Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
LAYA
T he weeks pass by in a haze of happiness while spending time with my family and getting to know Ava. She’s become the sister I never had but always wanted, and I look forward to the time we spend together at my parents’ home.
Something tells me she could be a lot of fun.
The sun hits my face, and I smile at the sense of freedom blowing in the breeze. I cling tighter to Owen, then upon feeling the shift in him, I tilt my head up to face him. His eyes flit over my face, as if searching for a reason to my action, but when he realizes I’m gifting him with a genuine smile, the corners of his eyes crinkle. I step up on my tiptoes and trace over them with the tips of my fingers.
“Jesus,” Tate balks from beside me. “You’re so lovey fucking dovey.” He grimaces and shakes his head, and the disapproving look on his face has me bursting out laughing.
When I first suggested meeting at the park, Ava bounced up and down with excitement so hard I was concerned she would trigger an early labor. Poor Tate didn’t have a choice but to comply.
“Ugh, you make me want to vomit.” He turns away from us to stare out toward the lake. “Ooof.” Ava delivers a swift elbow into his chest. “What the fuck, baby?”
“I warned you not to be an ass.”
My brother tugs her toward him and wraps his arm around her while nuzzling into her hair.
“He’s sweet-talking her,” Owen whispers, and I grin back at him.
“I’m sure he is.”
Romeo takes this moment to stir in the baby carrier attached to Owen’s chest. There’s something incredibly hot about a giant of a man with a small baby attached to him who would destroy anything threatening the ones he loves but is also a gentle father all wrapped up in one mouthwatering package.
“You look like you want to eat me.” He grins down at me as we follow behind Tate and Ava.
“Maybe I do.”
In a split second, the playful look on his face is erased and replaced with a guarantee of filthy promises. Slowly, he licks his lips like a predator, causing my bloodstream to race with desperation.
Tate and Ava come to a stop, and I glance around to find Reed jogging toward us. Seeing Reed in his running clothes is new for me. It’s the most casual I have ever seen him look, and for a moment, I see someone different from the work obsessed, perfected businessman he portrays himself to be.
The moment he realizes we’re in front of him, he stumbles, causing Tate and Owen to laugh; he wraps his arm around Romeo to prevent him bouncing, and I sink into his side a little more, loving his natural reaction to protect our son.
Reed comes to a standstill. His eyebrows furrow as he scans us all over, as if searching for something. Then he pulls out his earbuds and tucks them into his pocket and swipes the sweat from his forehead. “Why are you out here?”
Tate scoffs. “Walking, dumbass.” He waves his hand toward us. “Clearly.”
Reed stares back at him. “Walking?”
“Yes, you know, you move your feet in front of you a bit like you were doing but slower, so when you see someone you know, you don’t trip and look like an idiot.” He grins back at Reed.
Reed’s deadpan face has me smiling inside. He’s without a doubt not the joker of the guys. I’d say he doesn’t know how to have fun. Outside of the bedroom, of course, I’ve heard all about his antics over the years.
“Funny, you look”—his gaze roams over us, his lip curling in disgust—“kind of domesticated.”
Owen scoffs. “That’s kind of the point when you choose to have a family.”
The fact he said, “Choose to have a family” has me swooning and, as if hearing my thoughts, he smiles down at me.
“Eww.” Reed grimaces, with his hands on his hips. “You have to put up with that shit?” He waves his hand toward Owen and me while looking at Tate, who is now kissing Ava’s neck and caressing her baby bump. “Never mind.” He shakes his head. “But what the hell is that thing attached to you?”
He tilts his head from side to side, as if genuinely flummoxed.
Owen’s shoulders broaden with pride. “It’s my little buddy in here.” He gently taps where Romeo’s butt is situated.
“You have a baby attached to you?” His eyes widen.
Owen nods with a confident smile. “I do.”
“Why wouldn’t you just push him in a stroller or something?” Reed glances around the park as if searching for a stroller.
Owen’s jaw sharpens. “Because, fuckwit, I like him close to me and he likes to feel my heartbeat. It reassures him.”
He shakes his head. “Reassures him? Jesus, you’re all insane.”
Owen stares back at him. “When you have a family, you’ll think differently. Trust me.”
Reed chuckles. “That’s never going to happen.” He points toward Tate and Ava, then back at us. “This would be my idea of literal hell.”
Tate shakes his head. “Na. Hell is when Ava can’t have sex for a few weeks after birth.”
“It’s more than a few weeks, Tate,” Ava reminds him.
“I don’t mind a bit of blood.” He shrugs.
Owen’s arm tightens around me, and need flushes through him. He enjoys taking me while bleeding.
Reed rears back as if stung and his face pales, then he shakes his head. “I’m actually appalled with myself, wasting my time having this conversation.” He glances at his watch. “You screwed up my entire morning routine. I hope you’re satisfied.”
“You’re the one that can’t run properly,” Tate bites back.
Reed ignores his jibe and stares past us. “I’m going to have to forgo my stop at the organic store to make up for lost time.”
“Oh, however will you fucking cope?” Tate rolls his eyes.
Reed narrows his eyes on my brother, but doesn’t bite at his jibe. “I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.” He then nods in Owen’s and my direction. “It was…” He seems lost for words for a split second. “Nice to see you.” I smile because we all know how much it wasn’t nice for Reed to bump into us, and that only amuses the men more. Their deep laughter rumbles through the park as Reed sets off on his run again.
“He’s going to fall so fucking epically.” Tate smirks.