Page 190 of Heartbeats & Highways

“We need something to be happy about,” Tavy said. “Babies are happy news.”

Logan’s face softened. “Yeah, they are. But I was hoping I had the chance to tell Smoke before everyone else.”

“Congratulations,” Joni said with a smile. “There must be something in the water.”

“What do you mean?” Logan frowned in confusion.

“I’m pregnant again too,” Joni admitted.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Rach said with a laugh. “Everett’s not even a year old.”

“Yeah. It’s a myth that you can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding.” Joni shook her head and looked at me. “Remember that when the time comes.”

“I’ll remember,” I stated.

Willa had left to change Cooper, but she came back with the baby to her shoulder. She looked around the room. “What did I miss?”

Day turned to night.

I stayed with the Old Ladies, taking turns holding their babies. What was it about holding a baby that just made everything better?

Eventually, I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, so I went into Savage’s room. I was stripping out of the dress when Savage came in. He quickly shut the door and leaned against it.

“You’re beautiful,” he rasped.

His eyes were glassy with exhaustion and booze.

“Will you hold me?” I asked.

Nodding, he took off his leather cut and got down to his boxers. We crawled into bed, skin to skin, breath for breath, and fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up before him and used the bathroom.

His eyes were open when I returned to the bedroom.

“You slept,” I said.

“So did you. You had a nightmare.”

“Me?”

He nodded.

“I don’t even remember . . .”

“We both have things that haunt us,” he murmured. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and went into the bathroom. “I’ve got Church.”

“Yeah.”

I curled my knees up to my chest and watched him get ready. He looked at the leather cut hanging on the hook, like he wondered if he should put it on. Eventually, he did.

“I’ll find you after.” He leaned over and kissed me quickly, his breath minty.

After he left, I hauled myself up. I threw on one of his hoodies and a pair of my pajama pants that had found their way into Savage’s dresser.

I went out into the living room and kitchen to see if anybody else was awake.

Several of the Old Ladies were sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, nibbling on platters of yesterday’s food. No one had seemed inclined to cook.

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