Keeley
twenty-one
One month later
Brayden and Spencer closed on their new house a couple of days ago, and I hadn’t had a chance to breathe since.
Ironic, considering I wasn’t the one relocating.
But once they knew the date they were moving in, Brayden had put the word out to the Seals.
A combined housewarming and birthday party for Hannah was organized within a matter of hours.
They hadn’t finished unpacking yet—their clothes were still in suitcases and boxes—but the Seals had come through, supplying everything needed for a party.
It was a beautiful day for it too. The winter sun was shining, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
The lapping waters of the Bay glittered like diamonds.
The palm trees along the glass fence at the water’s edge swayed in the light breeze.
The calls of the gulls and wash of the water were a constant that made relaxing compulsory.
The lounge chairs around the pool overlooking the Bay were already my favorite place in the world.
When you laid back during the day, all you could see was sky and sea.
At night, it was a blanket of stars twinkling high above.
But the view here in front of me was twice as spectacular, and only half of my couple of boyfriends was standing in front of me, plating up the last of the pigs in blankets. I blinked when Spencer chuckled and said, “Keels, babe, can you get that?”
“Sorry, what?”
“The door.”
My cheeks flamed and I shrugged. “Not going to apologize for staring.”
“Not gonna ask you to.” He winked and dropped his gaze as slow as molasses down my body. I shivered from the heat of his perusal. “Might even take it up as a hobby myself.”
The bell rang again, and I sashayed over to the double front doors, wiggling my ass just to give him something extra to look at.
I hefted the ten-foot-tall, frosted-glass door open and saw Mironov and his partner, Sasha standing there. “Hi, come on in.”
Mironov handed me a dish covered in tin foil that smelled delicious and took the small cooler bag Sasha had slung over her shoulder.
I gestured for them to come inside and said, “Thanks for bringing food. We really appreciate it.”
Sasha smiled and in a strong accent said, “Pleasure.”
I led them outside, and Mironov whistled at the view. “Perfect spot.”
“It’s beautiful,” I agreed, my gaze automatically searching out Brayden.
He was romping around the backyard. Literally.
Hannah was on his shoulders, dressed in Brayden’s too-big straw hat, her fingers tangled in his hair, holding on for dear life while he trotted around on Hannah’s hobby horse.
Dressed in faded jeans, cowboy boots, and an unbuttoned plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he looked as ridiculous as he did sexy with his abs on full display.
“Miller is trouble,” Mironov warned me with a grin.
Strong arms slipped around my waist, and I leaned back into Spencer’s embrace. “His mouth gets him in trouble,” Spencer corrected.
“Oh, stop it, he’s a sweetheart. Look at him.” I gestured to where he was now on his knees so that Hannah could pet the sheep again.
I had Gauthier to thank for them. Once Brayden had mentioned the theme of Hannah’s party—a farmyard bash, of course—he’d promised to bring a few sheep, a goat, as well as his dog, Zeus, over.
They’d reversed the trailer in, and Hannah had watched in awe as the sheep scrambled down the ramp.
Tears had run down her face, and she’d shaken like a leaf as Travis guided them into the backyard.
When she realized they were staying for the party, she’d squealed and chased after them.
It was only Travis’s quick reflexes that stopped her from crash tackling one.
“You love him?” Mironov asked, and I could feel his burning gaze locked on me.
I stilled, then turned away from Brayden to meet Mironov’s question head-on.
His grin had slipped; he was staring me down like I’d seen him do to his opponents on the ice.
He was the Seals’ enforcer, full of brute strength and happy to brawl, but he didn’t intimidate me. “I do. And I love Spencer too.”
“Good, da.” He nodded and smiled at Sasha. “Sit.” He poured her a sparkling water and hustled her into a chair, forcing her to put her feet up on another.
“We have wine and beer in the coolers over there.” Spencer gestured with his head. “Help yourselves.”
Sasha smoothed her hand down her flat belly, straightening her shirt, and she smiled softly. “We’re not drinking.”
“All good,” Spencer answered. “Sodas, juice boxes, and water are in the other cooler.”
I was still focused on Sasha’s hand sitting low on her belly.
When she caught me, she nodded. My eyes grew wide, and I bit down on my lip to stop my excited shriek.
“Really?” I breathed, and she nodded again, her smile growing wider.
