Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart 3)

She touched my face, and I swore, I was going to get lost in it. Or maybe scoop her up and get her out of there.

Could feel the eyes on us, and when I pulled back, Ian was lifting his glass again. “Seriously, you look the happiest I’ve ever seen you, Mack. You two hold onto that. That feeling right there.”

He pointed at us with his index finger that was curled around his glass. Like we could take a photo and forever remember exactly what experiencing this moment was like.

No problem there.

It was unforgettable.

This time, we all clinked our drinks in the middle.

The waitress came by, asking if she could get us anything else. Ian and Jace both ordered another, and Faith asked for a refill of her water.

Grace swiveled her gaze over to Faith who was tucked in close to Jace’s side. Her mouth dropped open on a gasp, like she’d caught her in the middle of doing something salacious. “Why are you drinkin’ water? You have been all night.”

Faith’s eyes went wide, and then Izzy and Courtney were gasping, too.

“No,” Grace drew out the word, having a secret conversation with her sister-in-law.

Faith nodded, and Jace kissed her temple in a tender way. “We’re pregnant!” Faith drawled like she was shouting surprise.

“Oh my God, this is amazin’!” Grace whispered though it was a shout over the din of the bar. “I get to be an auntie again!”

A tear slipped down Izzy’s face, and I almost panicked, a second from asking her what was wrong, but she cut off the action with the way she was smiling and reaching for Faith’s hand across the table. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Gah, I can’t believe it,” Courtney cheered.

Sitting back in the booth, I took a swig of my beer and sent both of them a smile. “Really happy for you both. When do we get to meet this new little thing?”

She pressed her hand to her flat stomach. “In February.”

Faith had called me last week, and we’d had a long talk about her guilt for keeping Benjamin’s existence from me. She asked me to forgive her. I told her it was me who was working on forgiving myself. She was the one who had done what was right.

Izzy sent me an adoring look that knocked me sideways.

Right into eternity.

“So sweet,” she said. She pressed her hands to her chest. “My heart feels so full, Maxon. I couldn’t be happier than right now.”

Couldn’t do anything but drag her the rest of the way onto my lap, poor girl completely squished between the booth table and me, but she was laughing free, the sound so right, enveloping me.

She curled her slender arms around my neck.

“Mine,” I muttered to the side of her fucking delicious flesh that was making me insane, ensuring she could hear it. That she understood what I meant.

Both her and the boys.

My family.

And I was kissing her. Kissing her deep and desperate. Hands in her hair and my heart in her hands.

A bunch of ooos and awws went up around us.

And fuck, we had an audience.

Ripping myself away, I peered out from behind her as Izzy pressed her embarrassment into my shoulder, girl shaking with self-conscious laughter when she realized we were getting carried away.

“Shut it, assholes. Whole lot of you.” I pointed between my closest friends. Zero irritation behind it. Couldn’t have fronted it if I tried. Was too goddamn happy for any of that.

An 80s song came on the speakers that not a soul in the world could seem to resist, and Grace jumped out of her seat.

“Oh my God, this song. On your feet, girls. We’re dancing.”

“I’m pregnant,” Faith deadpanned, completely droll.

“Pregnant, schmegnant.” Grace waved her off. “We only live once, and all that livin’ has to happen while we’re momma’s, too. Every moment, guys. Every moment. Big and small. They all count.”

It sent the words of my mother’s book skimming through my mind.

“We are the moments we share. We are the moments separating us that draw us together. We are the vacant space between. We are the culmination of love that has been waiting for us to grasp it in our fingers since before time. Since before we existed but were purposed for this day. Now is when you reach out and take it in the palm of your hands. Now is when you breathe it into fruition.”

Now was the time.

Courtney didn’t need to be asked twice. She climbed right out, wearing a sequined dress, shimmying her shoulders. “I’m cutting loose tonight. Who is with me?”

I squeezed Izzy’s hip. “Go on, Little Bird. Fly. Have fun. I’ll be right here waiting for you when you get back.”

Grace squeaked in excitement, and Faith just laughed in resignation. “Fine, fine. I’m coming.”

Couldn’t peel my eyes away as the four of them hit the dancefloor to the Prince song.