Rugged Daddy

HEATHER

The second I stepped into Cameron’s home, Nicole bombarded me with the biggest hug I’d ever gotten. I cried when I saw her. I wrapped her up in my arms and held her as close as I could get her. I felt her tears on my shoulder. Nikki never cried. I’d known her for years, and I’d only seen it three times.

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said breathlessly.

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’m fine, and the baby’s fine.”

“Good. That’s good. I’m so glad.”

She kissed my cheek before wrapping me up in her arms again.

Audrey wiggled between us and laughter poured from Nikki’s lips. She picked up the girl in her arms before the three of us hugged. I couldn't imagine my life without them. All of them. Cameron. Audrey. Nikki. Even Hudson, though I didn’t know him well. He’d popped by a few times while I was in the hospital to bring us food, and he seemed nice enough. Very sassy.

“Thank you so much for watching Audrey,” I said.

“I’m just glad you thought to call me,” Nikki said. “Anything I can do to help you, you know I’ll do it.”

“I really appreciate it, too, Nikki.”

She released me as her attention turned to Cameron, and I knew what was coming.

“Even though Hudson over there has explained to me that everything is apparently okay now, that doesn’t mean you and I won’t talk.”

“I know,” Cameron said.

“Heather’s my best friend, and there’s nothing that comes between that,” she said.

“I know,” Cameron said.

“I get to see her whenever I want. No matter what.”

“You do,” he said.

“Because she’s like a sister to me, and the idea of losing her—”

I wrapped my arms around her waist and laid my head between her shoulder blades.

“You take care of her,” Nikki said. “That’s your job. And I swear to you, if she calls me crying because you’ve messed something up, you can bet your sweet behind I’ll be coming to kick your ass.”

“I promise nothing like that will ever happen,” Cameron said.

“He’s a good man,” I said.

“Doesn’t mean he doesn’t need a stern talking to.” Nikki punctuated her words with her hands.

“I like her,” Hudson said.

We all looked at the grinning man in the corner before he pushed himself off the wall.

“You’ll be happy to know that the FBI and SWAT teams, led by none other than myself, have taken out the entire outfit that came after you.”

“Humble as always,” Cameron said with a grin.

“It was a huge success, and none of them will be able to come after you guys or hurt anyone ever again,” Hudson said. “But I did some digging into this Charlie guy.”

“That’s a name I haven’t heard in a little while,” Nikki said.

“Did he do something again?” I asked.