Chapter 1
Chapter One
Foster
Staring down at the baby in my arms, a pang of longing washes over me. The last five years, I’ve felt that particular feeling more often than not. Watching my four best friends meet the loves of their lives and start families—not always in that order—reminds me of the life I had planned.
The one that went up in smoke.
“Is it my turn yet?” Landry whines.
“Nope,” I say, popping the p as I start down at the slumbering baby.
“He’s my nephew. He’s named after me,” Landry huffs.
“He’s my son. He’s named after me,” Knox counters, making us all laugh.
“He might not be named after me, but he’s my nephew, too.” I whisper the words, but I know they hear me.
I don’t know what I expected when I stepped on Tennessee soil and onto the field at the Rampage Stadium, but I do know it wasn’t to find four best friends, who are my brothers—not by blood, but by heart.
For someone who didn’t have a true family growing up, these guys and the brotherhood we’ve formed mean everything.
It took me some time to let them in. Well, at least as much as I was willing to let them in.
Some pains are better left in the past. The ones that you bury deep inside your chest, never to see the light of day.
Everything else, they can have. Knox, Landry, Reid, and Baker have shown me over and over again what true friendship and family really mean.
They didn’t let my grumpy-ass attitude steer them away from bringing me into the fold of their lives, and they don’t know that they saved me from drowning in grief and regret.
“Alexander Landry Beckett loves his uncle Foster,” Corie says, smiling at me. There’s a softness in her eyes, as if she’s reading my mind.
That’s something else about my best friends.
The women they’ve chosen are their perfect match, and they’re like sisters to me.
Our family is growing, and I can’t help but wonder if it will ever grow because of me.
I don’t date much. It’s been longer than I care to admit since I’ve hooked up with anyone.
I want what my friends have, but putting my heart on the line again doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I don’t know if there will ever be a tiny human walking this earth calling me Dad.
“Seriously, we should have a time limit,” Landry says. “Reid’s had Camden’s attention since we all got here, Knox has brainwashed Coral, and now Foster is hogging Alexander,” he grumps.
“Maybe you should have your own,” Sloane tells him.
Landry grins and turns toward his wife. “It’s only fair,” he tells her, waggling his eyebrows.
Rowan tosses her head back in laughter. “We’re not having a baby so that you have one to hold during family functions. Wait your turn.”
“I mean, we’re really good at the mechanics,” Landry tells her. “I think we’ve practiced enough, and it’s time to shoot our shot, or my shot.” He laughs.
Rowan shrugs. “Okay.” She’s smiling at her husband, because I think for the first time in Landry Reynold’s entire life, the man is speechless. He sets his small paper bowl of pretzels down on the table. If you can keep the man from eating, you’ve done something.
“Rowan, I think you broke him,” Knox teases.
Landry stands, walks over to the huge sectional couch, and holds his hand out to his wife. “It’s been fun, but we’re leaving.”
“You want to hold him?” I ask Landry, and he turns to glare at me over his shoulder. “I’m sharing.”
“I’m going home to make one of my own,” he fires back, and we all laugh.
“We’re not leaving. Go take your turn, grumpy pants.”
He leans down and kisses her before whispering something in her ear. We can’t hear what he says, but her face is beet red, and she smiles up at him as if he’s her entire world.
I used to know what that felt like.
“Fine, hand him over,” Landry says, standing to his full height and stalking toward me.
“I think I changed my mind,” I say, barely holding on to my laughter.
“No takebacks,” he says, bending down and scooping Alexander out of my arms. He coos down at the baby before going to settle next to his wife on the couch.
“We need more babies around here,” Sloane says, smiling at Camden, who’s playing with blocks in the middle of the floor with Reid.
“Cam needs a sibling,” Baker tells her, kissing her temple.
“And another cousin,” Reid says, winking at his wife, Bellamy.
“Well,” Amanda, Bellamy’s best friend and a new member of our group, speaks up. “Ethan and I will have a little one soon.” She smiles. Her eyes are lit with excitement and love for a child she’s never met.
“When are we going to meet this husband of yours?” Reid asks. His wife is Amanda’s best friend, and he’s never met the guy. That tells me he’s a shit husband, but who am I to judge? My girl walked away from me the night I proposed. He must be doing something right if he got her to marry him.
“He’s working so much, trying to make partner,” Amanda says. “He’s on the home stretch. They’re supposed to decide after the second quarter of this year.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Corie tells her.
