Epilogue II
Ava & Mark
That August
Mark
“Son of a gun!”
Red. Fire engine fucking red. That’s all I see as smoke billows out of the oven when I open it, indicating my side dish I was experimenting on is fucked.
Flipping off the oven switch, I set the ruined dish on a trivet and open the windows above the sink.
I take a deep breath, pinch the bridge of my nose, and count to ten.
“What’s burning?!” Ava runs into the kitchen and grabs a hand towel to start fanning the smoke toward the window. She sets the towel down, peering at the dish on the counter as she buttons her jean shorts. “Oops.”
“Yeah…oops. Now what?”
“Well, we can’t take that,” she draws out the ‘that’ slowly before biting her sexy red lips. It’s then that I notice she’s wearing my favorite outfit. Bright red v-neck tee to go with her bright red lips I love to fuck, and those tiny shorts that make my pulse race.
“Firecracker… Are you trying to get a rise out of me today?” I roll my button up sleeves above my forearms and take delight in watching her eyes track the action.
Just like the first night I ever got a taste of her.
I’m silent, planning, knowing I only have so many uninterrupted moments like this left before things change.
Her doe eyes roll up to me from beneath her lashes, and I clench my teeth.
“Maybe…”
Game on. I reach for her, squashing her gorgeous tits against my chest as I growl low in my throat and take her lips. Mine… She pulls back breathless and flushed.
“Oh, damn, we’re going to be late. We still need to stop somewhere and grab a different side.” Ava pants, squirming to back out of my arms to no avail.
“Fuck the side.”
She squeals as I throw her over my shoulder. They won’t care if we’re a few minutes late.
???
Ava
I’m going to tell him. Gah… I look over at Mark and bite my lip nervously as I watch his fingers turn the steering wheel down the long lane leading to Trystan and Brynleigh’s house. Will he be happy?
The truck stops behind Jaxon’s truck.
“Looks like the gang’s all here.”
“We’re late, of course they are,” I roll my eyes, pushing open my door and hopping down. Mark makes it to my side and pushes me back against the door. He still gives me butterflies.
“Was it at least worth it?” His fingers trail up my outer thigh as he nips at my ear.
“Yes,” breathily crosses my lips, and he hums in appreciation. “But you get to explain why we’re late.”
He pauses as I pull away and walk toward the front door, and I stall, pinching my eyes shut as I turn around and face a knowing smirk.
“Scratch that. I don’t trust what will come out of that mouth.”
“I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Ohh, that’s not saying much,” I tease, and he pinches my butt as I turn around and continue to the door.
The front door flies open and Garrett steps out just as I step up.
“Whoah! Hey, bout time you guys showed up. I have to find the missing bunny.”
“Oh no, not bunny!” My eyes go wide, knowing this is Charlie’s favorite bunny. I mentally high-five myself, branding myself ‘best auntie’ for picking it out, then make another note to order a backup. Garrett runs off to the truck in panic-mode over a stuffed animal.
“Hey, guys!” I holler as I open the door and see Jane bouncing a teary-eyed Charlotte, who’s watching the door like daddy better deliver the goods.
A sad little toothy smile busts wide when spots me, and her little fingers reach for me, grasping open and shut.
“There’s my girl! Come see me!” I reach and snag the leaning baby.
“Hey, girl. I was starting to wonder if you guys forgot…”
“Nope, between a burnt side dish and a detour, we got held up.”
Jane eyes me up and down. Her gaze settles on my lips, and she smirks.
“Detour?” She huffs sarcastically and links her arm through mine to go see the gals. We’re stopped when the guys walk in the front door, and Charlotte’s eyes look Garrett over. She squeals when bunny makes an appearance from behind his back.
“Here’s bunny, princess,” he coos, pressing a kiss against her mushy, play doh cheek.
“Mark, did you have to make my girl late?” She cocks her head his way, and he gives her the Mark special, ‘I don’t give a fuck’ smile.
“I burnt the side dish.” He attempts at civility, and an appropriate answer, just for me.
Jane cocks her head further, not taking the bullshit answer.
“I was frustrated, and she came into the kitchen with my favorite shirt on and those fucking red lips, Jane. What is a man supposed to do?” Jane barks out a laugh and covers Charlie’s ears as she leads me away, while Garrett shakes his head and claps him on the shoulder.
“Girl…”
“Oh, Mark…”
“He tried to keep it PG.”
“Yeah, I’ll give him that.”
“Brynleigh, Mark burnt his dish! We’re down a side!
