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It was Friday afternoon and I had been at the Marked, but ency, so I had a couple hours free It was Rule’s day to be down at the Saints of Denver, so I kneas going to givearound the new shop when I should be working, but I didn’t care When I pushed open the door I was surprised to see his spiky head behind the counter and not Salem’s He was on the phone and just rolled his eyes at me when I propped myself up on the opposite side

"Let ot here" He paused and then grinned "Yeah, thanksI’ure it out"

I lifted an eyebrow at him and he did the same back atJust thought I would stop by What’s up with you? Why are you scared shitless?"

Rule shrugged "Things just keep changing It’s hard to keep up so such an assle for so long"

"What’s he talking about? You’re still an assle hed and leaned back in the chair with his arht withwhere you’re supposed to be? Because I’ to do with our pretty new shop er"

"I don’t want to tell you shit"

He snorted and toldwith the screen printer She should be back in an hour or so Those designs you ed nonchalantly "Still waiting on you and Nash to give ive to her"

He let his arms fall and rose to his feet as the front door opened "My et to it soon Proo up the stairs He stopped irls are all up there You ht want to steer clear for a minute or two"

I just waved him off I was used to Cora’s attitude and Ayden’s sass Shaas the sweetest thing in the world, and whatever they were up there discussing couldn’t be anything that would sendfor the hills Besides, ure out what Salem’s deal really was There were just toobehind those dark eyes

When I hit the top of the steps I iirls were huddled in a tight circle and they were allAll three of theether like they were in a huddle before a major play and I felt all my protective instincts fire up I wanted to hurt whoever it was that was responsible forthese fantastic, important women cry and then I realized they were probably all just overreacting about Ayden’s news that she was

The all broke apart when my boots clattered on the top step and three pairs of watery eyes shifted in my direction I smiled at them, my instinct to try and irls, Austin isn’t that far away Jet will bring our girl back on the regular I’ll e in her face as Shaw and Cora both turned on her with furious scowls

"What?" Shaw snapped the question and Cora followed quickly behind

"Yeah, what?"

Ayden held her hands up in front of her and glared at me

"You suck, Rowdy"

I frowned and looked between all of the about if it isn’t because you’re h to have thein their frames as her cheeks turned a hot red

Cora shoved Ayden in the shoulder andto tell you guys once I officially got accepted into the grad progra so ure soaped at her as Cora crossed her arlowered at me I shifted uncomfortably andbecause of Ayd leaving, then what on earth has all of you in tears? I don’t like it one bit and I’m ready to beat soaze away from her friend and stared at reen eyes at h and pushed sonant I’m not supposed to be, but sos the way he’s supposed to and noe’re having a baby"

Holy shit! The ulti a child of his own Oh, how the tied on all of us

I walked over to her and wrapped her up in a rib-cracking hug "Congratulations You two are gonnaover it?"

Cora lifted her eyebrow at " She pointed at Shaw and her rin "I kneasn’t a sto hair and sighed "I just didn’t believe it for a long tih school and I’ a residency yet, but I’ine how any and all of that works with a baby Rule was the one that kept saying I was probably pregnant but I thought he was out of his ain "We’re always careful, but it’s just like him to make his own rules and have that not matter"

Cora reached out to squeeze her shoulder "Don’t worry You’ve got all of us around to rely on You’ll be fine and I’d pay ato be fantastic If his brother can take to fatherhood like a duck to water, the younger Archer will be fine Those boys have more love in them than they knohat do with They wereto cry again and I was suddenly very aware of the fact I was the only person in the room with a penis

"I can stay If you need me here, I’ll stay" Ayden whispered the words to her best friend and her voice broke Ayden and Shaere in tears again and then they were hugging and sort of rocking together

"Don’t be ridiculous I hate that you aren’t with Jet, too It’s where you’re supposed to be" Shaould always have a heart the size of ht be able to help, but for a pretty tough chick she looked like she was going to break apart again as well