Chapter 7
Gabriella
It feels like everyone descended on us at the same time, like they carpooled, which I would have assumed if they weren’t coming from all different directions.
Kerri, Abby, and I stayed up late baking a couple of desserts and making some snack trays.
My mother taught me that it was always better to be prepared, even if the guests were unexpected.
I see Tyson and give him a warm smile, but then here comes Caleb, the guys call him Diablo or D, running up from behind Ty and grabbing me around my waist. I stick my arms out to the side, quickly handing the platters of food off to Abby and Keri, in anticipation of D’s next move.
As expected, he picks me up off the ground, crushes me to his chest, and swings me around in circles.
“Peanut! I fuckin’ missed you, girl! You look amazing!” His nickname for me brings a huge smile to my face while he plants a big kiss on my cheek. I know his compliments are obligatory, but I smile at him anyway. As D puts me down, I hear another voice behind me, “Put my woman down, dickhead!”
That voice belongs to a 6’ tall, barrel-chested, muscle-ridden, full-bearded, brown-eyed, jokester of a man.
My face breaks out into a huge grin as I turn around and squeal, “Cookie Monster!” I start laughing as Cookie swings me around just like Caleb did, then puts me down and gives me a giant wet kiss on the cheek.
“You know I love it when you call me that.” Winking at me, he backs up a few steps to let his wife, Sheila, step in to give me one of those loving mom hugs.
The ones that make you feel warm, safe, and protected.
Plus, she smells like vanilla and warm spices.
Like being hugged by a soft Snickerdoodle blanket.
Sheila is the same age as me, but she has that quiet, caring, loving mom vibe. She’s beautiful with light brown skin, curly hair, and hazel eyes, and Cookie towers over her by about a foot. I have no idea how she ended up married to Cookie, but they are head over heels for each other.
Sheila takes the food, so Cookie and D can exchange big hugs with Kerri and Abby, making them both giggle. I forgot how much the girls loved being around the team; it’s like having four extra dads to fawn over them.
Helping Sheila carry the food into Emma’s new house, I see Sabrina and Alejandro, or Wolf, as the guys call him.
Alejandro is a Jason Momoa look-alike with his black hair tied in a manbun.
He sees me when I walk in and gives me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, “Hey G, great to see you.” With a small smile, he walks out the front door.
He’s always been reserved, even though he’s married to the wildest woman in this unique group.
Speaking of which, I put the food down quickly onto Emma’s pearly white quartz countertops as I see a tiny blonde-haired, pregnant, pixie run toward me and latch onto me like a koala, arms around my neck, legs wrapped around my waist. I forgot how tiny her 5’ is compared to my 5’8”; I feel like a giant.
“Hey, Bri, so good to see you.” I hug her tightly and put her down.
“Bitch! It’s been forever. You look fab by the way.
” Sabrina waggles her eyebrows and smacks me on the ass after climbing down off me.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, girl. I will fight you.
” She puts her hands on her hips. Oh, the sass.
I just smile at her. Sabrina might be tiny, but she packs a punch.
I’ve seen it. She’s like a UFC Tinkerbell.
Emma comes up behind me and wraps her pale, soft, freckled arms around my shoulders, laying them across my collarbone and tilting her head at me.
Her long, thick auburn hair brushes my cheek when she moves.
I can feel the love ooze from her as her warmth settles something inside me.
Lifting my hands to her arms and leaning my head on hers, I let out a quiet, “Hey.” To which she responds in kind.
Emma and I have known each other the longest out of all the wives.
I was already married to Vic when she met Ty, then the others came.
D still hasn’t settled down, though I highly doubt he ever will.
I don’t blame him, I mean, the guy looks like a Calvin Klein model on the cover of Inked magazine.
He’s all dirty-blonde hair in a pompadour cut and amber-colored eyes, high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and tattoos for days, with a set of deep red lips inked in the middle of the right side of his neck.
Not sure I would settle down if I were him either.
I’m also not sure there is a woman out there who could settle him down.
“I have to pee!” Sabrina shouts as she rushes out of the kitchen to the bathroom. “Em, where’s the fucking bathroom? You know this kid is doing damn Riverdance on my bladder. I’m gonna pee on your carpet!” She shouts as we hear her quickening feet hitting the floor.
“Upstairs, second door on the right. Don’t pee on my new carpet, bitch!” Emma yells, then we both look at each other and start laughing. Hard. I double over, and when I stand, I have tears streaming down my face.
I haven’t laughed like this in a long, long time.