“Do you know the gender yet?” Bellamy asks.
“Not yet,” Amanda tells her. “We’re basically on standby until the baby is born. Any day now, in fact.”
“We have to throw you a shower after he or she gets here.”
Amanda smiles. “That would be nice, but you don’t have to. The mom is a young teenage mother, and she doesn’t want to know the gender. I think she’s trying to do everything she can not to get attached.”
“I understand that,” Bellamy says. “She’s brave for making the choice that she has. I couldn’t imagine having to make that decision.”
“My heart hurts for her,” Sloane says.
“A hard choice for sure,” Rowan agrees.
“I just want to hug her,” Corie says, wiping at her eyes, then laughing at herself. “Hormones,” she says, waving her hands in front of her face.
“It’s a tough situation, but I’ll be forever grateful that she’s giving us this gift,” Amanda says softly.
“Well, when our little one gets here, they can be best friends,” Landry says, before looking down at the sleeping baby in his arms. “They all will be.”
“Uh, babe, we’re not pregnant,” Rowan reminds him.
“We will be after tonight,” Landry says confidently.
“I hate to break it to you, man, but it’s not always that easy.”
“Sure, it is; just ask Baker.”
Baker groans. “Not cool, Reynolds,” he says, as his eyes flash toward his son. That’s a story for another day, but he and Camden have Sloane in their lives now, and they’re both all smiles because of it.
“Landry,” Rowan warns, her eyes flashing to Amanda.
“Amanda, I’m sorry.” Landry frowns as he stands and goes to hug her, but she just smiles and waves him off.
“It’s okay, really. I’m happy for you guys, and I want that for all of you,” she adds.
Landry winks at her before turning back to us. “I’m just saying my swimmers are competitive.”
“Cam and you go swimming?” Camden stands and rushes over to Landry. “Una Wandry swim?”
Landry’s face falls. He hates to say no to Camden. I imagine when he and Rowan have children of their own, it’s going to be even worse.
“Sorry, little man, it’s too cold to swim.”
Cam sighs. “Cam hold baby,” he says, climbing up onto Landry’s thighs.
Landry situates him before he places Alexander on his lap, holding both of them, but Cam thinks he’s doing all the work from the smile on his face.
“Cam wuv you,” he says, kissing Alexander’s forehead, and the ladies all aww and coo, and I’m not going to lie, that shit hits me in the feels, as well. Kid’s cute as hell. They all are.
Coral reaches out for Landry, and Knox raises his brow in silent question. “Bring her over.” Knox settles Coral on his lap and then helps move Alexander so that both big kids are holding Alexander while sitting on Landry’s lap.
“Yeah, definitely going to need one of these,” Landry muses, smiling down at the kids.
“Now who’s the baby hog?” I tease him.
“Favorite uncle right here,” he boasts, and we all laugh at his antics.
The guys and I start talking about the season. We’re all still riding the high of winning another championship. We’re on fire and hoping for another repeat next year. I don’t want to jinx us, but damn, wouldn’t that be nice?
After eating way too much food, and we’ve all had a chance to snuggle all three kids, we say our goodbyes so that Knox and Corie can rest while the baby does. The ladies promise to come by during the week to drop off dinners, before we all file back out to our cars.
The drive home is short, but when I pull into the driveway of my condo, there’s a car I don’t recognize, and the lights are on.
Then I remember it’s Wednesday and the cleaning lady, Tiffany, is here today.
Not that I’m a messy guy, but having someone dust, sweep, and mop and all that other shit is nice.
I’m fortunate and spoiled, and I need the support more during the season, but I keep her on year-round.
Tiffany is a lovely lady, married, with four kids, and the company I use sang her praises.
She’s been cleaning for me for five years now, and I trust her in my space, something I was hesitant about at first.
Pulling my car into the garage, I close the door before climbing out and heading inside. I take off my shoes in the mudroom and place them in one of the cubbies, just in case Tiffany has already mopped. I don’t want to add to her workload.
Stepping into the kitchen, I freeze when I see an ass up in the air.
An ass that I know is not Tiffany’s—no offense to her, but this ass looks tight and round and has my cock taking notice.
I stand with my arms crossed over my chest while I wait for her to stand back to her full height.
When she finally stands, she turns and sees me.
She yelps, tossing the rag in her hands.
I raise an eyebrow and manage to hide my smile.