Chapter 24 #2
Then all three of them pull me into a group hug that nearly lifts me off my feet, and I’m crying again. Evidently, that’s just what I do now.
“Can I see what it’s like inside before I have a complete emotional breakdown?” My voice comes out embarrassingly squeaky.
They practically carry me over to it, and Chris opens the driver’s door with a dramatic flourish like he’s presenting me to royalty.
The interior is absolutely stunning. Black leather seats.
A modern dashboard with all the tech features I could possibly want and several I didn’t know existed.
That new car smell that I love. I climb into the driver’s seat, running my hands over the steering wheel, and all three of them crowd around the open door, watching me with identical expressions of satisfaction.
“This is incredible,” I whisper, because apparently I’ve lost the ability to speak at a normal volume. “Thank you. All of you. This is the best gift I’ve ever received in my entire life, and I’m including the Easy-Bake Oven I got when I was seven.”
“We have plenty of space for Corn Dog in the back,” I point out, gesturing to the rear seats.
“NO!” all three of them say in perfect unison.
I burst out laughing.
That’s when the doorbell rings from inside the house, cutting through our moment. “Guests are arriving,” Chris murmurs. “Time to be social humans instead of people having emotional breakdowns in garages over cars.”
I get out of the Jeep, and we head back inside through the connecting door. I’m still slightly dazed from the gift as I practically sprint to the front entrance and swing it open.
Lily stands there with platters of baked goods stacked so high in her arms that I’m amazed she can see over them. And next to her is Dad, grinning.
“So good to finally see your new home, Hannah,” Dad says.
“So good you’ve arrived.” I throw myself at him for a hug, nearly knocking the platters out of Lily’s arms in the process. “Come in!”
Behind Lily are her three Alphas, Archer, James, and Hunter. Archer has a baby bag and toys in his hand, while James and Hunter are each carrying their gorgeous little twins in handheld carriages.
“We brought half the bakery,” Lily announces, handing platters to whoever has free hands.
Everyone is talking and laughing at once, moving into the kitchen to set things down, and I’m gushing over Sage and Blake, who are making the cutest baby sounds.
They are the most precious little things.
Sage has tiny reindeer antlers on, while Blake wears a gingerbread suit.
My entire heart just folds in on itself.
“Oh my God, come here,” I whisper, scooping Blake from his carrier while Hunter hands Sage to Chris.
Blake stares up at me with those big sleepy eyes, then lets out this soft coo that absolutely destroys me.
“You two are illegal levels of adorable,” I tell them, kissing Blake’s warm forehead and wiggling Sage’s foot until she kicks happily.
James and Hunter step in behind me, loaded with diaper bags and assorted baby gear.
“Where can we set up the play mat?” James asks.
“I cleared space near the couches,” I say, shifting Blake to my hip and pointing with my free hand. “Right over there with a perfect view of the tree.”
Hunter huffs a laugh and starts unrolling the play mat. I kneel to help him, still bouncing Blake gently on my knee as Sage babbles from Chris’s arms. The whole house feels different now, warmer, fuller, alive in a way I didn’t realize it had been missing until this exact moment.
I finally hand Blake over to James, smoothing the front of his tiny onesie before letting go. When I stand, my gaze catches on Chris nearby. He’s cradling Sage effortlessly, one big hand supporting her small back, his expression soft in a way that punches all the air straight out of my lungs.
He looks good with a baby.
Dangerously good.
His eyes slide to mine, slow and knowing, heat simmering under the sweetness. “You getting those feelings, gorgeous?” he murmurs.
My face flames instantly. I laugh it off—at least, I pretend to—but inside, something warm and terrifying and right unfurls in my chest.
God.
Maybe.
I get up and go see who else needs my help before I drag Chris upstairs saying we need to get more practice for baby making.
Time passes in that weird way it does at parties where you look up and suddenly two hours have gone by.
More friends arrive, Ruby with her three Alphas, who immediately get recruited to help Kane set up extra chairs.
Some other people from town I’ve gotten friendly with during event planning, and my men’s friends.
The house fills with voices and laughter. People scatter throughout, some crowded around the dining table, others claiming the couches, groups standing in the kitchen, sampling appetizers, while the guys work on the finishing touches for the feast.
The doorbell rings again, and I’m closest, so I go to answer it, expecting maybe more neighbors or someone’s plus-one who got lost.
