ready to help. "Bren's water broke. Rourke, honey, I need you to call 911 and keep your sisters away from here." He takes his phone out of his pocket and starts to dial as he walks away.

"What do you want me to do?"

I stand a little closer to him so Bren doesn't overhear me. "She's way too early for this. We need to get her to the hospital immediately."

"When do the guys get back?"

I look over my shoulder and see Bren has her hands on both knees to brace herself for what's to come. I look back at Dane and sigh. "Not until tomorrow night."

"I think I'm having a contraction! I need Grant!" She balls up her hands into fists and squeezes her eyes as her contraction hits. I kneel in front of her and rub her thighs to keep her attention on anything but the pain. "Brenda look at me." Her knuckles are turning white, and I notice she's holding her breath. "Bren, look at me!" She pops her eyes open and takes a second to regain her focus. "Don't hold your breath. Breathe with me." I'm taking exaggerated deep breaths until Bren starts following my lead and rides out her contraction.

Rourke comes in the bathroom holding the phone to his ear. "I keep getting 'all operators are busy, please stay on the line' message. Should I keep calling back?"

Dane crouches down beside me. "I can get her to the hospital a lot faster than waiting here for an ambulance. You said yourself, she needs to go."

"Nova, I need to push! I need to push right now!" I grab her under the arm to move her to the floor, and see a baby starting to crown.

"Rourke, get me blankets! Dane, I need your help. The babies are already coming."

Dane quickly situates himself behind Nova and places her head on his lap, holding her hands. Rourke runs back in and places the blankets beside me on the floor.

"Take a deep breath, and on three, you need to push, okay?" Brenda looks at me with desperation in her eyes, and I can see what she's thinking; it's written all over her face. "You can do this, Brenda. I'll be right here every step of the way. You ready?"

Corey

MGM Grand

As I'm standing at the sink washing my hands, three girls follow one male into the handicap stall. Fight night brings out the best in people. I go to reach for a paper towel and take in the tall brunette standing next to me, dressed in a thin stretch of fabric, leaving nothing to the imagination and heels I've only seen strippers wear. Her red lips part to show her overly bleached teeth as she runs her tongue over them.

"Love the tats." She hands me another paper towel. " I was wondering how long it would take for you to notice me."

I take the paper towel I already had and toss it into the garbage. "This is the guy's washroom, right?"

Just as she starts to giggle, I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I keep my eyes on the girl while I answer, not taking in who it is calling.

"Yeah."

"Corey! Where...fuck....been?"

"Nova? What's going on?"

"We're... route...the hospi..."

"Babe, you're cutting out!" I close my hand over my other ear to hear her. "Nova?"

"I'm Dane's.... Brenda...she...babies...house..."

I walk out of the bathroom to see if I can get better reception, and spot Grant, Bill, and Darcy in line for beer.

"Baby, you still there?"

"Corey!"

"I'm here! What's going on?"

"Brenda went into labour! She had the babies at our house. Dane's driving us to the hospital."

"Oh, fuck. Is she okay? Are the babies..." I start running my hand through my hair.

"Tell Grant. I gotta go, we're at the hospital."

I tell her I love her before the line goes dead. I run over to where the guys are and pull Grant out of the line, the guys not far behind.

"What the fuck?" He notices my panicked look and visibly swallows. "What happened?"

"Nova just got to the hospital with Brenda. She had the babies at our house, man." No sooner do I finish my sentence, Grant is stumbling backward into Darcy and Bill. "What?" He grabs his hair and starts to pull at it, hard.

"We gotta get our shit and get the next plane out of here. Do you hear me?"

All he can do is nod. Grant is starting to lose colour. "It's too early, Corey."

"Come on." Grabbing him by the arm, I pull him to the nearest exit. As we start weaving our way through the overcrowded concourse, I hear Bill talking to someone about plane tickets, and Darcy is a few steps in front of us, parting people as we pass. We get to our suite a few minutes later and start throwing whatever we can find into our bags. Grant is sitting on the bed, trying to call Brenda's cell, but it keeps going straight to voicemail.

"We got seats out, but it doesn't leave for an hour," Bill informs us as he flips his phone in his hand. I clap him on his back and give him a nod.

"That's good. Thanks, man."

The twenty-minute drive to the airport feels like hours. Grant hasn't said a word to any of us, he just keeps rubbing his phone like Brenda will finally call him and let him know everything's okay. I wait until we're past security to give Nova's cell a try. It's picked up on the first ring, but it's not who I expected to answer the phone.

"Corey?"

"Yeah, it's me. Where's Nova?"

"She's with Brenda. I brought them in; the roads are shit. The ambulance wasn't coming fast enough."

"How's Brenda?"

"She's okay, I think. The babies are in the NICU. I'm standing outside the babies' room right now, just making sure."

"How are they doing?"

"They're really small, man. Hooked up to a bunch of machines...so small."

I can hear the emotion in his voice, which doesn't help me any. Grant's like a brother to me, and I'm not sure how to tell him this information.

I clear my throat before I speak. "Dane?"

He takes a few moments to regroup. "You on the way?"

"Yeah, we're leaving in a few minutes. What did she have?"

"Two girls. Two beautiful girls."

I look over my shoulder and see Grant making his way to me. "Thanks for being there, Dane. See you soon." I hang up as Grant stands right in front of me. "Was that Nova?"

"No, she's taking care of Bren. Dane brought them to the hospital. I guess the ambulance wasn't coming fast enough."

He nods, then starts to rub his chest. "Did they make it?"

"Your daughters are alive and fighting."

Grant's breath hitches as he falls to his knees and starts to cry. I crouch down in front of him and hold on to him, rubbing his back in comfort.

* * *

Before Grant went to sit with Brenda, he asked me to go check on his daughters. As I make my way down the hall, I see Dane leaning up against a glass wall, looking intently at the precious gifts the room holds. I'm standing right beside him before he takes notice of me, gives me a nod, then returns his focus into the room. The lights in the room are dimmed to a soft glow. There are four incubators, each with their own heart monitor, feeding, and breathing machine. The girls are in the front two incubators with only diapers on, patches over their eyes, tubes up their noses, and monitors attached to their feet.

"How long have you been standing here?"

"Since they were brought in here. Nova's been busy with Brenda, so I thought I'd give them peace of mind until you guys showed up."

"Rourke with the girls?"

"Yeah, I just talked to him. I can go check on them if you want. No use staying here anymore."

"Yeah, I'll stay with Nova until she's ready to go."

"Sure."

Dane doesn't make any effort to move from his post, and I have no reason for him to leave. Minutes go by as nurses go in the room and check on the machines before they stick their hands through the incubator holes and caress the fragile little bodies of the occupants.

Nova

"Corey."

He turns his body away from the glass wall, just in time to catch me in his arms. Seeing and smelling him is all I needed to let my emotions take over, and I become a sobbing mess. I know he's trying to talk to me, but I just need this release so I can get my shit together for my best friend and her girls.

