43. Selena
Selena
As soon as the guys are out the door, Sam heads to the kitchen to make us a snack. I hate that I have work, but I promised my client I’d have this to him by the end of day tomorrow, and since I also have the appointment with my OB tomorrow morning, I want to get this done today.
Sam has me hiding a laugh when he starts bringing everything into the living room and setting it up on the coffee table for us. When he makes a production of walking behind the desk I’m sitting at, I know he’s doing his own version of checking to see how much more I have to do without asking.
He finally sits down on the couch and turns on the television, pulling up Love Island. It’s our guilty pleasure and I’ve been waiting for him to get back from his trip so we can watch. We have a solemn vow that we can’t watch new episodes without the other being there.
I input the last of the information and send the file off to Sampson Edibles and power off my laptop. Standing up I head over to the couch and sit down beside him, angling my body toward him.
“Okay, I’m finally done,” I tell him.
“About damn time. I can't hold it in anymore!” he squeals, clutching a throw pillow tight to his chest. He pulls his legs up on the couch, placing them underneath him as he bounces up and down in excitement.
I laugh before he's even finished speaking. “Seriously, Sam. You act like you’ve been here for hours holding in whatever tea it is you have to share.”
“First off, it’s good tea, and if you keep being mean to me, I might just keep it a secret.
And secondly, I’ve been holding it in for longer than today.
So there.” He sticks out his tongue at me, his eyes lighting up with happiness.
“Do you know how hard it was for me to keep it a secret until now? I had to suffer in silence. Now do you want to hear it or not?”
"I’m sure keeping it to yourself for however long has been a trauma worse than death."
“See, you do understand.” He reaches out and gives my nose a boop. “Now do you want to hear it or not?”
“I’m all ears.” I angle my body more toward him, letting my arm rest on the back of the couch. "Tell me everything. I’m sitting on the edge of my seat waiting.”
His eyes light up like it’s Christmas.
“Well the big part you know. Jose took me on a vacation and Selly, it was perfect.”
“He did good, huh?” I’m trying my hardest to contain my excitement. I’ve been dying to ask him about the trip, to see his ring, but I had to keep my mouth shut.
“Good. Girl you don't know.” His smile spreads across his face as he shifts how he’s sitting on the couch. “It was pure heaven. More than I could ever expect.”
Oh, if he only knew that I was part of the planning.
“The best part of the trip was the day before we left. He rented this little boat on the lake. Nothing fancy, just the two of us out on the open water. There was this adorable picnic spread waiting on the deck. Fresh fruit, cheeses, crackers, little sandwiches, wine.” He presses his hand to his chest. "Selly, Jose knows my love language. "
“Well they do say that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
"And romance. Don’t forget the romance. And Jose gave me that in abundance."
I laugh. “Okay, tell me more. I’m dying of anticipation here, because something tells me that’s not the tea you’re chomping at the bit to spill.”
"So we're just floating around while the sun sets. We eat, we drink, we talk..." His voice softens and his eyes tear up. "And then he says he wants to stay until the stars come out."
"Aww. That’s so sweet."
"I know!" He gasps. "Then, after it gets dark, he tells me to get another bottle of wine out of the cooler. I opened it, but there wasn’t another one. Then when I turn around.” His voice catches and his hand goes to his mouth.
“You turned around, don’t leave me hanging.”
"Girl, when I turned back around.” Sam does a little squeal as his hands move rapidly like he’s fanning himself. “He was on one knee holding out a ring." His eyes instantly fill with happy tears all over again. "I froze."
"Oh my God, did he?"
Sam just nods, his hand wiping the tear from his eye and that’s when I see the beautiful gunmetal black band with tiny diamonds embedded in it.
"He told me he couldn't imagine another day without me. That every version of his future had me in it. Then he asked me to marry him."
“And by the ring on your finger I take it you said yes.”
"Bitch, you know I did, ugly crying and all. I was sobbing so bad I could barely breathe. I’m officially off the market.”
I burst into laughter, then lean forward wrapping my arms around him.
“Oh Sam, I’m so happy for you. Jose’s lucky to have a man as good as you are and I hope he remembers it every day of his life."
“He is lucky, isn’t he?” Sam’s comment has us both laughing. “But seriously, Selly, I’m the lucky one. He’s good stock, and I’m so glad you made me go to that physical therapy appointment.”
“I love you, Sam. Now let me see that ring.” He holds his hand out for me and I gush over the beautiful piece of jewelry.
Silence settles between us for a beat while we both grin like idiots, then his expression shifts. He tilts his head to the side, like he’s trying to piece something together, then his perfectly groomed eyebrows rise.
"You sneaky woman. You knew."
I try to keep a stoic expression but fail exponentially to hide my smile.
"Don’t lie to me, Selly.”
I nod, unable to stop beaming. "I did. Jose swore me to secrecy, and I may have given him some helpful tips with his proposal."
His mouth drops open. "You dirty little slut. I’m so glad you’re my best friend.”
“You just don’t know how it was killing me to keep that secret from you. I’ve known he was going to do it for months. Before I ever went to my mother’s wedding.”
