I’d already promised Dad that I’d show for the service, but I hadn’t considered that my birthday would be the night before Easter. Or that I’d get quite so hammered.
After chugging a bottle of Gatorade, swallowing a pair of Tylenol, and taking a long shower, I was mildly human. The weather was nice enough that I could take the Harley out of the garage and drive in my Sunday best to church. My dad sighed when he watched me pull up, but Aunt Vail whooped as I cut the engine. August walked over, wide-eyed, to assess my baby, and Nora rolled her eyes.
“She’s a beauty,” August said.
“Fuck yeah, she is.”
“Language,” Aunt Lori groused. “We’re at church.”
“We’re in a church parking lot,” I corrected.
My dad shook his head. “Let’s go inside.”
I carried my helmet inside, and Vail sidled up to me. “Sure know how to rile your dad, don’t you?”
“You’re confusing me for the other son.”
She laughed. “True. Campbell has that particular talent on lock. How was your birthday? Find yourself a girlfriend yet?”
This was a normal conversation with Vail. She asked me every other month if I’d found a girlfriend. I always shot her a side-eye, flexed, and acted like no one could handle these guns. It was a ridiculous tradition. But this time…it didn’t feel quite right. I didn’t have a girlfriend. For the first time in…years, there was someone I was interested in.
She noticed my hesitation. “Wait…did you find someone?”
I shrugged. “Sort of.”
“What?” She gaped at me. “Look at you, growing up. Thirty looks good on you, kid.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now, I have to get her to go out with me.”
“What girl would even say no?” she asked with a wink.
Oh, she had no idea.
We entered the church and took our seats on the left side of the building. Piper’s grandma was already seated on the other side of the church, but no Piper in sight. I hadn’t seen her much at church before this. So, it wasn’t a surprise. I’d just been hoping to see her.
The Wrights weren’t yet seated at the front. Heidi and Julia were huddled together, holding Emery and Jensen’s one-year-old daughter, Robin. Austin, Landon, Patrick, and Morgan looked sort of frantic. Sutton was pacing with Madison in her arms with her husband and son seated together on the pew. No Jensen or Emery in sight.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked when I located Julian and Jordan.
“Emery went into labor,” Julian said.
Jordan nodded. “I guess she wasn’t due for another week, and her water broke in the church narthex.”
“Jesus.”
Julian shook his head. “Literally.”
Jordan looked between us with a sigh. “Jensen rushed her to the hospital. They left Robin with family, and someone called to bring Colton in from New York.”
“An Easter baby,” I said.
The pastor stood to get everyone to their seats. Piper hustled down the side aisle in a knee-length white dress. She took the seat next to her parents and didn’t even glance my way. Maybe she hadn’t seen me come in. I’d have to stop her before she could leave.
The choir began sang, and the pastor spoke about new birth. Considering it was Easter, it was already an appropriate sermon. But with what was happening with Emery, right now, it hit even harder than normal. An actual new birth.
When the service ended, Piper didn’t immediately run out. She stayed with her grandma as she chatted with all of her friends. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t want to interrupt her time with her family either. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but this was important.
Julian came back to stand by me. “So, are you and Piper dating yet?”
“You said I had no chance.”
“Oh, I stand by that.”
“But?”
“No but. I still think she’s too good for you.”
I snorted and jabbed him in the arm. “Thanks, man.”
Julian grinned at me. “So, what is going on? You two were getting along last night.”
“Yeah, I don’t know. She runs scared every time I mention liking her.”
Julian raised his eyebrows. “Do you like her?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“And not just…in the way you treat all other women you’re interested in?”
I side-eyed him. “I don’t treat all women terrible.”
“No, but you’re not exactly…gentle either.”
No, I wasn’t. I never had been. Not for a very long time at least. But things with Piper were different. I didn’t know how to explain it. I could barely explain it to myself. Last night, as we’d stood outside in the fields and stared at the sky, she’d understood me. We were together in that moment. The fields were her home as they’d always been mine. It was a turning point. And for the first time, I was considering that maybe it wouldn’t be bad to actually date her.
“She’s different.”
“Because you’re generally meaner to her?” Julian deadpanned.
“No, because she’s like me.”
Julian blinked at me. He was my cousin and closest friend, but I honestly had no way of making him understand. So, I strode away and followed Piper as she and her grandma left the chapel.