Surely, she wasn’t in labor. That was insane. She still had almost a month to go and there was no way that the baby was ready, but still, these contractions hurt more than anything she had ever felt before. Leaning back in the chair, she took in deep breaths as she looked around the room. Lights hung from the rafters of the barn, and on each table were big teal and white arrangements. It was beautiful and Piper was glad that everything had come together for Audrey. The bride had been a nervous wreck about the wedding details but Piper couldn’t see a flaw anywhere.

As her pain subsided, Piper slowly stood up. She was going to have to leave early if this shit kept up. She probably hadn’t drunk enough water today, or maybe she stood for too long, because being in labor was just absurd. It just wasn’t happening yet.

Moving through the crowd, she made her way to the bar, getting a tall glass of water and downing it before taking another. By her third glass, Audrey and Tate were taking the floor for their first dance, and as she slowly drank her water, she looked around the room for Erik. He stood with Shea Adler, nodding his head as they appeared to be in deep conversation.

Piper wondered why he hadn’t approached her yet. It made her feel like she wasn’t the first thing on his mind. Did he only want to talk about the baby and the future of their child, and not the future of them? Knowing she couldn’t wait much longer, she started for him. She’d had enough and she was ready to find out once and for all if he loved her.

* * *

Piper looked beautiful in the long teal bridesmaid’s dress. Her hair was long and sleek, reaching down to the middle of her back. She looked soft, beautiful, and he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms again. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and as he sat in the back row during the ceremony, listening to his two friends unite, he found himself wanting that moment for him and Piper. It was crazy but he could see himself holding her hands, with Dimitri sitting at their feet as they exchanged promises of love to each other in front of all their friends.

He knew he was ahead of himself; he hadn’t even told her he loved her yet. But he could now see them as a family. He was done living life without her and he was ready to show her that he had changed, that she had helped him become the man he wanted to be.

What he didn’t expect was his hands starting to shake as he watched her cross the floor toward him. He had been confident the whole day, but now he felt like a nervous schoolboy, afraid of her rejection.

When she stopped in front of him, he reached for her and brought her in close, lifting her off her feet to capture her mouth with his. She made a little noise before his mouth smothered hers; he squeezed his eyes tight as her held her in his arms, his mouth moving along hers. He must have stunned her because for a moment he was only kissing her, but then she started to kiss him back. He felt like his heart was going to explode in his chest and he promised himself that he would never go another moment without the option of kissing her naughty mouth whenever he wanted to.

Parting, he teasingly chased her mouth as she slid down his body back to her feet. She smiled shyly up at him, as his eyes stay locked on her swollen lips.

Looking around them, she whispered, “I thought we were going to talk.”

“Talking is overrated,” he said, recovering his breath. “I think my actions speak more than my words ever will. I want you, Piper, I’ve missed you, and I can’t do this anymore.”

“Do what?” she asked, her face troubled as she took a step back, running her hand down her side.

“What’s wrong?” Erik asked.

“My side hurts. I’m fine. What can’t you do?” she asked quickly, her face looking more like she was in pain.

“Are you sure?” he asked, not convinced. She was still holding her side, her face was a little red, and she looked miserable all of sudden.

“Yes,” she said, her eyes locked on his. “Now tell me what you can’t do any longer.”

He paused only for a moment before declaring, “I can’t be apart from you.”

“You can’t?” she asked, as her hand continued to move up and down her side.

“No, this week has been hell and I’ve missed you every second of every day.”

He paused and tried to remember every word he had imagine saying to her, but looking into her eyes, he found that nothing was coming. “You are the only woman to ever make it hard for me to think, sweetheart. I had this big speech on all the reasons why you should give me another chance, but all I can think is how beautiful you are, and how I can’t go on one more second without you by my side.”

She looked down, taking in a deep breath before looking up at him.

“So, what, you just want to go back to the way we were?”

Erik shook his head. “No, I want to move forward, I want to make a life for us, for the baby,” he said, resting his hands on her stomach. “I needed a wake-up call, and you screaming at me to leave was what I needed. I did some real soul-searching and even though you are flighty as shit, I trust that you won’t leave me.”

She watched him, her eyes filling with tears, but she wasn’t smiling. What was he missing here? Wasn’t he telling her everything she wanted to hear? “I’m glad that you trust me,” she said slowly, “but Erik, you should have known that from the beginning.”

“I know, and sweetheart, believe me, I’m kicking myself for what I’ve put us through. I am not my dad, and you know how I know that?”