“Oh my God, I’m so thrilled for you. Congratulations,” I whisper-squealed.
“Thank you.” She smiled up at Mironov when he rested his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“Congratulations,” Spencer said, then added, “’Scuse me.”
He kissed me on the cheek, and I watched him stand halfway across the yard from Brayden and Hannah.
My brows were drawn together until I saw Joey had jumped into Rune’s arms as he jogged over to Brayden and Hannah.
Hux was already piggybacking Cara. Minns was down on one knee, Kamirah scrambling onto his shoulders, and Gauthier was carrying Charlie in a fireman’s hold.
All of them were lining up alongside Brayden and Hannah on one side of the grassed yard.
“Oh, no,” I groaned. “What are they doing?”
“Ready,” Spencer yelled, nudging a few of the sheep closer to the fenced off water’s edge and clearing the yard.
“They’re all big-ass kids,” Cleo muttered, shaking her head.
“Complete children,” Carina agreed.
“Someone’s going to break a leg,” I fretted. I winced and held my breath, willing there to be no injuries that Coach would have all our heads on a platter for.
“Set.” Spencer held his hands up in a stopping motion, then shouted, “Go!”
I watched in horror as five hockey players all carrying a loved one dashed across the yard, pushing and shoving one another while the youngest passengers squealed with excitement. Cara was laughing, Kamirah whooped, and Joey circled his arm like he was about to throw a lasso.
Brayden’s shouted “Yee haw! Giddy up!” had me covering my eyes.
But it was like a train wreck—I couldn’t look away.
I peeked through the gaps in my fingers.
“Oh God,” I gasped, my heart hammering in my chest and my hands shaking as Brayden pretended to stumble.
Hannah’s hands went up in the air as she cheered, her smile so freaking adorable as Brayden slowed his run a fraction.
“Ride harder, Texas,” Spencer shouted, egging him on.
Barely a second later, Mom cackled, her laughter ringing out even over the whoops and squeals.
I thought it was from something Monroe had said—they were sharing a bottle of wine and getting along like a house on fire—but she was focused on my boyfriends.
She turned her gaze to me and busted up laughing again. “That’s why he calls him cowboy?”
“What?” I asked, completely sideswiped by her question. What was she talking about?
“Save a horse,” she began with a wink.
I flushed, my cheeks heating until I was sure they were scarlet. My mother had zero filter, and I knew every single person here was about to know more than they ever wanted to know about our sex life.
“Ride a cowboy,” Mom finished, and I groaned. Then she raised her glass in a toast and yelled, “Show us what you got, Texas. Make Momma proud!”
“Mom,” I shrieked, and Monroe clinked his glass with hers.
“I knew I liked you, Jen.” He chuckled and yelled, “Let’s go, Alec. Kick their arses.”
Brayden was last, but he veered off and ran straight toward me, wrapped me up in a sweaty hug, and planted a kiss on my lips. “First one to kiss y’alls darlin’s wins.”
“Cheater!” Minns yelled, and the whole lot of them descended into chirping and wrestling one another.
It was ridiculous. I loved it.
Spencer joined us and hoisted Hannah off Brayden’s shoulders and set her down, then wrapped his arms around our waists. I leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder.
“You are both dorks sometimes. But I love you like crazy,” I murmured and squeezed them harder. This was already one of the best days of my life.
“You think that was good? Wait until we break out the dance competition,” Spencer joked.
It struck me then how different he was today from how he was during the first team event he’d been to. Then again, so was I.
A year ago, I thought my life was falling apart. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was the beginning of something so special, and even better than I'd ever imagined. I was exactly where I needed to be.
Except maybe there was something else I needed to do.
My guys had asked me to move in with them. Repeatedly. I'd told them I wasn't ready, but really it was because I was scared to take the leap. Trusting them was easy. Trusting myself to make the right decision about them was so much harder.
But I was ready. Any doubt I had Hanna’s and my future with them was gone. “Hey,” I started.
“Yeah, Keels?” Spencer answered and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Yes. My answer’s yes.”
Brayden looked blankly at me for a moment, then his face transformed into a hesitant grin, one he looked like he was struggling to hold back. “Y’all, is that a yes to what I think it is?”
“It is. I'm ready.”
Spencer whooped and picked me up, twirled me around, and yelled, “Fuck yeah!”
I laughed, joy lighting me up. This was really happening. I couldn’t wait.