Instead, a woman I’ve never seen before stands on the porch, and my brain completely stutters trying to process her. She’s… stunning. Like, offensively gorgeous in that effortless way that has me wanting to check my hair and wonder if I have food in my teeth.
Strawberry-blonde hair flows to her waist in soft waves. The greenest eyes I’ve ever seen, like actual emeralds. Dramatic, dark eyeshadow, long lashes, and glossy lipstick that’s the perfect shade. A black leather choker around her neck that manages to look elegant instead of edgy.
She’s wearing a short crop top under a thick white coat that’s hanging open despite the freezing temperature. Deep blue jeans sit low on her hips, and there’s a belly button ring glinting.
She looks like she walked off a runway and decided to slum it with us normal people for the day.
“Hey there,” I manage, trying not to sound as intimidated as I feel. “Are you here for the party?”
She laughs, and it’s a genuine sound. “You must be Hannah, right?”
I blink, thrown off. “That’s me. Do we know each other? Did I plan an event for you? I’m terrible with faces when people aren’t yelling at me about decorations.”
She steps inside without waiting for an invitation and pulls me into a hug. She smells like expensive perfume and something minty.
I stand there, awkwardly patting her back, completely confused but also extremely curious about who this gorgeous stranger hugging me is.
“I’m Adelaide,” she finally says, drawing back with a grin. “Chris’s sister.”
“Oh.” My brain processes this information. “OH! Hello! Wow! Come in properly! I just—he never mentioned you. Like, not even once. I didn’t know he had a sister.”
She laughs again, shrugging out of her coat to reveal even more of that crop top situation.
“Yeah, Chris isn’t exactly great at the whole sharing-personal-information thing.
But I did tell all three of the guys I was coming.
From what Noel said, Chris has been a little preoccupied with his new Omega to remember to mention me.
” She grins. “Can’t say I blame him. You’re exactly as gorgeous as Noel described. ”
I can’t stop smiling. “Oh, you and Noel chat often?” I’m trying really hard not to sound jealous.
Why would I be jealous? She’s just absurdly stunning and apparently talks to one of my Alphas regularly, and I’ve read enough romance novels to know that guys always harbor secret crushes on their best friend’s hot sisters.
But I’m being ridiculous. Totally ridiculous.
Adelaide must catch something in my tone—or my face, which has never been good at hiding my emotions—because she nudges me playfully with her elbow.
“Don’t worry. Noel has always been like an annoying older brother to me.
Nothing more, never will be, and frankly, the thought makes me want to gag.
” She makes an exaggerated disgusted face.
“I sometimes run things past him when I need advice, because he has way more patience than Chris and is slightly less likely to punch first and ask questions later.”
Relief floods through me so fast I feel lightheaded. “Oh, good. I mean—not that I was worried. Because I wasn’t. I’m very secure and confident and not at all prone to overthinking—”
“You were totally jealous,” Adelaide interrupts, grinning wider. “It’s cute. Chris’s family is your family now, which means I’m your family too. Whether you want me or not.”
Something comforting blooms in my chest. “I definitely want you. Welcome to the crazy house.”
Adelaide’s expression softens. “Thank you. That actually means a lot. It feels really good knowing he finally found someone who brings him happiness. Chris has been lost for so long, you know? Drifting. But I can see why he’s completely smitten with you.”
Before I can respond, Chris appears in the hallway.
“Adelaide?” His voice is surprised but genuinely happy. “You actually came. I thought you weren’t since you never called back or answered any of my fifteen messages.”
Adelaide raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s needy.”
“Someone was worried about his sister.”
“Well, here I am.” She spreads her arms dramatically. “In the flesh. Surprise?”
He crosses the room in three long strides and sweeps her into a hug so tight her boots lift an inch off the floor. Adelaide lets out a soft laugh against his chest, wrapping her arms around him with the kind of relief that only comes from seeing someone you haven’t in too long.
“No way,” Noel says as he rounds the corner from the kitchen, a beer in hand. “You didn’t warn us you were showing up tonight.”
Kane appears right behind him, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Adelaide,” he crows, pulling her into a second hug the moment Chris lets her breathe. “Jesus, you always pick the nights with the most going on.”
She snorts. “I like to make an entrance.”
“You like to make a mess,” Noel counters, kissing the top of her head affectionately before tugging one of her curls. “You still dating that asshole from Denver?”