me. Promise that no matter how angry you are with me, don’t ever stop saying that you love me.”
My stomach flipped. “I promise.”
“Good.” He rolled over onto his back.
“But you have to promise too.”
“It’s not even a promise I have to make because I’ll always tell you I love you. No matter what.”
His words coaxed my eyes closed and for the first time since he came home, I actually believed him.
Piper
I was nervous. Beyond nervous actually. I hadn’t been on a date since I was a kid. Not that it ever really counted either. I was sixteen at the time and it didn’t turn out well. Not when I had my father’s navy brothers to scare my date.
“Is this him?” Angel crossed his arms under his broad chest, nodding toward Steven, my date.
“Uncle Angel.” I scowled, placing my hands on my hips, knowing he was trying to scare the poor guy who was currently trembling beside me.
“It is.” Dad mirrored his pose, letting his eyes wander down the length of Steven before clapping Angel’s shoulder. “This is the fucker who wants to take my baby on a date.”
“Um…Sir, I…” Steven stammered, his face paling even more.
I sighed, throwing my head back. God, where was Mom when I needed her? Oh yeah. She had gone out shopping with Aunt Jay. It was convenient timing if you asked me. It was like my dad knew, so that was why he agreed for me to go out on the date in the first place. Because Mom wouldn’t be home to keep him in line.
I grabbed Steven’s arm, trying to drag him to the door but it was like his feet were glued to the ground beneath him.
“Steven, come on. My dad already said yes, and he wouldn’t dare change his mind and break his baby girl’s heart,” I told him, locking eyes with my father.
He raised an eyebrow.
I glared, challenging him.
“She’s good.” Angel clapped his shoulder again before taking a step toward us. He peered down at Steven. “You hurt her, and it won’t be her father that you’ll have to worry about.”
Steven took me out to get ice cream only and not dinner like he had told me. He dropped me off half an hour later because he was suddenly feeling ill. Yeah. Right.
I laughed to myself, shaking my head at the memories.
All of us girls had issues dating at one time or another. The guys had it way too easy if you asked me.
Rummaging through my closet, I was searching for something to wear when my phone rang. Quickly answering it, I placed it on speaker and sat it on my nightstand. “Hey.”
“Hey, girl. How are you?”
I smiled as Gigi’s voice greeted me. “Nervous.”
“Nervous? Why?”
“Because Jaron’s taking me on a date tonight.” I frowned, still unsure as to what I should wear.
“Really? That’s amazing! Did you need anyone to watch Brynlee?”
“My parents are watching her but thank you.” After falling asleep in his arms the night before, I had woken to a note on his pillow. He had taken Brynlee out for the day and would drop her off at my parents’ place before picking me up for our date. He told me to spend the day doing whatever I wanted. For as grumpy as he was, he was also sweet and so damn caring at times, I thought my heart would burst.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Gigi asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“No. He took Brynn out for the day and gave me some time to myself. I’ll see him in about a half hour when he picks me up.”
“He gave you a day off?”
I turned toward my phone. “Yeah…why?”
“Piper, that man loves you so fucking hard.”
“Oh…well…yeah.” I smiled. “He does.”
“Queenie, who are you talking to?” I heard Vince ask in the background.
“Piper,” she told him. “Her and Jaron are going on a date tonight.”
“We should go on a double date some time,” Vince suggested.
“I like that idea,” I added.
“She likes that idea. Now go away, so I can talk to my girl.” She yelped. “Jerk.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You two are well?” I asked, getting the subject off of Jaron and me.
“We are. Wedding plans are coming along nicely. Now that Jaron is home, Luna and Zach can get married, so then can Vince and I.”
“I don’t know why we have to wait,” Vince mumbled in the background.
“Hear him? He’s so damn grumpy because I refuse to get married before them. I wanted Jaron home anyway for