33. Amelia
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
amelia
“Marlene, you really outdid yourself,” Kara says, snuggling up next to Lucy on the plush couch in the living room. “I can feel the food coma coming on.”
“Agreed. All I’ve been doing is sleeping and resting lately and I could even go for a nap,” I tell them, yawning and burrowing myself deeper into the oversized chair.
Marlene waves us off. “It was my pleasure, girls. Cooking is my love language, and I love all the people here today.”
My eyes flick to the kitchen where all the men are currently cleaning up after dinner. Apparently, that’s the rule. Marlene cooks and the men clean.
Honestly, I’m here for it.
Kessler, Judd, and Garrett are doing the dishes. Judd’s loading the dishwasher and Kessler is handing Garrett the pots and pans to dry and put away. Reese and Brent are putting all the leftovers into various containers for us to take home later. Henry escaped out the side door as soon as the table was cleared. Hudson and Kade were spared dish duty and are currently laying in front of the fireplace playing Hudson’s Nintendo Switch, with Bruno passed out in between them on the dog bed Marlene bought for him.
“So, Millie,” Kara starts. “Things are pretty serious between you and Judd, then?”
“Well, I’m moving into his place and now we’re buying property to build a house, so I’d say it’s pretty serious. After what happened Sunday, we agreed life is too short to not go after what you want. And we both want this.”
“No judgment here. I was knocked up and engaged all in less than four months.” Lucy shrugs.
“You have such a way with words,” Kara comments while she rubs Lucy’s belly.
“I’ve gained two daughters and three grandbabies all in one year. I don’t think I could get much luckier,” Marlene adds.
“Well, we’re not engaged yet.”
Marlene winks at me. “You will be dear, in due time.”
“When it does happen, I’d love to plan your wedding,” Cass chimes in. I’ve learned Cass is Brent’s youngest sister out of four and she works with one of the most prestigious event planning companies in the county. She’s the force behind Lucy and Kessler’s big day.
“She does great work. Ten out of ten recommend,” Lucy adds.
“Plan whose wedding?” Judd asks, coming around from the back of the chair and lifting my legs so he can sit next to me.
“Ours apparently.”
“Oh? And when might this wedding be happening?” he asks, grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it around his finger.
I lift my hand, motioning to the women spread throughout the living room. “Ask the committee. They’re the ones who brought it up.”
“As long as it’s not before Kessler and Lucy’s wedding, I’m ready whenever you are, Shortcake. I’d hate to show up my big brother and make him cry like the baby he is.”
“Who the fuck are you calling a baby?” Kessler asks. He comes up behind Judd and puts him in a headlock before Judd can turn around.
“Here we go again,” Marlene mutters, taking a sip of wine as she watches her two sons act like teenagers. She stopped telling them to watch their mouths about twenty minutes into the day. Apparently, when all the boys get together, it’s a waste of breath.
“You’re both babies,” Garrett’s deep voice booms from the kitchen island where he’s currently standing with his arms crossed. His dark burgundy sweater is stretched around his thick muscles. The color makes his already mesmerizing eyes irresistible.
Kessler lets go of Judd and turns around, giving Garrett a mischievous grin. “Ready for our re-match, Seal Boy?”
Garrett’s lips curl up into a smile as he stares Kessler down. “You sure you can handle it, old man?”
Kessler scoffs. “You’re the same age as me, Dick Head.”
Judd tips his head back against the chair, chuckling. “Oh fuck, this is going to be good.”
I nudge him with my knee. “What is?”
“They challenged each other to a rematch to see who could last longer in the pond in Mom and Dad’s backyard.”
“Oh Jesus, not this again! You boys are going to catch hypothermia!” Marlene chastises them.
“It’ll be worth it,” Kessler and Garrett claim at the same time.
“Can I do it too?” Hudson asks, sitting up and finally tearing his eyes away from his video game.
“Uh…” Lucy says, looking from Hudson to Kessler.
Kessler shrugs. “I’m okay with it if your mom is.”
“Mom, please can I? Dad’s doing it.”
Lucy’s face softens and a slight sheen forms over her eyes. “Yeah Hud, you can do it.”
“Yes!” Hudson yells, jumping up from the floor and fist pumping the air.
“Me too?” Kade asks, looking at Kara.
Kara bites the corner of her lip. “I don’t know, Kade. You’re not the best swimmer.”
Kade’s face falls and his shoulders droop.
“I’m sorry, Hun. I just–”
“I’ll watch him,” Garrett says.
Everyone looks from Kara, whose cheeks have tinged red, to Garrett, who’s holding her gaze. “It’s not that deep. He’ll be safe,” he reassures her.
