Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Chance’s whistle carried above all the others, followed by the sound of Lark clapping enthusiastically beside him. My brother’s voice came next.
Their unwavering support was enough to make me grin all the way across the stage.
The diploma felt like a bigger achievement than I expected when it landed in my hand. Maybe because I’d spent the past two semesters balancing classes, new motherhood, and a life that looked nothing like the one my parents imagined for me.
It was mine. Every imperfect, beautiful piece of it.
When the last of the graduates crossed the stage, I followed the steady flow of caps and gowns toward the lawn. The Redline Kings crew was impossible to miss. Leather and ink stood out starkly against the sea of floral dresses and khakis.
Chance spotted me first. He shifted our baby girl higher on his hip, his face splitting into a smile that still had the power to steal my breath. “There’s my wife, the college graduate.”
“Mama,” Waverly chirped as she reached for me.
I took her from her daddy and kissed her belly. “That’s my brilliant girl, already calling me ‘mama’.”
“Still just sounds like babbling to me,” Jaxton teased as he ruffled my niece’s hair. “Unlike Isabella, who was saying all kinds of words when she was ten months old.”
“Sibling rivalry, extended to cousins,” Lark muttered, shaking her head.
Laughter rippled through the group, drawing curious glances from nearby families. It only made Chance’s arm tighten around my waist.
“Guess we’re used to being stared at,” I murmured, tilting my head against his shoulder.
“Let ’em look.” His voice was low and rough in that way that still made my heart skip. “You earned this.”
Our daughter squirmed, reaching for the tassel still hanging from my cap. Her chubby fingers caught it before I could stop her, and she tugged hard enough to nearly pull it off.
“Hey, little thief.” I laughed, smoothing the fine dark curls on Waverly’s head. “You’re supposed to let Mommy have at least a minute of dignity.”
Chance kissed the top of her head, then my temple. “She’s just excited. Wants everyone to know she’s got the smartest mom in the room.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I whispered, kissing him back.
A throat cleared behind us—Jaxton, of course. “Some of us are still here, you know.”
I turned and flashed him a wicked grin. “You sure? I didn’t hear any gagging, so I thought maybe you left.”
Lark elbowed him lightly. “Don’t even start. You’re the one who cried when she handed you your niece for the first time.”
“Did not.”
“Did too,” half the group chorused in unison.
The sound of their laughter washed over me, and for a moment, I just stood there taking it all in—the family I’d chosen. The one that had chosen me back.
My parents weren’t here. There was no criticism about how far from their expectations I’d fallen. Just unconditional love.
Jaxton eventually slung an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side. “Proud of you, kid. Even if you did make me an uncle way too early.”
“You’ll survive.”
“Barely.”
“Stop hogging my wife,” Chance growled as he tugged me away from my brother. “We’ve got a party to get to.”
I raised a brow. “A party?”
“You didn’t think I was letting today end without one, did you?” He smirked. “Prospects are getting the clubhouse set up for us.”
My heart was full as I whispered, “You really planned a graduation party for me?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
“It’s not like he did it all by himself,” Jaxton muttered. “I helped.”
“So did I,” Lark chimed in.
“They did.” Chance’s voice lowered just enough for only me to hear. “But we’ll have a private celebration later tonight, after Waverly goes down. Watching you walk across that stage did something to me.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” His gaze dropped to the ring gleaming on my hand. “Made me think it was time to put another baby in you.”
Some women got flowers for graduation. I got another baby and one hell of a happily ever after.
EPILOGUE
DRIFT
Itwisted the wrench one more time, then dropped it back in the toolbox. The matte black Harley I was crouched in front of was ready to ride once more.
Small boots scuffed against the gravel behind me.
“Daddy,” came the little voice, sweet as honey and twice as dangerous. “Can we go for a ride?”
I turned, and there she was, Waverly—my five-year-old whirlwind in denim shorts, scuffed boots, and a tiny leather jacket that Jax swore he hadn’t custom-stitched even though his smug grin said otherwise. Her hair, dark like mine but shot through with Alanna’s soft waves, was pulled into a crooked braid that listed to one side. Big gray eyes, same as her mama’s, sparkled up at me.
I turned toward her and rested my forearms on my knees. “You sure you’re ready for that, princess?”
She nodded with so much conviction it nearly knocked her braid loose. “I’m five.”
She held up her fingers to emphasize her point.