I could remember his laughing and his da advancing on him with a glare to silence him.
“It was a shitty situation, that’s all.”
Harley sighed. “The pair of ye’ need to work things out, Lana.”
I once hated that nickname because it reminded me of Damien, who was the one to give it to me, but everyone called me it now. Freckles was the only nickname that was reserved for Damien alone.
“Why should I work things out with ‘er, Harls?”
“Because Gavin is losin’ his mind tryin’ to be the buffer between ye’ both.”
“She hates me ‘cause I’m Gavin’s best friend. She clearly has insecurities to work through if she thinks I’m a threat. Bronagh is his best mate too, but she doesn’t glare or act up with her. Everyone knows I’m with Damien, and that I love ‘im. Gavin has always been me best friend, and if she doesn’t believe us when we tell ‘er that, then that’s her issue, not mine.”
Harley sighed. “Alannah—”
I walked around the brothers and headed towards the lobby exit.
“I’m done talkin’ about Kalin Harris,” I cut him off. “Go check on Gavin. The poor bastard is probably balls deep inside the miniature Satan.”
I could hear both of their sighs, but luckily, they didn’t come after me. I exited my building and groaned in delight when licks of the hot sun covered my exposed skin. I forced all thoughts of the Collins brothers and Kalin to the back of my mind as I approached my car. I sang along to the radio on my journey to Bronagh and Nico’s house. I beeped when I was outside, but I still got out of the car to help Bronagh with my niece and her things when they exited their house.
“Georgie,” I beamed, hunkering down and opening my arms wide as she wobbly walked towards me. “You’re gettin’ so big, baby.”
She was growing up before my eyes. She was fifteen months old now, Locke was nearly ten months, and Jax was eighteen months … almost bloody two! It felt like just yesterday we were celebrating his first birthday. Before we knew it, he would be eighteen and causing men everywhere to have chest pains at the thought of him dating their daughters.
“Yana!” She squealed when I lifted her into the air.
Yana was as close to Lana as she could say, but she could say it the clearest out of everyone in our group so that made me happy. I tugged on her dark brown mini pigtails, and it made her giggle. She had matching dimples when she smiled, and that was the only thing of her father that I could see in her.
“Ye’ birthed a clone of yourself,” I said to Bronagh as she waddled towards me with a baby bag strapped over her shoulder. “Ye’ realise that, right?
“Yup,” she beamed. “The rest of the tribe can look like Dominic; I’m just glad I got one who looks like me.”
“Are you bringin’ a buggy?”
“Nah,” she answered. “We’re only goin’ from the car to the café and back. Georgie will be fine walkin’ with us. It’ll be more practice for ‘er.”
I roamed my eyes over my friend and swallowed. She was huge, and I hated saying that because I knew it meant she was likely going to have a big chunky baby if she wasn’t carrying much fluid. Her belly had dropped considerably since I last saw her two days ago which meant the baby was due to make an appearance at any moment. She literally looked like she was going to give birth at any second, which was crazy, because Keela looked like she could easily be five months pregnant instead of full term.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
I blinked. “Like what?”
“Like you’re scared to go anywhere with me.”
“But Bee—”
“No buts,” she cut me off. “We’re goin’ for breakfast, or I’m gonna eat you.”
I looked at Georgie. “Should we listen to ‘er?”
The little cutie smiled and nodded like she understood what I was saying, which made me laugh.
“Okay, let me get ‘er into the car seat, then I’ll help ye’.”
Bronagh didn’t argue as I got Georgie into the baby seat I bought ages ago for my car. Once she was strapped in and secured, I moved to help Bronagh. She looked so swollen, but I didn’t want to comment on it. I helped her into the passenger side, then jogged around to the driver’s side and buckled myself in.
“Does Nico know you’re leavin’ the house?”
Bronagh didn’t look at me, so I groaned as I took out my phone and dialled his number.
“What’s up, little sis?”
I grinned. “Your child bearer and offspring are in me car.”
Bronagh snorted.
“Why are they in your car?”
“Because we’re goin’ to get breakfast, but Bronagh hasn’t told ye’, so I have to so ye’ don’t blow a fuse when ye’ find out.”