Camp Hardwood by Alexa Riley

Chapter Three

Piper

“Ibrought cookies.” Tia sets the giant plate of cookies on the nightstand next to my bed and I stare down at them.

She went all out and brought at least three different kinds, which are all my favorites. Normally I’m down for her cookies because no one can cook like Tia, but right now I’m not hungry for anything. My body is screaming for Hawk and that’s the only thing I want.

“We could do a sleepover,” Tia adds when I don’t reach for the cookies. I’m sure I’m alarming her even more. But I know Van won’t be okay with Tia sleeping anywhere that isn’t with him.

Plus I know they’re into a little bit of kink. I bet Van ties her to the bed every night. From looking at the two of them you wouldn’t guess it, but you never know what goes on behind closed doors and Van likes to keep those doors sealed tight when it comes to Tia. He’s very territorial over her. It might be shocking at first until you see him in action and everything is about taking care of her. I long to be taken care of. I always dreamed that person would be Hawk. He’s been doing it in small ways all along.

Mrs. Cyprus is sitting on the empty bed that used to be Tia’s until she moved in with Van only days ago. Tia and Ford are the only ones who get to call Mrs. Cyprus ‘Honey’ and I think it’s actually kind of adorable. If anyone else does, it gets Ford all out of sorts. I think Tia gets the privilege because she’s going to be their daughter-in-law. Right now she’s watching me closely and not saying much. I know she’s waiting for her moment.

“I don’t need a sleepover.” I let out a long sigh.

I’m still shocked at seeing Hawk. I wanted to smack him and kiss him all at once. He’s here two seconds and bossing me around. Again, I fight my body's reaction to him. I don’t know what it is about his bossy tone but it always does things to me. I love it almost as much as when I catch that rare sweetness deep inside of him. It’s probably just a fantasy I’ve made up in my mind over the years to feed the dream of being his.

“He’s the father,” Mrs. C finally says, and it’s not a question.

I saw Hawk get jealous over me a time or two, but there weren't very many opportunities for that to happen over the years. He and my father kept men away from me. How many times did I wonder if he was with other women? I never saw it, but how can a man who looks like Hawk have gone without? I swallow the lump forming in my throat when I imagine the women he’s been with since he left me.

“Where is he?” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. If I know anything, it’s that Hawk will get what he wants and he can get himself out of almost any mess.

“Moose put him in holding.”

I bring my hands up to my face to rub my eyes, unsure how I feel about that. It’s not so much because of Hawk being locked up but a part of me is hoping that he hasn't told my father where I am yet. If he’s in a jail cell, my father will find out soon enough.

“They’re only holding him, Piper. It’s not legal for us to keep him in there, but I don’t think he’s a law-abiding citizen himself.”

I snort a laugh because I don’t know what Hawk is. He was always good to me and went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of. It was more than my father ever did and I always wondered if it was because my father told him to.

“I came here to start new.” I drop my hands from my face to wring them in my lap as I look down at my small baby bump.

I saw something in Hawk’s eyes when he saw my belly and a small spark of hope lit inside of me. He had to know my father would be far from okay with me being pregnant. Not only am I knocked up but it’s by one of his men. He’d see it as a sign of disrespect and then it would be an all-out war. Hawk has to know that, too.

I know Hawk could take my father one on one, but my father never plays fair. To be honest, though, I don’t think Hawk would either when it comes to something he wants. I guess when I think about it, I wouldn't either. You do what you have to. I know I will when it comes to the baby already growing inside of me. I love my little man already. I’m sure he’s a boy—he has to be. At the rate he’s growing, he’s going to be as big as his daddy.

“No one is making you leave,” Mrs. C says. She comes over and sits down next to me. She takes one of my hands and laces her fingers in mine. “I think some things need to be worked out, but what everyone needs right now is to calm down.”

I don’t want to calm down, I want to see Hawk. As fast as I’d run from him before, my mind is spinning with a million things I want to ask him. What’s happening back home and do I need to run? I know the only thing that will calm me is seeing him and it would be helpful if he was locked up. I could keep my distance from him as I ask the questions I want answers to. I know this window of time is small because there’s no way Hawk will stay in that cell, whether it’s my father getting him out of it or Hawk finding a way out.

“I think you’re right. I should get some rest and regroup in the morning.” I make it extra dramatic by putting my other hand over my belly, rubbing my bump and pretending to yawn.

“I just want a nice long bath and some sleep.” It’s not a lie. I’m pregnant and I always want those things, but I want them after I go see Hawk.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Tia pushes.

“I think you two should go cool down your men. That was a throwdown they all had and I’m sure they’re pacing outside waiting for you both.”

Mrs. C squeezes my hand before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “You call if you change your mind and we’ll be right here. Get the rest you and the baby both need. Trust me, I’ll get this all worked out for you, sweetheart.”

This is the exact reason why I never want to leave here. There’s so much love everywhere and it’s so unlike the way I was raised. I would love to raise my son in a world like this, where everyone pulls together. Three men I’ve only known for a month came to my defense in seconds. They didn’t care they were facing an armed man who was as big as they were. That says a lot. Not only did they allude to knowing who my father is, but it didn’t seem to bother them either. Nothing here is about being selfish. Instead it’s about working together and making sure everybody is taken care of. It’s a simple life, but it’s filled with happiness and love. How much more could you really want or need?

Tia joins Mrs. C in giving me a kiss on the cheek. I know she’s not done talking to me and she’s going to want so many more details, but she’ll wait until we’re alone.

I walk them to the door, where I see Ford and Van waiting outside. I give a small wave before I shut the door behind them. I stay true to my word and take a bath, but I know I’m only preparing myself to go see him. I can’t help but still want to pretty myself up for Hawk and remind him of what he walked away from that morning at the hotel.

I’ll never be able to sleep without getting answers to all my questions. A darker part of me knows I won’t have peace if I can’t touch him and have him touch me.

I pull on my sneakers before grabbing a small flashlight and slipping out of my cabin. This time I’m going to be the one to find Hawk. Not only that but he won’t be able to disappear on me now. Maybe by the time we’re done talking I’ll wish for nothing more than just that.