Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“These two”—he nods toward Emerson and then to Monroe—“are having a girls’ night. I’ll have Lilly with me at the house. Thought we could all hang out.”
“I’m in,” I tell him.
“Me too,” Legend agrees.
“Yeah, been a while since it’s just been us guys,” Lachlan says. “Count me in.”
“Lilly will be there,” Maddox reminds him, “and I’ll bring the pizza.”
“She’s a baby. She doesn’t count. She’s not going to ride our asses about belching and cursing too much,” Lachlan explains.
“Belching can slide, but she’s picking up everything, so you’ll need to watch your mouth,” Roman tells him.
Lachlan waves him off. “I would regardless, but you know what I mean. Just the guys.”
“Are we cramping your style, Lachlan?” Emerson teases.
“No.” He’s quick to shake his head as well. “Please don’t be offended,” he rushes to say. “It’s just our family is growing, and it used to be just the five of us, and it’s been a while since it’s been that way. That’s all that I’m saying.”
Emerson smiles. “I know. I’m just giving you a hard time.”
“We should be thanking you for planning a girls’ night,” Maddox chimes in with a wink to help lighten the heaviness of the conversation.
“Just the two of you?” I ask them. “Do you need a ride?” I know that my sister is an adult and married with a baby, but I’ll never stop taking care of her. It’s who I am.
“No, but thank you. We’re all set. Besides, preggers over there”—she points to Monroe—“can drive me if it comes to that.”
“We’ve invited a couple of girls we work with,” Monroe adds.
“Are they hot?” Maddox asks.
“Very.” Monroe nods. “Although, I’ve never met Maggie.” Monroe looks to Emerson.
“She’s very pretty,” Emerson announces.
“So—we’re crashing girls’ night?” Maddox asks hopefully.
We all laugh at him. “What happened to glad it was just the guys?” I ask him.
“That was all this guy.” He points to Lachlan.
“I mean, pretty girls….” Lachlan shrugs. “Plans are made to be broken.”
“Stop.” Emerson shakes her head. “You are not crashing girls’ night. We’re hoping to make this a tradition. If you all want to plan a guys’ night, go for it.”
“We’re having one,” Legend reminds her.
“I mean, when you won’t have Lilly. You can curse and belch until your little hearts are content,” she teases.
“Maybe.” Roman doesn’t sound convinced. I’m not surprised. Lately, if my little sister or their daughter aren’t involved, it doesn’t hold his interest.
“Can we talk about Lilly’s birthday party?” Lachlan asks.
“We can.” Emerson nods. “What’s up? You’re going to be there, right?”
“Oh, I’ll be there. I just want to make sure no one else bought what I did.”
“I’m sure whatever you bought is perfect,” Emerson assures him. “You don’t need to buy her a gift. Just being with us to celebrate is enough.”
Lachlan looks appalled. “Not buy her a gift? What kind of Sam Hell nonsense is that?” He points to his chest. “Favorite uncle title to maintain.”
“I bet my gift is better than yours,” Maddox chimes in.
“Doubt it.” Lachlan crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. He thinks he’s got this in the bag.
“Yeah? Well, I bought her—nope. You know what? I’m not going to tell you so that you can top my gift. We’ll reveal them at the party.”
Legend reaches over and takes Lilly from Roman. “Little lady, you might be the most spoiled little girl on the planet.” He kisses her cheek, and she giggles.
“Come here, sweet girl. Listen,” Monroe says, once Lilly is in her arms. “These men, they’re big teddy bears. Your mommy and me, we know how to work them. Take notes, kiddo. Use this to your advantage.”
Emerson snickers with laughter, while the rest of us are smiling. She’s not wrong. There isn’t anything we won’t give or do for that little girl, and as soon as Legend and Monroe have their baby, it will be the same way.
Our Everlasting Ink family is tight. We’re closer than blood, and our bond is strong. I have no doubt that all of our current and future children in the group will be spoiled rotten, but more than that. They will be loved beyond measure.
That’s just what we do.
After we finish eating, we move to the living room. I’m sitting in the recliner with Lilly sleeping soundly on my chest, and take it all in. Roman and Legend are wearing permanent smiles that never seem to leave their faces, and Maddox and Lachlan are giving them shit over it. The girls laugh it all off, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect day. Well, maybe I could. I could have the love of my life here with me, and maybe, just maybe, it would be my own baby girl I was holding while she slept.
One day.
CHAPTER
TWO
Briar
“How you doing over there, Momma?” my twin sister, Brogan, asks me.
“Am I that obvious?” I glance at her in the passenger seat, where she’s watching me.