Kade looks hopefully from his mom to Garrett and back again. “Please?”
Lucy places a hand over Kara’s. “He’ll be okay. Garrett won’t let anything happen to him, and Kessler will be in there too.”
Kara glances at her mom, who’s sitting quietly in a chair next to Marlene. Her mom also nods her head in agreement. The room is silent besides the occasional crackling of the wood from the fire. Closing her eyes briefly and taking a deep breath, Kara opens them and looks Garrett in the eyes. “Okay. I trust you.”
Kade and Hudson let out a whoop and race to the back door, leaving Kara and Garrett staring at each other for a few heartbeats before Garrett breaks eye contact and follows the boys out the door without another word.
“I’m gonna go grab some towels. You gonna watch your man win, Coach?” Kessler asks, winking at Lucy.
Lucy snorts. “Sorry babe, but my money’s on Garrett.”
Judd barks out a laugh and Kessler gasps, clutching his hand to his chest. “Lucy, I thought you loved me?”
She shrugs and pushes herself up off the couch. “I do, but I love winning more, and Garretts ex-Navy SEAL, babe. He’s kind of a sure thing.”
Kessler mutters something about marrying a traitor as he and Lucy go into the mudroom to grab towels.
“You gonna warm me up afterwards, Shortcake?” Judd asks. He lifts my legs again, then stands, holding his hand out to me.
Raising my eyebrows, I look at him. “You’re going to do it too?”
He takes my hand and pulls me up gently from the couch, wrapping me in his embrace. “Sure, someones gotta make sure the children, big and small, play nicely.”
Marlene snorts this time. “That’s hilarious coming from the biggest child himself.”
I giggle into Judd’s chest, and he stares open-mouthed at his mom.
“But I thought I was your favorite!” he whines playfully.
“Lucy and Amelia are my favorites; I was just using you two goons to get them,” Marlene teases.
“See if I give you any grandkids,” Judd mutters. My stomach swoops with butterflies at the thought of having children with Judd. It’s not something I’ve put a lot of thought into. But I can see it with him.
Kessler and Lucy return to the living room, arms overflowing with towels. Marlene and Connie get to their feet with Kara at their heels. Reese and Brent have already joined the boys outside. Sneaking out during the Kara and Garrett stare down.
“Well, if they’re going to do this, we might as well go watch,” Marlene says, taking the towels from Lucy as she passes.
Shuffling out the sliding door, we follow the gravel path down to the pond. It’s a good size, about 12 feet in diameter, with plants lining the far side. The group jumping in already have their shoes and socks off when we get there, waiting for the last minute to shed the rest of their clothes.
“Alright Bitchachos, the person who can stay in the longest wins. Agreed?” Judd says, stripping off his sweater then the shirt under it, revealing the body that I still can’t believe I get to worship. He hands me his sweater, and gives me a wink while everyone murmurs ‘agreed’ as they start to strip.
“You guys are crazy; I have a built-in heater,” Lucy says, pointing to her stomach. “And I’m in a jacket and I’m still cold.”
“No brain, no pain,” I tell her, getting snickers from all the women.
“Are you calling us dumb, Shortcake?” Judd asks, prowling over to me in just his briefs. His thick thigh muscles ripple with each step, making my mouth go dry.
“Not at all, sugar ,” I retort in a sickly sweet tone.
He places his jeans in my hand and leans down to give me a hard kiss on my mouth. Pulling back, he whispers in my ear, “Better watch the sexy mouth of yours.”
“Or what?” I challenge.
“Or I’ll put it to work tonight.”
My pussy clenches at the promise of his words and heat floods my body. “Don’t tempt me with a good time, Davis.”
He growls into my ear and pulls back, staring at me with heated eyes. “You’re going to be the death of me, Mills.”
I wink. “But what a way to go.”
“Who’s going to be the official timer?” Kessler asks, handing his clothes off to Lucy.
All the men are stripped down to their underwear and I have never seen as many toned and defined muscles up close.
“Lord have mercy,” Kara murmurs, fanning herself in the forty-degree weather.
“That’s an understatement,” Lucy says. “These pregnancy hormones have me hot and bothered enough.”
“Ew, my brother is among those you are drooling over,” Cass says, pretending to gag.
“Sorry to break it to you, Cass, but your brother is hot ,” Kara smirks.
“Ugh, nope, nope, nope. That’s going to give me nightmares.”
“Hello!? Earth to the group of women standing there staring at us like we’re an all you can eat buffet,” Brent says, waving his hand in the air.
“Uh, yep, I can!” Cass answers, holding up her phone.