"I'll go hang out with your kids until you guys get back." Dane claps Corey on the back and starts to walk toward the elevators.

"Dane." I pull away from Corey and walk over to him. I hug him tight. He hesitates a few seconds, then I feel his arms circle around my waist. "Thank you, for everything." He buries his head in my neck, then lets me go. He gives me a smile and he walks away, gets in the waiting elevator, then he's gone. I walk over to where Corey is still standing and look at the miracles before us. All odds are stacked against them, but if they're anything like their mom, they won't give up easily.

"How long are they gonna be here?" Corey puts his hand on the back of my neck and starts to rub the tension away.

"A couple months at least." I lean into his side and put my arms around his waist. He kisses me on top of my head and pulls me closer.

"They're pretty cute. Look like their mom, thank God." I know he's trying to make me laugh, but all I have to offer is a smile. "You did good, baby."

"Thank you." I tip my head back to look at him, just as he leans down to softly kiss my lips. "I love you so much."

Rubbing my shoulder, he says, "I love you, too," and gives me another lingering kiss.

I hear the faint sound of the elevator doors opening, then slow, heavy footsteps approaching. I look over to my right to see a devastated Grant, who looks like he's aged ten years, come to stand beside us. When he sees his girls, his face instantly lights up the entire hallway. He leans his forehead on the glass, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"They're so beautiful."

I wrap my arms around Grant's waist, resting my head on his arm. "Spoken like a father." He looks down at me and brings his arm around my shoulder, kissing me on top of the head.

The nurse in the room, Carrie, notices me and comes outside. "Hey, Nova, one of these yours?" She gives me a smirk.

"No, but two of them belong to this man." He lets go of me and runs his hands through his hair.

"Can I...I mean, is it okay—" Carrie cuts him off before he finds the words.

"Come with me, and I'll get you some skin to skin time with them."

He nods his head, wiping the tears with the back of his hands. He looks back at us, too emotional to say anything, and follows Carrie.

Corey stands behind me, putting his arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on my head. We watch Grant settle into the rocking chair as Carrie places his daughters, one by one, on his bare chest. His tension visibly disappears as he snuggles in with his two girls, who are as calm as can be.

Corey

With Nova's already crazy work schedule, and Brenda and the girls still in the hospital, I've been cutting back on my appointments at the shop and doing more on the home front, one being a taxi driver to the girls' extracurricular activities. Today's event? Ballet. God, help me.

I'm sitting on a bench that is built for, well, four-year-olds, and cell phone absorbed dance moms dressed in Lulu Lemon. They look like they just came from the gym, but they're done up like they're going out for the night. I never understood that; thank fuck my wife is simple. When she goes to the gym, her hair is a mess and her face is all flushed. But when we go out, she's the sexiest fucking woman I've ever laid my eyes on. Anyway, I digress.

"Okay, ladies. Let's put our feet in first position and practice our pliés. Samantha, you need to stop touching Maddy."

I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes. I love my daughter to no end but I'm in pink hell.

"Are you Lola's father?"

I open my eyes to see a woman, tall in stature, wearing white pants and a gold blouse. Her auburn hair is swept over to one side, and she's carrying a suitcase size purse in the hand that showcases her skating rink size diamond ring. And her make-up, I'm pretty sure took her hours upon hours to apply. Thank you for my simple wife. Folding my arms over my chest, I offer her my panty-melting smile.

"I am."

"Hello." She offers me her hand. I'm not sure whether I should shake it or kiss her ring. "I'm Monica Templeston, Presley and Emmalee's mom. I'm president of the Little Dancer's Executive Committee, and Nova hasn't signed up for her volunteer hours yet."

I look over to the mom sitting on my right, who's snickering at me. I look back to Monica and shake her hand. "Nova's pretty busy."

"Well then, we'll have to pull Lola from classes. We try to get all parents involved in their child's dancing aspirations, and it would be a shame to have Lola pulled when she can be the shining star she has the potential to be, just like my Emmalee." She turns around to proudly beam at her child, who is trying to show her nipples to one of the little boys. "Emma! Stop that!" I lean to the side to look at my girl, who is trying to follow what the instructor is doing, but sees me looking at her and starts waving.

"So, Mr. Spencer, will Nova be bringing Lola to class next week? She doesn't have much to choose from, and the deadline is next Friday. Or I could just assign—"

"Where's the sheet?"

"Excuse me?"

"Where's the sign-up sheet for your volunteer hours?"

"It's on the counter by the front door." She points to the illustrious list. "Will it be you or your wife completing the hours? I like to make sure I'm on a first name basis with all our volunteers. It's so important to support our children's developmental years."

"Right. I'll make sure I sign up before I leave."

"Great! And your name is?" She leans down to make sure she hears me.

"Corey."

"Perfect! You really are doing a wonderful thing for Lola." She winks at me, then moves on to her next prey. I turn to the mother, still snickering at my expense. "What was that?"

She breaks out into a full belly laugh. "That is the definition of dance mom. Don't piss her off or she'll take it out on your child. Believe me, it ain't pretty."

"Just out of curiosity, does she steal your soul if the hours aren't done?"

She looks around to make sure Monica isn't within hearing distance, and leans toward me. "I think after she does, she dances around a fire pit, naked." She slaps her knees and laughs until she starts coughing.

I better be getting a blow job for this.

Half an hour later, I'm in the comfort of my kitchen, helping Lola with her ABC's when Rourke and Leni walk in. Rourke gets a Gatorade from the fridge and leans up against the counter. Leni sits at the table beside me with her head down. I look from Rourke to Leni, then to Lola, who's itching to watch TV.

"Put your books in your room, Lo, and then you can watch TV."

"Finally!" Lola gathers her books and skips out of the kitchen.

"Okay, you two, what's up?" I turn to Rourke first. "What's wrong with your sister?"

He takes a drink and shrugs his shoulders. "Ask her. She's been pissy since I picked her up from volleyball."

I put my chin in my hand, elbow resting on the table, and tap my lips with my finger. "Len, everything okay?"

No response.

"Mayberry, did something happen at school?"

In a muted tone, without lifting her head, she says, "Don't call me that."

I gather her hair away from her face and try to get her to look at me. "Maybelene, you can tell me anything, you know that."

In a volume level just above a whisper, she says, "I got my period."

I turn to Rourke to see if he heard her. He shakes his head and sits down on the other side of me. "Leni, can you say it again? I didn't hear you."

At the same level as before, she repeats, "I got my period."

"Oh God." Rourke puts his head in his hands when I look at him for confirmation of what I think I may have just heard.

"Ah. Did you just..." I start rubbing the back of my neck. Is it hot in here?

She finally looks up, and with a look of utter defeat, she shouts, "I.GOT.MY.PERIOD!"

