Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
She held my gaze before her eyes fell to my mouth. She jerked her head in a nod. “Okay.”
“I love you.” My forehead fell to hers, jerking back so it rested against her softly.
She breathed me in, her body molding against mine on her exhale. “Me too.”
“So goddamn much.”
Her hand tightened around mine. “So goddamn much.”
Months later.
My phone woke us first.
Sam’s was right after.
We both tensed but rolled to answer them.
I got to mine first. “What?”
It was Logan on the other end, half shouting, all the way frantic. “Taylor’s in labor! You need to get to the hospital. Bring—fuck. I don’t know. Bring everything. Her water already broke and we’re going to have our kid in point-zero-too-fucks-early!”
I heard Sam yelp behind me.
We were both scrambling out of bed.
It was three in the morning. Sam ran for the closet. I heard her saying, “Okay. We’ll be in the car soon. We’ll come over and get everything you need. I’ll call Malinda myself. Do you have Sammy with you?”
I pulled on my sweats and grabbed an Orcas's hoodie, tugging it over my head. I asked in the phone, “What do you—”
He snapped, “I don’t fucking know! I was a mess when Sammy was born, and fuck, Mase. I’m a mess this time too. Taylor’s on the phone with someone and she sounds as if she’s planning the agenda for the next PTA meeting. Are you coming to the hospital? You’re coming to the hospital, right?”
“Of course. And she’s on the phone with Sam.”
“What? We both called you guys?”
“Yeah.”
He cursed. “We both don’t need to be calling you.”
I waited, but he didn’t end the call. “Logan, what do you need?”
He sighed. “I have no idea. I don’t know what I’m doing, brother.”
Brother.
The word made me feel happy, but also gave me a tinge of worry. My little brother was losing it.
“Hey,” I said, low and calm.
“Hey back?” He laughed at himself.
I grinned, but spoke in the same tone, low, reassuring. “Sam and I will handle anything you need. Okay? She’s on the phone with Malinda. I can hear her in the closet. She’s calling Malinda to come over and watch Sammy. You moved in next door. That was a smart move on your part, renting that place while your other house is built. She’ll be there by the time you get off this call. She’ll help put together whatever you need. We had things packed and ready to go by the door when Maddy was born. Did you do that this time?”
“Fuck.” He was so quiet, breathless, and panicky. “Yeah. Yeah, we did. Taylor did. Taylor?” He said to me, “I gotta go. I need to find my wife.”
“Okay. You got this. Find your woman. Knowing Taylor, she’s probably already let Malinda inside and is in your car waiting for you.”
I heard sounds from his end, different voices talking.
He half laughed to me. “Malinda’s here. I need to go.”
“Do you have clothes on?”
“What?”
“Look down. Are you clothed? Can you go to the hospital in what you’re wearing?”
He cursed under his breath. “I need pants. My fucking dick’s out, all shriveled up too. Imagine me walking into the hospital like that? Even my own kid would’ve laughed at me.” He sounded a little calmer now. Good.
“I doubt Taylor would’ve let you out of the house like that, but I’m sure Malinda’s thankful not to see your dick.”
He bit out another laugh. “I gotta go. Taylor’s calling me. Totally useless here. Been on the phone with you while she called in the troops.”
“Yeah. Calling in Malinda is sorta the same thing. You good now?”
“I’m good. Thank you. Love you.”
“Love you.”
“Oh, hey!”
“Yeah?”
“I’m having a kid.”
My smile stretched, along with that pride for my brother. “I’m having another nephew or niece.”
He laughed again before saying, “See you at the hospital.”
The call ended and I lifted my head. Sam was waiting for me in the doorway, all ready to go and with our own bag packed for whatever she thought Taylor and Logan would need and that they forgot to pack themselves. She grinned at me. “Ready? I woke Maddy up. She’ll stay to watch the twins. The boys are all still asleep, but I left a note in the kitchen.”
My little brother was having another kid. I tossed her the keys. “You’re driving. I’m going to enjoy waking everyone up.”
And I did.
Nate.
Channing and Heather.
Matteo.
Even Zeke.
An hour later, the door opened and in walked all three of the kids, along with Steele, Beltraine, and Axel. Max came in with them, even though his parents arrived earlier. Either he went to them at our place or they went to him. Whichever way, seeing the four of them together wasn’t a surprise anymore. They were a unit.
Ten minutes later, my goddaughter was born.
Maya Maysen Kade.
ANOTHER EPILOGUE
MADDY
A year and months later.
It’s World Domination Day.