” Jane barks as she waltzes to the kitchen for more wine, raising an empty glass my way.
I freeze by the staircase, but it’s too late.
Jane caught it. Her grin stretches wide, and she squeals, “No freaking way!!!!” I put a finger to my lips to shush her and look at Mark, who’s frowning at me.
“What are you two fussing about?”
Our friends come filtering into the room, Holly’s little bump starting to make a show as Jaxon leads her in with a hand on the small of her back. Brynleigh and Trystan come in beaming. Sydney and Colin lay the twins down in the pack and play before making their way in to see what’s going on.
“You guys, we have something we’d like to talk about,” Trystan says with a soft smile, and Jane squeals again.
“Honey, what are you squealing about?” Garrett walks into the room and sees his wife holding the bottle of wine with a death grip, maniacal smile plastered on her face.
To anyone else, it’d be a smidge unsettling.
I look over at Brynleigh, and her eyes are shining so bright, I instantly know, and mine well with tears of joy.
“We have two friends who have some tea. I need to hear it now.”
“Tea, oooh, what tea?” Mark teases, grabbing a beer and popping the top as I take a deep breath. Oh, my poor, poor Mark and his obliviousness…
“Like you don’t know,” Jane shoots his way, and Mark’s face goes blank, like pieces of the puzzle are clicking and turning the what-the-fuck-is-this piece. Jane looks my way, and I give an imperceptible shake of my head.
Brynleigh jumps in to save the moment for a minute.
“I’m pregnant!”
Everyone cheers and hugs Brynleigh and Trystan, the obvious joy spreading throughout the group, but Jane’s gaze keeps finding me.
“Well, that makes sense! You were keeping her secret, weren’t you? I got a little nervous there,” Mark nudges me, taking a swig of his beer.
“We just found out a few hours ago. Brynleigh wanted it to be a surprise. Ava didn’t know,” Trystan notes, then Brynleigh tosses him a look that shuts him up right quick, and he looks over at me with big eyes.
Mark lowers his beer and takes in the looks passing around the room, and my sheepish grin spreads as my shoulders inch up.
“Ava?” Mark looks back at me, a mix of emotions on his face that I can’t read. Sydney gasps, and Colin lets out a low rumble of a laugh. Jane starts bouncing on her toes in anticipation.
“Surprise!” I answer quietly, a bundle of nerves about ready to explode.
Everyone cheers again, more hugs as Mark and I keep looking at each other.
Mark’s eyes fill with tears. Ah hell. Is this good or bad? He hasn’t said anything yet, but I don’t avert my eyes away from him. He holds out a hand to quiet everyone and gulps.
“Are you saying–I’m going to be a daddy?”
“Yeah, Daddy, I am.” I nod, solidifying my answer so there’s no misunderstanding.
“A baby?”
I nod again, and he takes a step toward me, a hand clutching at his heart. Mine stops.
“My baby,” he whispers, his eyes dropping to my belly that’s been hiding this secret for weeks now.
“Your piccolo,” I whisper back the Italian endearment for ‘little one’, and his face twists.
My mountain of a man drops to his knees and grabs my hips, his forehead touching my belly.
Deep down, his family means everything to him.
He whispers unintelligible Italian to where his face lies and presses a reverent kiss against me, sealing his words like a promise.
The gals are swooning in the background as much as I am.
His big, brown eyes look up at me, full of wonder.
“So, you’re happy about this?”
“Happier than I ever imagined,” he croaks out, standing and grasping my face in his big palms, his lips crashing into mine.
“You guys! I can’t believe this! Cousins within the same month and a whole bestie squad!”
I clear my throat.
“Um, not the same month. I’m almost two months in. I found out not too long after Holly and Jaxon got engaged.” My cheeks flush red, knowing I’ve kept this secret for so long. Mark eyes me like he’s not crazy that I didn’t tell him right away. Jane stares at me hard, computing things in her head.
“So, we’re looking at three babies between December through March! This is going to be nuts!” She squeals with excitement, then looks like she got ran over by the somber train. “Fuck! I’m the only one drinking wine now…”
Garrett walks over and rubs Jane’s back in commiseration as we all laugh at our beautiful, mouthy friend. Life would be boring without her. “Babe, this is what you wanted! It won’t be long until Sydney’s grabbing the bottle away from you.”
“I’ve been eyeing that thing like a lone cupcake sitting in front of three hungry teenage boys. That never ends well,” Sydney deadpans, and Jane’s eyes and smile light up.
“You know I’ll win.”
Sydney shrugs nonchalantly.
“Meh, we’ll see.”