"I gotta go!" Rourke stands up and takes one step away from the table, but I pull him back down on his chair. If I'm going down in flames, I'm bringing him with me.

"So, ummm..." So many things to say to her, and I come out with, "How do you know?"

She looks at me like I've just killed Santa Claus, and Rourke is trying to loosen the grip I have on his wrist so he can escape. This is not going well.

"Seriously, Corey? You ask her that?" He takes another drink so as not to laugh at my expense.

"Daddy, please don't make me tell you that. When is Mom home?"

"Not soon enough." I see the tears starting to form in Leni's eyes, so absentmindedly, I remove my hand from Rourke and he bolts out of the room. "I'm sorry, that was an asshole thing to say. Your mom isn't home until late."

"I don't have any...things."

I look at her, dumbfounded. Things? Leni must see I'm trying to figure out what she's talking about. "Tampons." She hangs her head again and starts to cry. I put my hand on her back to try and comfort her, while I try Nova's cell with my other hand. "Hi! You've reached Nova. I can't come to the phone right now..." Fuck!

"Do you need me to take you somewhere?"

She lifts her head and looks at me. My daughter is experiencing a life-altering change, and her mother is unavailable. I'm all she has right now, and the way I'm acting will probably cost me thousands of dollars in therapy bills for her. I'm man enough to do this for her...yeah,totally.

"Come on, Leni, I'll take you shopping. Maybe I'll even buy you that pony you've always wanted."

"Dad, I stopped asking for that when I was seven."

"Really? Growing up before my eyes, kiddo." I stand away from the table and hold out my hand for her to take. She looks up at me and smiles, and there's my girl.

Corey

I'm in an uncomfortable piece of hell!

My head is pounding, my palms are sweaty, and I feel nauseous. Each time Leni looks over her shoulder to make sure I'm still standing, I offer her what I think is a reassuring smile, but it probably looks like I ate dog shit. She reaches for a box, then pulls away, repeating the actions a few more times, and I'm just about ready to lose my shit. I pick up a box without looking and show it to her. "What about this one?"

She examines it, and a look of humiliation overcomes her. "Ohmygoddadputitback!" She puts her hands over her eyes, like the store lights are blinding her. "What?" I turn the English wording to me. "Vagisil Prohydrate Natural Feel...what is this?"

"Can I help you?" A feminine voice from behind me asks. I turn around and see an older woman waiting for my response. "Ah, yes, yes you can. My daughter here..." I point to the spot she was standing in, now unoccupied, but she peeks her head around the end of the aisle.

The older lady puts her hand on my arm and gives me a look of concern. "Sir, would you like me to help your daughter? I'm the pharmacist here, and it might help to have a woman who knows a thing or two." Her smile is warm and sincere. "Why don't you shop around, and I'll help your daughter get what she needs."

I drop the basket I'm holding and hug her. She's laughing as she pats my back, but this woman has saved me. Ten minutes later, I'm on my way home with a more confident Leni in the passenger seat, and a bottle of Jack with my name on it.

Nova

The house is quiet when I get home. I check in on each of the kids before I make my way to my bedroom. The lights are off, but I can hear the television. I open the door to find my husband sitting up against the headboard in his boxers, legs stretched out in front of him, and a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand. I raise my eyebrows and smile. "Hello, husband. Rough day?" I look at the TV and ask, "Rambo?"

"I'm trying to regain some of my manhood back. It's been a trying day."

"Aw, baby." I shimmy my black scrubs down my legs and kick them off to the side. "Wanna tell me about it?"

He raises his eyebrows when he sees the black boy shorts I'm wearing. "Well, Matt forgot to order me the colours I needed for my leg piece, so I fired him."

I stop mid-way taking my top off. "You didn't?"

He smiles. "I didn't. Keep going, wife."

I slip my shirt off and throw it to the floor. "Is that all?"

"I made friends with Monica at ballet today. I need to support Lo in her dancing aspirations, so I signed you up for the bake sale, realized you were working that day, and now I'm baking four dozen cupcakes. Decoration theme is my choice."

"Oh, no." I laugh as I take off my remaining sock. I climb on the bed and crawl my way over to straddle him. His hands immediately go to my ass to pull me in closer. "Are you better now?" I give him a gentle kiss on his lips as I bring my arms around his neck.

"Starting to." He runs his hands up and down my back. "Still wearing too many clothes, wife."

Kissing him along his jaw and down his neck, I say, "That doesn't sound so bad."

He undoes the clasp on my bra and slips the straps down my arms, laying kisses on my shoulder. "Oh yeah, Leni started her period today."

"What?" I sit up straight and look into my husband's amused eyes. "Already?"

"I guess it happened at volleyball today."

I lean my forehead against his. "Is she okay? Was she scared?"

He runs his hands up and down my arms. "I don't think I scarred her too much. The lady pharmacist took mercy on me and helped her get what she needed."

"Oh, my poor girl. I'll talk to her tomorrow."

He lifts my chin with his finger and smiles. "Save any lives today?"

I smile while running my hands through his hair. "Always."

His hands slide down my ass, grabbing onto the material that's hiding what he really needs. "Take these off, babe. I need to be inside you, right fucking now."

I stand up on the bed to take off my boy shorts while he slides his boxers off. He puts his hands on my hips and pulls me toward his face. His tongue flicks my clit, sending chills all over my body. I look down to watch him flick the tip of his tongue repeatedly over my sensitive bundle of nerves. He slides his middle finger inside me and makes a 'come to' motion, rubbing the spot that gives me fireworks of pleasure. He begins to palm his cock, keeping the rhythm of his strokes in time with his tongue. Seeing I'm almost ready to lose my control, he removes his finger and grabs my hips.

"Ride me, baby." I lower myself on to him and we both groan out our pleasure. Our kiss tastes like a mixture of me and Jack Daniels, a delicious combination that's adding fuel to my fire. His thumbs are grazing my hardened nipples as I search to find the release we both need. With my arms around his neck, I lean back for him to take his tortuous time sucking and biting my nipples, soothing the sting with a leisurely lick. His hands move to my ass, pushing me harder onto him, and in turn, goes deeper in. I'm almost at the edge. I can feel him growing harder inside me, so I reach behind me and start to play with his balls. "Oh, fuck, babe. Come with me." He slides his hand between us and strums my clit with his thumb for a few strokes, and we both find our release.

I lean into him and press a kiss to his delicious lips and smile. "You feeling like a man now?"

He smacks my ass twice before replying. "I do now." Still entwined with each other, he flips me on my back and braces his weight over me by his arms laying by my head. "Wanna shower with me, wife?"

"I'd love to." He kisses the tip of my nose before sliding out of me and bringing me off the bed with him. Tucking me under his arm, I can't help but be a little curious of his day. "Was it really that bad today?"

He pulls me closer to him before turning the shower on. "I gave the sixty-year-old pharmacist free tattoos for life for helping Len out." I burst out laughing while he shakes his head, smirking at his misery.

