After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,8

house which doubled as the clubhouse. “Come. We’ll talk more later.”

Holding our daughter, I followed Piper. How I lucked out and had a woman like her was beyond me. I had to tell her what I did to make it back to her. I just hoped she still wanted to be with me after she found out everything.

Piper

Watching Jaron with Brynn was surreal. He talked to her and she responded in her baby babble like they were having an actual conversation. It made others around us laugh and I couldn’t help but sigh every time he smiled down at her.

I knew this time would come. I had been praying for it every day while he was gone. But seeing it right in front of me forced to the forefront all of these newfound emotions that I never imagined.

Although something was still very wrong with him, he held Brynn like she was his lifeline. Like he survived solely for her.

Jaron met my gaze, giving me a wink.

My stomach tumbled.

No. Correction.

He survived. For us.

“Piper.”

My head snapped around, finding Tray coming toward me. “Hey, Uncle Tray.” I remembered back to when I first met him, when he demanded that I call him Uncle.

“You’re Jaron’s girl. You call me Uncle Tray.”

It seemed everyone knew about me before I knew about them. Word got around rather quickly over what Jaron had done for me. Not the exact details, but most knew that he had saved me.

“How are you doing?”

“Me?” I frowned. “I’m fine. Why?”

He nodded toward Jaron, his dark eyes zeroing in on his nephew. He crossed his thick tattooed arms under his broad chest and rubbed the graying scruff on his strong jaw. “He’s off.”

“Well, he did spend some time in jail,” I muttered.

“True.” Tray wasn’t a man of many words and I found I liked that about him. His wife, Zillah, did all the talking for them. Along with their daughter, Bee, who I didn’t see as often since she lived with her husband and son a few hours away in the middle of nowhere.

We stood in silence, watching Jaron mingle with people he hadn’t seen in quite some time while holding our daughter. But while he talked to them, his family, he kept glancing my way. Probably making sure I was still there. I wasn’t sure why he needed me close by, but I appreciated it just the same. He also didn’t have to worry. I wasn’t going anywhere. I was in this for life. I just had to prove that to him.

“You should go.”

I glanced up at Tray. “What do you mean?”

Tray nodded toward Jaron. “He needs time with you and Brynn. His family. I know his parents will understand.”

I looked back at Jaron. “But that’s not fair.”

“Yes it is, Piper.” Tray gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Jail can do funny things to a person. Doesn’t matter how long you’re in there for. Trust me when I say this, he needs you and you need him. Both of you also need to be patient with each other. You can’t expect to fall into a routine right away.” Tray gave my shoulder one final squeeze before heading back to join his wife at the bar.

Zillah glanced my way, gave me a small wave and greeted her husband with a kiss.

I gave myself a shake, surprised that Tray had said all of that to me. I knew he cared for Brynn and I, but the man never said more than a few words at a time.

But maybe he was right. Jaron was on edge. I wasn’t sure what he needed but I knew that I was willing to do whatever it took to make him feel better.

Heading toward him, I couldn’t help the way my heart picked up speed the closer I got.

I had spent years having a crush on him, only to find him at the same café in Paris of all places. I never asked him how he found me. Maybe I should have but I didn’t really care knowing that I was the one who would spend the night with him, and I had. It started our obsession with each other and only grew from there.

When I stood a few feet away, my palms became sweaty at the mere sight of him. He was big, intense, and powerful. God, I missed him. I missed his dirty and vulgar words telling me what to do and how to do it. I missed his sweet, vulnerable side that he never shared with