Jace
My phone buzzed, and I took a second to check the screen.
You pregnant again yet?
Casey
No. Are you?
Only a matter of time.
I can’t help it.
My husband’s cock is too good.
I know the feeling.
Pocketing my phone with a grin, I joined my husband in the kitchen.
Adam had just started putting our lunches together when we heard a knock at the door.
The handle turned and Maddie rushed in, her arms spread wide as she ran up to me.
I plucked her off the floor and spun her around before tucking her against my hip.
“Hey, sweet pea,” I told her. “Did you have a good time at your big brother’s house?”
David was right behind her, along with Dina, who was holding Maddie’s diaper bag. “She made us watch that new animated dog movie three times before bed.”
Maddie giggled at her brother’s frown, completely unapologetic about it.
I bounced her on my hip and smiled as David bent to kiss her cheek. “How was that talk with the commissioner? Did he agree to give you a pay raise?”
“It went okay. I think I made a strong case. Don’t know how much good it’ll do, but thank you for helping me, Dad.”
As soon as I set Maddie down, she went running through the house with Dina right behind her to make sure she didn’t fall. “You don’t have to call me that, David. Just Casey is fine.”
“You’re married to Pops. That makes you my dad.
Even if you are two years younger than me.
” He affectionately ruffled my hair before giving me a quick hug.
He used to smell like leather and oil, but now I couldn’t smell his pheromones, or anyone’s, ever since Adam marked me.
It was still a bit strange, even after two years.
Now the only scent I could smell was Adam’s earthy pheromones.
It was a calming bouquet wherever I went.
Dina came back into the living room holding a squirming Maddie in her arms. She quickly passed her off to me, and I bounced my baby girl on my hip again until she calmed down. “We’ve got a shift. Have fun at work today, Casey. We still on for game night tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” Adam answered. He finished our lunches and grabbed Maddie’s diaper bag off the floor.
Just as we were making our plans for the week, there was an unexpected knock at the door. Maddie was already squealing with excitement before I could see who it was. David opened the door and revealed Marshall standing on the front step, a wrapped box in his hands.
Ahh. He was still a little awkward around us, especially when he glanced in my direction, but during his infrequent visits, it had gotten easier between us. Not to the level of David calling me Dad all the time, but I hoped we would smooth things out eventually.
David and Dina threw out their greetings accompanied by warm hugs before Marshall turned to me.
“How’s my baby sister?” he asked, his focus shifting towards her.
She held her arms out to him, and he took her from me, passing her the gift he’d brought to win her approval.
She shook the box to see what was inside, and with her distracted, he turned back to me.
“Hey, Casey. How’s the mural business going? Have you painted the town yet?”
There was something different in his eyes. The pain had eased, and he wasn’t so guarded when he looked at me.
“Not yet. We’re working on the old pharmacy right now.”
For the first time in two years, we shared a smile between us, one that felt genuine and not forced.
“Be sure to post the photos once you’re done. We really enjoy seeing your work.”
“We?” David latched onto that single word. “Did you get yourself a boyfriend, Marsh?”
His awkward grin was answer enough. “Shush. It’s still new. He’s at my hotel. I wanted to come over first.” He paused, his eyes darting to the kitchen where Adam was zipping up the lunch bags.
“Bring him by,” Adam said, his eyes focused on the zipper. “Does he know about…”
“What, you stealing my boyfriend?” Two years ago, saying that would’ve started a family feud. Now, Marshall was teasing us. “Kidding. Yes, he knows. As if I’m going to bring him here and not tell him my stepdad is my ex.”
Stepdad.
That was progress.
Pleased with himself for fucking with us, Marshall helped Maddie open her gift: a brand new sunhat for when she came to work with us. She gave him a very pleased kiss of approval, and he left with David and Dina, all three of them promising to be back tomorrow for game night.
Adam plucked Maddie from me so I could slip my shoes on. “That went well.”
“He’s already teasing us about it. That’s about as good as we’ll get, I think.” We chuckled for a minute and helped Maddie tie her new hat under her chin. “I think he had a harder time forgiving you than he did me, and not just because of the whole landscaping thing.”
“I never pushed him to do that,” Adam said quietly.
“It doesn’t matter if you did. He still felt that was the only way you’d truly be proud of him.” I took Maddie back, and we stepped onto the front porch together. “I am glad you two worked it out.”
“I’m proud of both my sons. And this little one.
” He tickled Maddie’s belly. “I’ll be proud of all our babies.
And…” He tucked one arm around my waist and pulled me closer, fitting our bodies together with Maddie between us.
“I’m proud of you, Casey.” We kissed under the early spring morning sun.
“I love you,” he whispered against my lips.
This was all I had ever wanted. A loving husband. A home to call my own. And our baby on my hip. I thought this day would never come, and now it was here. It was mine. And I wanted to live every second of it with him.
“I love you, Adam.”