Well, there you go.

Dane

Sunday's were reserved for families, dressed in their Sunday best, laughing and enjoying each other's company over sandwiches and tea.

I hated Sundays. Gave me too much time to think about shit.

I'm lying on the couch, arm tucked under my head, the other resting on my stomach with a cigarette, slowly burning up the white paper, contemplating the 'what ifs' in my life. What if Nova was never pregnant? What if that night never happened? What if I never met Crash?

I take a drag of my cigarette, and as I blow out, I watch the smoke billowing above my lips when there's a knock at my door. I direct my attention toward the noise, thinking who it could be, when there's a full fisted banging, followed by, "Dane, you motherfucker! Open the fucking door!"

Speak of the fucking devil himself.

Taking my time sitting up, I plant my feet on the floor, place my hands on either side of my legs and take a few deep breaths. I'm rewarded by not only a full fisted banging, but a few kicks with booted feet. Awesome.

"Just a minute." I take the last few drags of my cigarette and stub it out in the ashtray in front of me.

"Hurry the fuck up, asshole!"

I smile, knowing he's about two seconds away from busting my door down. I open the door to see Crash, dressed in his Sunday best—jeans, black T-shirt, and his cut. His lips curl into a grin as I lean against the open door.

"Hey, buddy! Been a long time. You gonna ask me in?"

"What do you want, Crash?"

"Is that any way to greet your best friend?" He slaps my chest with the back of his hand as he enters the apartment. "Pretty sad when I gotta find out from Jackie you got out."

"What do you want?" I close the door rather harshly, following the path he's taking as he checks out my stuff. "How did you find me?"

He looks over his shoulder. "It wasn't easy, but I got my ways." He takes a cigarette from my pack and lights up. "Why the fuck did you end up here in buttfuck nowhere?"

"Change of scenery. Nobody knows my shit here."

Crash is picking up random things around the apartment, like he's weighing their importance in my life, and setting them down before falling into the recliner in the corner of my living room. He tilts his head to the side, takes a drag of his smoke, then smiles.

"So, let me get this shit straight. Instead of coming back to the only home and family you've ever known, you just walk out of the pen, grab your bike and head north? Did you throw a dart at a fucking map to decide on this location?" He chuckles to himself.

I know he knows Nova and Rourke are here, but he's fishing for confirmation. He won't get a fucking thing from me if I can help it.

"What are you doing for money, Dane? Back to selling candy?"

"Fifteen years clean. You think I'd go back to that?" I settle into the couch, leaning my head against the wall as I wait for the migraine that having him here will surely induce. "I'm working at a garage, fixing cars again."

Crash purses his lips and nods his head. "So, Dane fucking Matthews is an honest to goodness God fearing man now, eh?" He leans over the arm of the chair to extinguish his cigarette in the ashtray by the couch when he notices the picture.

He picks it up, sits back in the chair and stares at it. I turn my head to see why he's so quiet The hairs on the back of my neck instantly rise. It's a picture I took of Rourke before we cascaded down the fresh powdered mountain on our snowboarding weekend.

"They turn you fucking gay in the joint? Why the fuck you got a pic of a kid?" He narrows his eyes at me. "Who the fuck..." He brings the picture closer to him, and when realization hits, I need him fucking gone.

"All right, time to go. Gotta work early tomorrow." I try to grab the picture from him, but he pulls it out of reach.

"This boy looks an awful like you, Dane, and I fucking know you've never been on any fucking mountain before." He slowly moves the picture into my reach.

As I use more force than necessary to grab it from him, giving him the confirmation he was seeking, he gets up from the chair and walks to the door.

"You know, I quite like it here. Think I might stick around for a while." He opens the door and turns around to leave, but not before I see the smirk on his face.

Nova

After a week of throwing up at everything in sight, yet everyone in the house perfectly fine, it got me thinking. I bought a test at the pharmacy when I got to work and headed right to the staff washroom, where I'm bent over the toilet, dry heaving, while waiting for the results. In my heart, I already know what it will tell me, but my head is a different story. It wants me to believe the only explanation is early onset menopause.

I grab a wad of toilet paper to wipe my mouth off and stand in front of the mirror. I look like death, just the look I want when saving lives.

Usual time for results is three minutes. My time for results? One minute, and I'm staring at two very pink lines.

Corey is going to flip his shit.

I couldn't keep him off me when I carried the girls. If he had his way, I would be pregnant all the damn time, trying to build him a hockey team. He's the definition of doting father, I'll give him that. As soon as he got home from the shop, he held Maybelene and Lola in his arms until it was time for bed. Even then, I caught him on multiple occasions, sleeping in the rocking chair with the girls snuggled on his chest.

I look at my watch and realize it's just about seven. In just over six hours, my husband will learn we are having a baby, again, at my age of thirty-seven.

God, help me.

* * *

"Nova, you got the chart for Mr. Sims?"

"Yeah, it's on the top of the pile." I point to the stack of processed charts for my shift's end. Dr. Augestine grabs the top chart and examines it.

"Thanks, Nova. Enjoy your weekend."

"I will." I finish signing off and hand the chart to Gloria, who notices how green I look.

"Honey, are you feeling okay? You don't look so good."

I nod my head, covering my mouth, willing the nausea to subside. When the feeling settles, I offer her a reassuring smile. "I will be, if I don't kill myself first."

Shock registers on her face. "What? Why would you say that, Nova?"

Being the older generation, she doesn't get the younger generation's sarcasm right away. "All day morning sickness, Gloria."

She gasps and starts to clap. "Oh, honey, that's wonderful news! When did you..." I push her chair out of the way to get to the garbage on her other side and empty my stomach contents of the lone cracker I managed to keep down for lunch. "Oh, dear."

I grab some Kleenex to wipe my mouth and sit back in my chair. "Fuck me, I want to die."

Gloria chuckles before rubbing my arm. "I bet Corey's enjoying this."

"On my way to tell him now." I finish cleaning up my work space and get up to leave. "See you Monday."

"Okay, sweetie. Take care of yourself."

After collecting all my belongings, I'm making my way to my vehicle, looking in my purse for the keys when a hard body presses up against me, hand over my mouth, choking out my screams. I start to kick and fight against his hold, connecting with his shins a few times before my legs are grabbed as well. The putrid smell of his breath is making me gag when he brings his mouth to my ear. "Stop fighting or I'll fucking shoot you."

I know that voice.

Corey

Rob Watson, the Police Chief, is sitting in my chair, getting the last of his touch-ups done to his back piece. It's of a guardian angel with his wife's features, who passed away from cancer four years ago. We've been building on this piece for about a year now, so I've gotten to know Chief Watson pretty well. The reason behind the tat isn't fun, but the art work is pretty fucking good, if I do say so myself. His son is also good friends with Rourke, so we've been chipping back and forth on whose son is tougher, all in good fun, when there's a quick knock at my door before Matt enters the room.

