Page 129 of Nails
He stepped forward and held up Riley’s hand so they could all see the ring gleaming on her finger.
The reaction was immediate.Clover, Jocelyn, Hannah, Ava, and Gabby all squealed and ran over to hug Riley and get a look at the ring.Bear whooped so loud the entire bar turned to stare.Duke smacked his beer bottle on the table like a gavel, and Jay Bird actually smiled, which was rarer than a unicorn in a tactical vest.
“Obviously, she said yes,” Nails confirmed, unable to keep the pride out of his voice.
Cheers erupted, glasses were raised, backs were slapped, and Riley was pulled into hugs that would last a lifetime.
But then a small voice piped up behind them.
“I knew it!”Nails turned just as Amira marched over in her sparkly sneakers and a fierce determination that only small kids possessed.
“I knew Ms.Riley was gonna be your best lady friend,” she said, planting her hands on her hips.“I told mommy that weeks ago.And she said, ‘We’ll see,’ but I saw the googly eyes.”
Riley stifled a laugh, covering her mouth.
Nails crouched down to her level, trying not to laugh too hard.“You saw the googly eyes, huh?”
Amira nodded.“Yup.And the way you looked at her when she ate those nachos earlier.You had that face like Daddy gets when Mommy makes bacon for him.”
Nails snorted a laugh as he glanced over at Bear, who was now laughing so hard he was crying.
“Well, you were right, squirt,” Nails said, gently brushing Amira’s curls back.“She’s gonna be more than just my lady friend.She’s gonna be my wife.”
Amira’s big brown eyes lit up.“That means she’ll be my auntie!Auntie Riley!Oh, wait…” she gasped suddenly, her eyes widening to the size of quarters.“Does this mean you will have a wedding?”
Nails grinned and looked up at Riley.“Yeah.I suppose there will be some sort of wedding.”
“So, I can be the flower girl?!”
“The job is yours, if you want it,” Riley said with a smile.
Amira started jumping up and down and clapping her hands.She then leaned closer to Riley and gestured with her finger for Riley to bend down, which Riley did.She then lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I don’t do roses.They poke.”
Nails started laughing.Goddamn, he loved that kid.
“Duly noted,” Riley whispered back.
“Yay!”Amira whooped and turned to skip away, but then stopped midstride and turned back toward Nails and Riley.She paused and tilted her head as she looked at them.Nails could only imagine what was going through that girl’s head.
“If you two are getting married, and you’re gonna live together, and I saw you kiss—”
Nails braced himself as Amira’s eyes went straight to Riley’s stomach.How the fuck…
“Does that mean that Auntie Riley got a baby in her belly?Like a real one?Not a puppy or anything?”
“Amira!”Jocelyn blurted out.
However, everyone stood there staring at Nails and Riley as if waiting for either of them to deny it.
Nails looked at Riley, and she smiled.He gently pulled her in front of him and slid his arms around her waist from behind.His hands rested on her flat belly that would soon start growing.
“Nails?”Bear questioned as all eyes went to Nails’ hands that were rubbing Riley’s stomach.
“It’s true.Riley and I are expecting.”
A chorus of ‘whats’ went around the room.