“Perfect.” Kessler claps his hands together. “Let’s do it! Coach, count us down.”
All the guys, including Kade and Hudson, line up along the edge. I pull my phone out and hit the record button as Lucy counts them down.
“Three, Two, One… Go!”
Un-manly like screams and shouts fill the air as five grown men and two pre-teens surge forward into the frigid water.
“My balls!” Hudson screams, freezing as soon as he gets waist deep. “I think they’re gone!”
Lucy brings her hand to her face, laughing and shaking her head.
Kade is further behind Hudson, only deep enough for the water to hit his knees. Garrett stands right next to him, letting him set the pace and decide how deep he’s comfortable with.
“He’s so good with Kade,” Lucy comments, bumping Kara’s shoulder with hers.
“I love you, but shut up,” Kara retorts, glancing away when Garrett looks back over his shoulder at her.
“He’s hot Kara. You should totally go for it,” I say.
“Not interested.”
Lucy snorts. “Oh, she’s interested. She just won’t do anything about it.”
“I don’t date.”
Lucy places a hand on her hip. “You know, I recall saying the exact same thing once. And a certain best friend of mine went ahead and meddled in my love life anyway.” She levels Kara with a look. “Sound familiar?”
“That’s different,” Kara says, waving Lucy off. “Plus, I didn’t meddle. I encouraged.”
Lucy blows a raspberry. “No, it’s not. It’s the same. Exactly the same!”
Now it’s Kara’s turn to put her hand on her hip. “Not even.”
“Please enlighten me on how this is different.”
“The difference is you were interested; you were just scared to act on those feelings because of your past.”
“And?”
“And I’m not interested because I already had the love of my life.”
Stilled silence fills the air, the only noise now coming from the guys in the pond.
After a few beats, Marlene clears her throat. “You know, dear, there’s no rule that says you can’t have more than one great love in life.”
Kara gives Marlene a sad smile. “I know, Marlene. I just don’t think I have it in me to try again.” Connie puts her arm around Kara, giving her a side hug.
“C-c-can we have a t-t-towel?” Hudson asks, running up to Marlene with Kade, their teeth chattering from the cold and breaking the heavy moment.
Marlene hands them both a towel and instructs them to go inside and sit in front of the fire to warm up.
Brent and Reese follow seconds after. Cass hands Brent a towel giving him a hard time for only making it a few more seconds than the children. When she hands Reese his towel, a shade of pink graces her cheeks that definitely isn’t from the cold. Reese keeps his eyes on her a couple of beats longer than necessary as he takes the towel from her and wraps it around his body. Cass stares after them as they head into the house.
When she looks back towards the pond, she notices me watching her. I give her a smile and use my free hand to zip my lips. She gives me a small smile and turns back to the pond where Kessler, Judd, and Garrett are the only ones left.
Kessler and Garrett are splashing at each other, trying to get the other to give up first. Judd must have decided he’s had enough because he gets out and heads towards me, goosebumps covering his body and his teeth chatter violently.
“Judd, your lips are blue,” I tell him, handing him his towel.
“My balls probably are too, if I could find them. Might need your help with that later, Shortcake.”
I gasp and backhand Judd on the arm. “Juddson Davis!”
“Ow, what?” he asks, rubbing his arm.
“Can you not talk like that in front of your mother?”
Marlene smirks. “I’ve read your books, dear. What Judd said is pretty timid compared to the scenes you write.”
Judd snorts and I bury my face in my hands. “Oh, God.”
“You’ll be saying that later, too.”
I smack him again, earning another yelp.
“How long have they been in there, Cass?” Lucy asks.
Cass looks at her phone. “Three minutes and forty-five seconds.”
“Kessler Davis! You guys have proven your point. Get out of there before you get hypothermia!”
“Not yet! The bet was who could stay in longer. I’m not leaving until Garrett does.”
“Listen to the missus, Kessler. You’re not going to win this,” Garrett taunts, not even looking a bit cold. Kessler, on the other hand, does.
“This is nothing, I d-do Ice baths all the t-time,” Kessler says as his teeth start to chatter.
“Kessler Davis, if you don’t get out of that pond right this second, the blue balls you’re experiencing now will be nothing compared to what you’re going to feel the rest of this pregnancy.”
“Ooo, Lucy’s cracking the whip.” Judd teases.
“But, Luce!” Kessler starts to protest.
“Test me, Davis, and see where it gets you,” she tells him, crossing her arms and lifting a single brow at him.
Kessler huffs out a sigh and trudges back towards Lucy, making Garrett the winner.
Marlene claps her hand. “Well, now that that nonsense is over, who’s ready for dessert?”