"What's up, man?"

"Wow! Sick piece, dude. Make sure you charge him a mint. Can't get work like that."

Turning his head to the side, Rob smirks. "Don't I have a warrant for your arrest? Something about unpaid speeding tickets?" I shake my head and laugh, knowing damn well the guy stuffs them in his glove box.

Matt's face drops. "You have a warrant?"

Rob smiles, trying not to laugh, while I'm still tattooing him. "No, but get those fucking tickets paid, you speed demon."

"Jesus, don't do that to me." He places one hand on his chest and the other on the door frame to brace himself. "I'm too young to die of a heart attack."

"You need something?" I wipe off the line I just finished, leaning my head from side to side to admire my work.

"Right," he says over his shoulder. "Leni's school is on the phone."

In turning to face Matt, I notice the time on the clock above the door that reads three twenty. Leni's school lets out at five after three, and Nova's the main contact, so I'm not sure why I'm getting called. "Put the call on speaker, please."

"Yeah, sure." He walks over to the phone on the table and picks up the line and puts it on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Mr.Spencer? I'm Mrs. Tatchery, the Vice Principal at Aspen Ridge Elementary. I have your daughter, Maybelene, in my office. She informs me that her mom was supposed to pick her up."

"Yeah, she said she would. She hasn't shown up yet?"

"No, and I've tried all three numbers provided to the office a few times. No answer at the house or on her cell, and the hospital said she left around one."

With everyone's schedule rapidly running through my mind, I inform Mrs. Tatchery that I'll be there to get Leni before I disconnect the call. "Sorry, Rob, I'll have to get Matt to reschedule you."

"Already on it," Matt yells from down the hall.

"Nova must have fallen asleep." I finish cleaning off his back and get the bandages ready.

"No worries. I know the life of shift work."

Placing the last of the bandages on, I take the gloves off and throw them in the garbage. "You know the drill. Matt will take care of you out front." I hold my hand out for him to shake.

"Sure thing. Catch you later, Corey."

I'm already dialing Nova at home, not noticing Rob leaving the room. No answer. I try her cell phone and it goes to voicemail after a few rings. I grab my keys off the counter and make my way out the back where my SS Nova is parked, still trying Nova on her cell and at home.

By the time I pull up to the school, and with no response from Nova, I have a bad feeling something's wrong. Taking the stairs two at a time, I smile at my poor girl who looks worried standing beside Mrs. Tatchery out front.

"How's my girl?" I run my hand over her hair and kiss the top of her head.

She looks up at me with a somber look on her face. "Mom was supposed to pick me up. Why didn't she come?"

"Still trying to figure that out, baby. You ready to go?" I grab her bag off the ground and take her little hand in mine. "Mom probably fell asleep in the bathtub again." We walk down the steps to the car and I open the passenger door, throwing her bag on the back seat.

Placing her left foot in the car, she turns to me before getting in. "Is Mom okay?"

I cup the side of her face, rubbing her cheek with my thumb. "Let's go home and we'll ask her, okay?"

Using my hands-free feature in the car, I keep trying the house and cell with no answer, and no return on the messages I've left her. I'm trying to remain unaffected for Leni's sake, but I can tell she knows something's not right. When we pull up in the driveway, I notice Nova's SUV isn't there. As we walk into the house, I tell Leni to go upstairs to her room so I can call Brenda's cell phone.

"Hey Corey, what's up?"

"Nova's not with you, is she?"

"I saw her in the NICU around ten, but I haven't seen her since."

"Shit."

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. She's not here."

"Did you try her cell?"

"I've tried her cell. I called the house, where I'm at now, and her SUV isn't here. She left the hospital at one, and no one has heard from her since."

"Well, she's gotta be around somewhere, Corey. Don't panic."

"Too late." I end the call and decide to call Randall. I don't even wait for him to say hello before I start with the questions. "Have you heard from Nova?"

"Corey? No, I haven't. Why?"

I start pacing the living room, running my hand through my hair. "She's missing."

"What? Are you sure?"

"She got off shift at one. She was supposed to get Leni from school. I had to go pick her up and Nova's vehicle isn't here. I've tried her cell and the house a million times, left messages on both with no answer." I hear the background noise of the garage dull, then a door close. He must be going into his office.

"Nova's never done this before?"

"No, Randall! What the fuck, man? I'm always able to get a hold of her no matter what."

His loud sigh is felt through the phone. "All right. I'll make some calls around here and make my way to you. Don't do anything stupid, Corey!"

"Right. I'll just sit on my ass and wait for you."

"Jesus Christ Cor—" Ending the call, I bite my lip, trying to think of where she could be. If she was in an accident, I would have heard something by now. The only option I keep coming up with is calling the cops. Well, one in particular.

"Chief Watson here."

"Rob, it's Corey Spencer."

"Hey, Corey. Did you find Nova?"

"I can't get a hold of her. Last place she was seen is leaving work. Do you think you..."

"I'll head there now. What time did you say she was getting off shift?"

"She left the hospital at one."

"Okay, I'll take a look. What was she driving? What was she wearing?"

I can't believe I'm answering these questions; this sounds too formal. "Ah, she was wearing her blue scrubs this morning and her black coat. She drives a black 2015 Chevy Tahoe." Nausea is starting to set in. I think I just made a missing person's report.

"Okay, got it. I'll call you back once I find something."

"Thanks, Rob." I throw my phone on the couch, put my hands on my knees and hang my head. A few minutes later, I make the call to the neighbour across the street to keep both girls for the evening. The mom, Stacey, is on her way here to grab Leni and take her back to her place, where Lola is currently wreaking havoc.

"Daddy?"

I look up to see Leni standing behind the couch with tears in her eyes. I walk over to her and kneel down to get eye level with her. I place my hands on either side of her neck so she'll keep her focus on me. "I need you to do something for me, okay?" She nods her head. " Stacey is on her way here to pick you up."

One blink is all it takes for her tears to flow. "I wanna stay with you."

Using my thumbs to try and wipe away the tears, I kiss her on each cheek and rest my forehead against hers. "I know, baby, but I need to concentrate on finding your mom. I need you to look after your sister for me, okay?"

"But why do I have to leave?" I'm not sure what to say to that. I can't handle seeing my girls cry, it breaks my heart. But if shit goes down, I don't want my girls to witness it unfold. "Leni..."

Stacey opens the door and sees me in front of Leni. "Hey, girl, you ready to go? I refuse to cook tonight, so us girls are going to McDonald's. Don't tell Mr.Heinz, he'll have a fit."

Leni throws her arms around my neck and whispers, "I love you, Dad," before she turns to leave with Stacey.

