Page 82 of Die for You

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 sincethe 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’msohappy to finally meet you!” Mom crows before taking Aurora by the arm andintroducing 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 aresocute!” 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 haveyou 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?”