“Wait a hot minute.” His mouth forms a perfect O as his eyes go wide in understanding. “That’s why you agreed to move in with the three of them without putting up an argument. The reason you practically threw me out the door to go back to Jose.”
I just nod. Because he’s right.
“There’s no way in hell I was ruining the perfect proposal for you.”
He throws his body forward, wrapping his arms around me as he hugs me tightly. We stay like that for a few minutes, and I can feel the wetness of his tears as they fall on the side of my face.
“I love you, Sam.” “I love you, Selly.” He pulls away and we both wipe our eyes. “Since we’re talking about secrets, it’s time for you to spill.”
“Spill what?” I know what he wants to know, but I play dumb.
“Girl, don’t play with me. What happened while I was gone? You were dead set against telling them they were our babies’ daddies.”
“Ours.”
“Don’t even play with me, Selly. You know that Chicken Nugget and Jalapeno Popper are my babies too. I just didn’t get the fun of making them, nor do I have to experience the pain of giving birth to them.”
I drag my teeth over my bottom lip, pulling it into my mouth. Sam doesn’t know that I how scared out of my mind that I was losing the babies. I turn ever so slightly and grasp one of the throw pillows behind me, pulling it tight to my chest as I wrap my arms around it.
“I’m waiting,” he sing-songs. “How has it been living here, and what made you tell them?”
“It’s been good.”
"Good? Have y’all?” He makes a lewd gesture with his hands, wanting to know if we’ve had sex.
“No, we haven’t.”
His face softens. “Why not? Are you making them work for it? Damn, I couldn’t keep my legs closed if I were you. Those three are fine as hell.”
“They are that.” I chuckle softly. “And they’ve been amazing.” I lower my head, fixating my eyes on my fingers that are gripping the pillow tightly.
“Then what is it? Just from the few times I’ve seen them, I can tell that they adore you."
He’s right. I can’t lie. They’re the most attentive men I’ve ever seen. In the short time I’ve been here, and even before the fire, they’ve done nothing but treat me like a queen.
“Just as before, I was pushing them away. But then I woke up one night and I was bleeding.”
Sam’s eyes go right to my stomach, where the pillow now rests.
“Selena, please don’t tell me…”
I reach out to him, placing my hand over his. “No, they’re okay. Perfectly healthy. The doctor said it was normal with multiple births. After the pregnancy scare, we kind of all revealed our feelings for each other.”
“About damn time,” he snorts.
“Yeah, we are making a go of this. The four of us. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. But the guys refuse to do anything until I see the doctor, and they can ask any questions they have and ensure it’s okay to have sex.”
"That makes sense. At least they’re thinking with the right head.”
"My appointment's tomorrow. Thank God. I won't lie..." I admit. "Pregnancy hormones have been absolutely ridiculous."
"Oh, have they?" He waggles his eyebrows before reaching over and picking up some of the crackers off the charcuterie board he made.
“Sam, I've been so unbelievably horny."
He laughs loud enough to startle me.
"I'm serious!"
"I know you are! That’s why I’m laughing.”
"And living with three gorgeous men who are trying so hard to behave?" I let my head fall back dramatically. "It's actual torture."
"I'm so sorry for your suffering.” I toss my pillow at him, smacking him across the face with it mid bite. The man’s so agile he’s able to catch it easily, not drop a bit of food and keep laughing at me.
"You'll survive. If only we all had the problem of having too much dick.” His laughter calms, and his mouth shifts into a warm smile. "I'm really happy for you, Selly. You are such an amazing woman and deserve all the happiness in the world. I'm happy you finally stopped hiding this secret.”
“So am I. Sam, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. Everything you're still doing. For loving me,” I place my hand gently on my stomach, “my babies, before you've even met them. For willing to be their dad when I was so confused as to what to do."
His eyes glisten, and I can hear the sob he’s trying to stifle.
"Oh, sweetheart, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You’re my sister. Blood or not. I love you.”
"I love you too."
"Just be prepared, you already know I'm going to be the most obnoxious gunkle on the planet."
“I have absolutely no doubt about that. And I’ll welcome every moment of it.”
"I'm going to spoil those babies rotten."
"They're going to adore you."
"They'd better. I’m the one they’re going to call with all their secrets. When they’ve been out drinking and need a ride home. Just be prepared, I will protect them at all costs.”
We both burst out laughing, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
"I have one serious question though,” he asks.
"What? You already know you’re going to be the Godfather to them, so there should be no question about that.”
“Have you told your cuntasaurus of an egg donor?”
“We plan to do that on Sunday at dinner. They’ve already said if she opens her mouth with anything hurtful, we’re done with her for good. Even their dad, if he allows her to continue treating me the way she does.”
“Good. Maybe I’ll rethink killing them.” He gives me a wink. “Now to the actual question I have.”
“What is it?”
"When the wedding happens..." He clears his throat. "Will you be my best maid of honor?"
A squeal escapes before I can stop it. "Yes!” I throw my arms around his neck so hard we nearly topple off the couch together. "Absolutely yes! A hundred times yes."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"As if I would ever answer any other way. I can’t wait for us to go tux shopping and planning. Your wedding will be the event of the year.”
"I couldn't imagine anyone else standing beside me but you, Selly."
“And I’m honored to be there.”