Page 118 of Pieces of Me

I fight back a smile. “I know that you don’t know everything yet, but I just need you to understand one thing. This ismytrauma… and it’smyresponsibility to heal from it. I don’t need other people fighting my battles.”

Maggie looks up at Big H as he lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “We’re notother people,Miss Jamie.” Then, shaking his head, he adds, “We’refamily.”

Family. It used to be such a strange concept to me, likehome. And it didn’t even occur to me until right this moment that somehow, I’ve come to acquire both.

A family.

A home.

A life worthy—

Maggie snorts, bringing my attention to her. “We’refamily,” she scoffs, her voice deeper to mock Big H. She looks up at her boyfriend, her eyes narrowed, nose scrunched. “Who do you think you are?Vin Diesel?”

Holden and I burst out laughing—such a contrast to our emotions only minutes ago. Only Maggie could turn something so heavy into something hilarious with a single wisecrack comment.

“You little shit!” Big H grabs Maggie around her waist from behind, lifting her off her feet.

Maggie’s giggle fills my heart with warmth as she kicks the air. “Let me go!”

Big H doesn’t let her go. In fact, he turns toward us. “Get the hose, son!”

“On it!” Holden yells, running to the greenhouse.

Maggie squeals while Big H carries her toward Holden, and then I’m on my feet, running to them. “I’ll protect you, Maggie!” I shout, blocking their path. I stand between them, legs and arms apart, and warn Holden, “Don’t you—” That’s as far as I get before he sprays me in the face.

I gasp.

Holden laughs.

Big H laughs.

And Maggie yells, “It’s war, bitches!”

Two minutes later, we haveteams—Boys v Girls—and Maggie and I are grasping loaded water pistols and hiding behind the ferns. Clearly, we suck at this game. I turn to Maggie, who’s squatting down, looking out between the leaves. “Hey, Mags,” I whisper.

“Yeah?” she whispers back.

“Holden and I are getting married.”

She smiles wide, tilting her head up to look at me. “I know. I’m so excited for y’all!”

“So two things,” I say, and she stands to full height, nodding for me to continue. “Will you be my maid of honor?”

“Shut up!” she squeals, pushing on my shoulder. “Aw, Jamie. I would be honored!” She gives me a quick hug before pulling away, asking, “What’s the second thing?”

I pump the water pistol. “Well, once Holden and I are married, technically, Big H will bemyDaddy.” I squirt her in the face when her mouth drops in shock, and then I run…

Notaway…

But toward my future.

49

Jamie

“You’re late!” Jimmy calls when I open the massive sliding door to his studio.

A week or so after everything went down, Big H brought me here to talk about the steel legs we wanted for the resin desktop we’d created. The day Holden and I got engaged, I’d asked Big H when we could get started on it, and he jumped at the chance. I don’t know if it was because he felt sorry for me, or he knew that I needed the distraction, or if he was genuinely excited to do it. Probably all three. It’s become our little project—just him and me. From designing to going to the hardware store together, to building the frame and finally pouring the resin. The only thing he wanted me to do on my own was pick the flowers. He let me take anything I wanted from the nursery. He’s shown me how to use tools, where to prune the stems. He’s been so patient and kind, and I’ve loved every moment I get to spend with him.

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