Dane

I'm sitting on the hood of my car, in front of a rundown motel in the middle of nowhere, trying to figure out why the fuck Crash needed to meet me here. He sounded manic on the phone, so why the fuck I drove the hour to get here is anybody's guess. I walk up the two flights of stairs to get to the second floor and look for room two thirteen. It's at the end of the hall, curtains closed, but the lights are on and I see shadows moving about the room. I knock once and step back, in case I need to make a quick exit. The door opens and I'm greeted by Crash, who by the looks of it is either elated to see me, or is as high as a fucking kite.

"Oh, man. You are gonna be so fucking stoked about this." He slaps my shoulder before he pulls me in and shuts the door. "I've been dying for you to get your ass here."

I look over Crash's shoulder and see a guy doing lines off the corner table and another guy, who I know from years back, flipping through the TV channels, looking bored.

"What the fuck you playing at, Crash? Why am I here?"

He starts to laugh. "Are you kidding me? This is gonna fucking blow your mind, dude!"

The guy from the table finishes his line, wipes the residue from his lip and rubs it over his teeth. "Just fucking tell him about the girl so we can get this over with already, fuck."

My focus goes from table guy to Crash. "What girl?" And that's when I hear the faint sound of someone puking in the closed-off bathroom beside me. "Who's in there?"

I put my hand on the knob to open the door. I look at Crash to see if he'll stop me, but all he's doing is bouncing on the balls of his feet, and grinning like a psycho. When I open the door, my fucking heart stops beating.

In my sights is Nova, curled up to the toilet. Her hair is matted to her face, and her blue scrubs are dirty and torn along the bottom hem. I walk cautiously over to her and kneel down beside her. "God, Nova. What did they do to you?"

Crash leans on the door frame and lights up a cigarette. "She's been in there since we got here. Don't know what the fuck is goin' on with her, but that shit is nasty." He slams the door shut.

I start rubbing her back, but she pushes my hand off. "Don't!"

"Nova, I swear to you, I had no idea about this. I don't even know what this is?"

She wipes her mouth off with the back of her hand and sits up against the wall. "Kidnapping is what this is."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

I see a washcloth hanging by the sink, so I get up to rinse it out. I attempt to get close enough to wipe her face, but she smacks my hand away after she grabs the cloth. When she finishes wiping her face, it occurs to me that I've seen her like this before.

"How long have you been sick?"

"None of your business."

"Nova, you forget I was with you..."

Shaking her head, she takes in a deep breath. "All I wanted to do was finish my shift and go home to tell Corey. On my way out of the parking lot, I was grabbed from behind, and I recognized the smell instantly. Crash always had a distinct smell to him; cheap aftershave and smoke. I put up a fight with just him, but two more assholes grabbed my legs and brought me here, wherever here is."

"I had no idea this was happening, you have to believe me. Crash called me, acting all manic and told me he had a surprise for me." I kneel down in front of her. "Please believe me, Nova. I would never do this to you. I have no idea what the fuck Crash was thinking, but I will get you out of here, I promise you."

"How, Dane? They're all on something out there, and there's one of you. What are you gonna do?"

I stand up and put my hand over my mouth, looking over the bathroom for something to use.

Not a fucking thing.

I look back over to Nova, who isn't looking too good. "I'll talk my way out, I'm good at that. Just stay here and I'll find out what's going on."

"Where am I gonna go?" She leans over the toilet just in time to vomit.

I open the door quietly to see if there's any way we can make it out the main door when table guy notices me. "You done fucking her already? I'm ready to go a round with her." He stands from the table, smoke hanging out of his mouth, and starts undoing his belt.

"I'm not fucking her while she's sick. Even I have higher standards than that." If I'm going to get us out of this, I have to go along with whatever fucked up game they're playing. Crash is sitting in the other chair at the table, staring at me. "This is what you called me here for? You kidnapped another man's girl?"

He stands up and adjusts his cut, that's doing a piss poor job at concealing the gun under his arm. "You don't like my present? That's your girl in there, Amigo, don't you remember?" He turns to table guy and points in my direction. "This fuck was so cunt struck, he couldn't see what she was doing right in front of his pretty boy face." Table guy looks in my direction and chuckles. Balls, the guy channel surfing, remains oblivious to what's going on around him. "She was fucking his best friend right in plain sight, and this fucker was too dumb to see it. Well, I got her for you now, yet I get no thanks for my troubles?"

I thought I could handle this calmly and orderly, but I'm right back to where my life was fifteen years ago, and I will not let him do this to me again. "You thought I would thank you for this?"

He calmly starts coming toward me. "Yes, I did, Dane, 'cause once again you're too much of a pussy to go after her yourself. So I had to get my hands dirty, again."

"What do you mean, again?"

He's now standing toe-to-toe with me. "You never did figure it out, did you?" He looks over at the other two, who are smirking along with him, then back at me. "Well, young buck, I'll let you in on a little secret. Remember that night you thought you were the one who put Nova in the hospital? All you did was smack her a few times and choke her unconscious. In your drug haze, you forgot I was there so I finished the job for you."

My head is spinning. My heart feels like it's pounding out of my chest, and all I can hear is ringing in my ears. Everything else fades to black, except the man standing in front of me. I don't even notice table guy going into the bathroom and pulling out an exhausted Nova by her arms. "What?"

"The job needed to be done. I knew your pansy ass couldn't handle it so I finished it for you. Now, I think you owe me for putting myself out there to get you what is rightfully yours. I was gonna wait until she got home and have a little fun with her, but she was prime for the taking at the hospital, and Rick here thought we needed distance, so here we are."

I grit my teeth. It's taking everything I have to not lose my shit right now. "Thank you for my gift. Now, let me take her home so I can do what I should have done years ago."

"That was a sorry excuse for a thank you, and you're welcome, buddy. But, there's still payment left for me and my boys, so we were thinking we'd have some fun taking turns fucking her while you watch. I think that's fair, right, guys?"

Table guy, Rick, pulls Nova closer to him as he replies, "That's a fucking awesome idea." Nova hangs her head and starts to cry.

"She's pregnant. You're too fucked in the head to get it up, and I'm bored with all this shit." I start inching my way toward Nova, raising my hand to grab her arm. "Let her go, and we'll talk about this."

Crash pulls out his gun and points it at my head. "This isn't a fucking negotiation, Dane!" His focus moves to Nova. "Congrats on the pregnancy, but I don't fucking care." His focus returns back to me. "All you ever do is talk, asshole. How about manning up and showing your girl here who the fucking man is!"

I put my hands up in surrender. "She was never mine to have, Crash. Let her go back to Corey—"

"Corey is a fucking dumbass! She belongs to you!" He presses the gun to my head, his finger vibrating on the trigger.

Nova

I look up and see the gun pointed at Dane's head, so I start to scream. Crash looks my way for a split second, and that's when Dane makes his move. He grabs the hand holding the gun and tackles Crash to the floor, football style. Two gunshots go off and I fall to the floor, covering my ears. Balls gets up from the bed, walks up behind Rick and shoots him execution style in the head, where he drops beside me. I look over to Crash struggling to get Dane off of him, blood beginning to pool on the floor around them both.

