47. Ayla

47

AYLA

“ C all me if you need absolutely anything, okay?” I add, my tone softening with sincerity as I meet Jamie’s eyes. Dropping her off feels weird when I, practically, haven’t left her side for the last forty-eight hours while she’s been in the hospital with Thomas.

She chuckles weakly, amusement flickering across her face. “You sound like my mom.”

“Well, someone’s gotta take care of you troublemakers,” I quip back with a smirk. Our familiar banter eases the tension coiled in my shoulders.

I coo at Thomas in his car seat, knowing I’ll have to come back soon to visit him. Jamie hauls herself up and herds the guys toward the door.

“Now go home and get some sleep! You all look like you need it,” she orders, shooing them out onto the porch.

I smile, comforted by her motherly fussing, so different from the cold indifference I grew up with. This is what family should feel like.

“Yes, ma’am,” Kip drawls with a smirk and mock salute.

Jamie rolls her eyes and playfully pushes him down the steps. Clay and Teller trail after him with tired grins and waves goodbye. I give Jamie a quick hug, savoring her solid warmth for a moment before following the guys.

As we pile back into the truck, my mind weighs heavy, worries about Piper and Sydney threatening to resurface. But for now, I let the steady rumble of the engine and the presence of my guys push back the gathering shadows, holding onto this fleeting moment of peace.

I settle into the seat next to Piper’s car seat, my hand automatically reaching out to stroke her soft cheek. She stirs slightly, her tiny rosebud mouth puckering in her sleep. My heart clenches with a fierce protectiveness.

What will Sydney’s return mean for our little girl?

When we make it back home, Teller’s voice cuts through the silence, low and serious. “We need to talk.”

We gather in the living room, sinking into the familiar comfort of the worn couch. I perch on the edge of my seat, my fingers twisting together in my lap as I try to gather my thoughts. The guys settle around me, their expressions a mix of concern and apprehension.

“We need to talk about Sydney,” Teller announces.

I take a deep breath, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “I think we should at least hear Sydney out,” I say softly, my voice wavering slightly. “She might have a reason for what she did. Maybe she’s changed.”

Kip’s jaw tightens, his eyes flashing with barely contained anger. “Ayla, she abandoned her child. Her own flesh and blood. How can you even consider giving her a chance?”

I flinch at the harshness in his tone, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “I’m not saying we should forgive her or let her back into our lives without question. But don’t we owe it to Piper to at least listen to what she has to say?”

Teller leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Ayla has a point,” he says quietly, his dark eyes thoughtful. “We don’t have to like it, but we should hear her out. For Piper’s sake.”

Clay runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his face. “I don’t know, man. I just don’t trust her. What if she tries to take Piper away from us?”

The thought sends a chill down my spine, and I reach out instinctively to take his hand. “We won’t let that happen,” I promise, my voice fierce with determination. “Piper is ours, no matter what. But we need to do this the right way. We need to know the whole story.”

Silence falls over the room, the weight of the decision hanging heavy in the air. I can see the struggle playing out on each of their faces, the desire to protect Piper warring with the need for answers.

My gaze drifts to Teller, who’s been quieter than usual throughout the discussion. He meets my eyes, and I can see the conflicting emotions swirling within them. “What about her?” I venture cautiously, knowing their shared history with Sydney. “I know you guys have a past with her.”

Teller’s jaw clenches, and he looks away, his fingers drumming a restless beat on his thigh. “That’s just it, Ayla. We have a past. But that’s all it is. She made her choices, and we made ours.”

I nod slowly, trying to piece together the fragments of their history. The tension in the room is palpable, and I can feel the unspoken words hanging in the air. “I get that. But don’t you think you deserve some closure? Some answers?”

Clay huffs out a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Answers? What answers could she possibly give us that would make any of this okay?”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I try to find the right words. “I’m not saying it will make it okay. But maybe it will help us understand. Help us move forward.”

Kip’s hand finds mine, his fingers lacing through my own. “And what if understanding isn’t enough? What if it just makes everything worse?”

I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his question settling heavily on my chest. “Then we’ll deal with that too. Together. But we owe it to ourselves, and to Piper, to at least try.”

The room falls silent once more, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I can feel the love and protectiveness radiating from each of them, and it fills me with a sense of strength. No matter what happens, I know that we’ll face it as a family.

Finally, Teller speaks, his voice low and measured. “Okay. We’ll hear her out.”