Page 34 of Die for You (Diamond Devils #4)

She rolls her eyes but can’t help smiling as she tugs her clothes back into place and fixes her hair. I do the same before stuffing her panties in my bag. On the bench, my phone lights up.

Unknown

I miss you Knoxy

A string of emojis follow. Kissy faces and hearts.

Monica.

I’ve had her blocked for years. She must’ve hung onto my number. How many times does she need to be told to fuck off before she leaves me the hell alone?

Part of me is tempted to text back, demanding to know what she wants, but to Monica, any attention is good attention. She’ll take my response as an invitation.

“Who’s that?” Aurora peers over my shoulder to view my screen.

“Monica,” I grumble, turning off the screen.

Rory’s brows furrow. “Why haven’t you blocked her?”

“I did. She must’ve gotten a new number.”

She folds her arms, and I can’t tell if she’s pissed at me or Monica. Jealous, maybe? She’s got nothing to be jealous of. I’d pick a rock over Monica any day. Aurora should know by now that no one compares to her.

“Don’t respond. Just block her again. Don’t give another second of your time to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

That brings a smile back to my face. “Yeah? What do I deserve, Rory?”

She mulls this over. “Respect. Kindness. Compassion.”

“Maybe a girl who would serenade me with her violin and pretty voice?” I tease. She still hasn’t been willing to play in front of us. It shouldn’t bother me as much as it does, but it’s a gnawing feeling I can’t shake off.

She bats her lashes at me before striding for the door. “Maybe a girl who will blow you in the locker room and make you breakfast in the morning.”

“I get breakfast too?” I follow her, a pep in my step I didn’t have before she waltzed into the locker room. “Chocolate chip pancakes? With waffles?”

“All the carbs and sugar you could want,” she promises.

Before we can leave the room, my ringtone blares. My stomach drops.

Monica.

I look at the screen, already prepared to reject the call and block her new number, when I see my mother’s face. “Oh shit. I need to get this.”

As soon as I’ve got the phone to my ear, my mother squeals in my ear. I jerk the phone away, wincing. “Knox! Blaire is having the baby! We’re at the hospital.”

“I’m on my way.”

Mom launches into a tangent about the hospital room and the labor and all the gory details, but I cut her off when I smile at Aurora, waiting with furrowed brows to hear what’s going on. “Can I bring a friend?”

“Absolutely! We’ll see you boys soon!” Mom hangs up before I can correct her. Of course she’d assume I’d be bringing Finn or Damien. I grin at Rory. Might as well rip the bandage off now. “Ready to meet my whole family?”

“Crazy how much has changed since the last time we were here.” In the hospital parking lot, I lead Aurora by the hand. The same hospital we were taken to the night of the accident. That feels like a lifetime ago now. She was still nearly a stranger then.

Now she’s everything. I’ve held her, protected her, kidnapped her, kissed her, been inside her. Every day, I spend falling more and more in love with her.

Rory shrugs. “Not that much has changed. You’re still just as unhinged as I thought you were when I met you.”

As soon as the hospital doors slide open with a whoosh and we step into the lobby, a stout woman shouts my name and barrels into me. Aurora’s hand drops from my grip as the air is knocked out of my lungs, but I manage a laugh and wrap my arms around her. “Hey, Mom.”

Every time I visit, she hugs me like she hasn’t seen me in ten years, even if it’s only been a week.

I’m in her arms for about point-five seconds when her attention shifts to Rory. “Oh my gosh, you must be the girlfriend!”

Mom throws her arms around Aurora before either of us can say a word. Rory’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t correct my mother. Relief seeps through me.

“This is Rory,” I tell my mother.

“Aurora,” she corrects, narrowing her eyes at me, but she can’t fight the playful smile tugging at her lips.

“Aurora is a beautiful name! I’m so happy to finally meet you!” Mom crows before taking Aurora by the arm and introducing her to every member of the family, including the small children who show her no discernible interest.

A knot coils in my gut. Meeting my parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews all at once would be overwhelming for anybody. But Rory smiles warmly at everyone, happily answering their questions, laughing at their jokes, and cracking a few herself.

Over her head, Dean winks at me. My grin stretches so wide, my cheeks hurt. They like her. Love her. I didn’t doubt they would for a second, but I wasn’t so sure whether she’d reciprocate. But by the time Mom allows her to return to me, she’s beaming.

“You’re so lucky,” she murmurs. “I’ve always wanted a big family.”

After eleven, she grew up in the foster care system. Before that, she only ever had her parents. I bet a big family is exactly what she’s been wishing for ever since.

I take her hand and squeeze. “Now you’ve got one.”

Her gorgeous brown eyes glisten before she rises on her toes and presses the sweetest kiss to my cheek.

“Aww, you two are so cute!” Sam calls out.

My first instinct is to flip him off, but I don’t even care. We are so cute. Rory giggles and Mom leads us to the hospital room where Karter, Blaire, and my newborn niece are waiting.

Karter stands by Blaire’s bed, holding my niece. I lead Rory by the hand into the room and Karter beams, heading right for us to show off his baby. “Meet your Uncle Knox, Ella.”

She’s crazy tiny and her little finger is wrapped tight around my brother’s. I clap him on the shoulder. “She’s adorable. Takes after me.”

Blaire gasps. “Are you the girlfriend?”

Aurora gives me a sideways glance. I can practically hear the question even though she doesn’t move her lips. How long have you been telling your family I’m your girlfriend? But her smile tells me she’s flattered by the label.

“I’m Aurora.”

“How many kids is this now?” I ask them. “Ten?”

My brother gives me a playful punch. “Five.”

“And that’s it .” Blaire gives Karter a warning glare. “I’m glad you finally brought Aurora with you, Knox. I’ve been wanting to meet her.”

“I’m glad he did too.” Aurora smiles up at me, squeezing my hand. And I can’t think of a time in my life that I’ve ever been happier.

Karter places Ella into my arms. She’s impossibly small. Her little gummy mouth curls up in a smile, and I grin right back at her.

Aurora watches me hold my niece like she could melt into a puddle at the sight. “Aww, she’s smiling at you.”

“That probably means she’s farting,” Blaire calls. “Or shitting herself.”

Karter nods at me. “Now change my kid’s diaper so you remember to wrap it up.”