"What the fuck..." Balls raises the gun, aims at Crash's head, and pulls the trigger.

What the ever-loving fuck is going on?

He lifts Dane off of Crash and turns him onto his back. Balls turns to me and gestures to me with the gun. "You're a nurse, right?" I just stare at him, wondering if he's going to shoot me next. "Your boy here needs your help." Not even thinking, I get on my hands and knees and crawl over to Dane. The front of his shirt is soaked in blood, making it hard to tell where he was hit. Lifting his shirt, I see one bullet hole in his chest, and one in his stomach. He's losing so much blood, I don't think I can help him. I run into the bathroom and grab all the towels I can find. As I try to slow the bleeding, I see Balls is just standing there, watching me.

"Don't just stand there, call for help!"

"Already did. He gonna live?"

I look down and see Dane is looking at me like he's waiting for the answer. "Why did you kill them?"

"Crash is—was an asshole, and I've had enough of his shit. Rick here," he kicks his leg, "was a fucking nut job. I have no time for violating women, pregnant ones at that."

"Nova..." Dane starts coughing up blood.

"Shh. Please, don't talk. Help is on the way, okay?" I use my blood-covered hand to rub the tears off my cheek.

"I gotta go, cops will be here soon." He tucks the gun inside the front of his pants, takes a look around the room and walks out the door.

Dane's coughing up more blood, but his eyes stay on me, in and out of focus. I hear the faint cries of sirens in the distance, so I get right into Dane's face so he can hear me clearly. "Help is almost here, Dane, stay with me."

Corey

This waiting around is fucking killing me. I'm sitting on the swing out on the front porch, my mind racing with all kinds of possibilities, none of which are good. Randall just saw the footage Rob found on the hospital security surveillance. I couldn't watch it again. My entire reason for breathing was being man handled by two men and thrown into the trunk of a fucking nothing sedan, and I was told to sit here and get my shit together.

The only reason I haven't destroyed the house yet is because Grant brought Rourke back to the house ten minutes ago. Rob and his boys have put out an APB on the men and the car. Randall's been on the phone making calls to his boys a few hours away, and instead of taking care of his family, Grant is here taking care of us. Rourke and I have been sitting on this fucking swing since he got home. He feels just as useless as I do.

"What if they don't find her?"

I look over at Rourke, who has tears running down his cheeks. My eyes are starting to sting with my own at the thought of never seeing her, holding her, tasting her again. "Don't think like that, Rourke. We'll find her."

Randall comes out on the porch, slamming the door shut. "Aussie just called. Balls called him on the road. Crash and Rick were the ones who grabbed Nova. He shot them both in the head and left them in some motel about seventy clicks west of here."

Both Rourke and I stand up at the same time. "Where the fuck is Nova?"

"I don't know yet. Balls called 911 for her and left, said something about a man dying." Randall shifts his focus to Rourke, then back at me.

"Was she hurt? Did they hurt her?"

"He didn't say. I got a few boys heading over there now. I'll know in a bit if she's still there."

I fall back into the swing, resting my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.

Please, God, let her be okay. I don't know if I can survive without her.

"Who was the dying man?" Rourke keeps looking at Randall, waiting for the answer. "Grandpa, who was it?" Randall puts his hands on his hips and sighs, looking first at me, then at Rourke.

"I don't—"

"Stop treating me like a fucking kid! Was it my father?"

I look at Randall, and watch his face fall somber. Fuck me, this is not happening. Rourke was getting to know Dane, hanging out with him, enjoying their time together as any father and son should.

Rourke runs his hands through his hair and takes a few steps back. I have no idea what to say to him.

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Randall and Rourke's attention is now on me. " Why are we sitting here waiting when we can go look for her?"

Grant comes running out, holding his keys. "Rob just called. They found her. She's on route to the hospital. Let's go, I'll drive."

Nova

The tears haven't stopped falling. My head feels like it's going to explode, and all I can think of is how am I going to tell Rourke Dane is dead? This has been a constant loop in my brain since I watched Dane fade away, bringing on a fresh wave of tears. The paramedics did a quick check when I told them I was pregnant, and they were confident everything was okay.

"We're about one minute out, Mrs. Spencer. Sounds like they have the entire hospital on standby for you." The paramedic gives me a warm smile when she looks up from her paperwork. "Still feeling nauseous?"

"I'm okay."

"After you get checked out, they'll get you cleaned up."

I raise my hands and see they are covered in dried blood—Dane's blood. I start to cry again when we pull into the emergency ambulance bay, not noticing as soon as I get wheeled into emergency, there's four men waiting on my arrival. I see Corey running up to me, followed by Rourke and Randall.

Corey grabs my hand and walks with me while I get wheeled down the hall. "Oh my God, baby. Are you okay? Whose blood is this?" He's kissing every part of me he can get to.

"Corey, give us a few minutes to check her over, then I'll come get you guys, okay?" Gloria is trying to reason with him, but he's trying to get her hands off him to get to me. "Corey!" Gloria stops in front of him while I get wheeled away.

* * *

Settled into my private room, I eagerly wait for Gloria to finally let Corey in. It took Manny, Randall, and Grant to hold him back so I could get checked out. As much as I want to see my dad and my beautiful boy, I need to talk to Corey first and tell him what went down. There's a soft knock on the door before Gloria walks in, Corey following very close behind.

"Any issues again with you, Corey, and I will have your ass banned from this hospital, do you understand me?" Gloria is standing in front of him so he still can't get to me, yet.

"Yes, Jesus. Can I touch my wife now?"

Gloria turns to me and winks, then leaves the room. Corey eats up the space between us in record speed and starts kissing and touching me all over to make sure I'm okay.

"Move over, baby, I need you by me." He settles into my side, wrapping himself around me. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"This is what I need, always what I need." Another wave of emotions hit me, and the tears start flowing. Corey keeps gently wiping the stream of tears off my face. "Dane's dead." I can't hold it in anymore as the sobs wrack my entire body. Corey holds me tight and lets me have my breakdown. I cry so hard, I start feeling the wave of nausea hit me, but with nothing left to give, all I'm doing is dry heaving. Corey bolts from the bed in search of a garbage can, locates it by the window, grabs it and holds it for me to use. After a few dry heaves, I manage to calm myself enough to start talking again.

I take a sip of water and clear my throat. Corey is standing by the bed, still holding the garbage can, unsure if he can put it down. "Babe, I'm good now. You can put it down." He drops it and takes my hand, waiting for me to speak. "Crash took me—"

"Shh, baby." Corey climbs on the bed, putting his other arm behind my neck. "There's time for you to tell me what happened. That Nazi nurse told me you weren't hurt, but I need to make sure you're okay."

"I'm okay, they didn't hurt me." I bury my face in his neck and inhale his scent. He smells like home. "We need to tell Rourke—"

"He knows."

I sit up to look at Corey. "What?"

"Randall found out. Rourke figured it out on his own." I put my hand over my mouth. "I talked to him while we waited for you to show up."

"Mom, can I come in?" Rourke peeks his head around the door.

Corey tries to move off the bed, but I grab his hand. "No, please stay. I need you here with me for this."

"Okay."

Rourke sits in front of me on the bed. I notice his eyes look red and tired, and his shoulders are curved in. He looks devastated. God, my heart is breaking for him. All I have to do is open my arms and he falls into me. I run my hand through his hair and kiss his head. "I'm so sorry, honey."

Corey

We buried Dane four days later in a private ceremony at the request of Rourke. The whole day was surreal for me. We had gone such different ways as we became men that I never got to make a connection with him as an adult. But seeing him in that casket, all I thought of was how I was burying a part of me I thought I lost a long time ago.

Rourke fared better than Nova and I had expected. We've talked to him about everything that happened, and what Dane did for Nova. He accepts that, but like he says, it just sucks.

Right now, I'm sitting on the porch swing with a very exhausted Nova snuggled into me, with a blanket draped over us both.

"How's your head, babe?"

"Why are you asking how my head is?"

"You've been getting sick a lot. Maybe you have a concussion or something."

She sits up and looks at me with a smirk on her face.

"It's not funny. I saw the way they put you—"

She puts her finger on my lips to shut me up. "With everything going on, I never told you."

"Told me what? What the fuck, Nova? Why are you smiling?"

Her smile grows to her eyes. "Honey, I'm pregnant, about fourteen weeks."

I sit up straighter. "What?"

"I found out that morning, then Dane happened, then..." She bows her head down, but I use my finger to tilt her eyes back up to me.

"You're pregnant."

She puts a hand over her blanket-covered belly, and I notice the tiny curve to her stomach. "Everything checked out perfect in the hospital. I have my first doctor's appointment next week, if you want to come."

"You have my baby in there?"

"Corey, we've been through this a couple times already. Why do you look so...amazed?"

I put my hands on either side of her face and bring her closer. "Every time you tell me you're having my baby, I'm amazed." I crash my lips to hers. It's not an intense kiss, but a passionate one that is cut short.

"Honey, I..." She covers her mouth with her hand, quickly throws the blanket off and runs into the house. I should follow her to make sure she's okay, but I just sit here, smiling.

Epilogue

Nova

Ten Months Later

I walk out of the diner carrying a bag full of breakfast burritos in one hand, and two coffees in the other. I make way past the parking lot, which is relatively empty, and stop to take in the sight before me. Corey is sitting at a picnic table, legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankle, with a blue bundle laying on his chest.

It's a beautiful sight.

He was over the moon excited we were having a boy, but when the ultrasound tech went quiet, we didn't expect her to tell us we were having twins, two boys at that. He loves Rourke as if he were his own, I never doubted this, but when he looked into the eyes of his sons, he was overcome with emotion.

Now, here I stand, eyes welling up, remembering how proud he was, when he tips his head back and sees me. My tearing up doesn't faze him anymore; I do it every time I look at him with our boys, so he offers me a smile and kisses the top of his son's head.

"You know, I'm kind of jealous you picked such a nice view to share with just your sons." I sit down beside him and lean over to kiss my son's chubby cheek.

"You wouldn't know about it, but you're the boys' food so I had to bring you." He winks and grabs a coffee. "I have my spot for the girls, too. Bet you didn't know that either, did you?"

"No, I didn't. And where might that be?"

"It's only for me and my daughters, babe. Sorry." He takes a sip of coffee and looks at me from the corner of his eye.

I pull out a burrito and hold it in front of him, but move it out of reach so I can ask him a question. "How come everyone has a special spot with you and I don't?"

He wiggles his eyebrows at me and I punch him in the arm. "Jerk." I shake my head and look at the occupied car seat in front of me. Magnus Simon is bundled in his punk rock skull blanket in black, and he's starting to stir. "Looks like someone else is getting hungry. How's Rune doing?"

Corey looks down and moves the blanket to take a look at Rune, who's still sleeping. "He's good for now." Corey puts his coffee down beside him and puts Rune in his car seat, and takes Magnus out for me. "Hey, big guy. You ready to eat?" He nuzzles him in his neck. "Hey Nova?"

Getting myself ready to breastfeed, I look up and see Corey's intense stare. "Yeah?"

"I love our life. As chaotic as it is right now, I wouldn't change a thing."

I smile at the only man that has owned every part of me. "I love you."

He leans down toward me, cradling Magnus to him. "I love you, too," And he kisses me.

THE END

Acknowledgments

It takes a village to raise a child.

The same adage applies here.

I couldn't and wouldn't have been able to do this without the love and support of so many.

Carrie...you are not only my idol but you have set the bar for me to aspire to. You are such a treasured friend. Thank you for your gentle *rolling eyes* nudge into publishing this story. Your feedback and encouragement is so much more than you'll ever know. Love your face Rock Star!!

Stacey...my biggest cheerleader. You are so invaluable to me. You give me your honesty, work out the kinks when I hit a wall and talked me off the ledge numerous times. And my kick ass teasers are greatly in part to you. Thanks for having my back, my Tinker Bell full of piss and vinegar.

Kylie ...my "mother figure" in this indie book world and formatter for this and any other future published works of mayhem I create. I am so very honoured to have you as a true friend.

Donna...you are truly amazing!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being in my corner and believing in me. You are such a gem!

Callie...you gave me an outlet to write a scene I had playing in my head for months. Life is too short not to experience new adventures, so I did. And I give you full credit for this one!

Sloane...your writing event gave me a safe place for help and encouragement to form the story I have today. "Just keep writing" was your constant mantra and that's what I did.

Denise...you helped me, no questions asked. Thank you.

Dana...the best damn editor in the West! Love your face, so glad we got pushed together!!

Jen...thanks for being your sexy ass self and encouraging me and being my person. Love the shit out of you!

Melinda and Twila...your excitement fed the drive to make the one scene I wrote into the story it is today. Thank you for never letting me give up.

Pavan and Dawn...you gave me a simple design for the cover that I fall more in love with every time I see it!

Logan...I fired questions at you, asked for your opinion, how you would react if this or that happened and you never hesitated to answer. Simple on your part, means a lot to me.

Sassy Classy and Bad Assy Bitches...you ladies fucking rock!!! I am so honoured to be a part of such amazing talent and comradery.

Valerie, Jessica, Noelle and everyone else who read my book through the writing process...thank you for taking a chance and reading the story I wasn't sure I was going to go anywhere with.

And to all my readers who enjoyed the story and fell in love with the characters, thank you for taking a chance on me.