Chapter 26
Breeding Season at Whispering Oaks Ranch
? I would, Would you - Kelsea Ballerini
Angelina
Baby Mamas
Me: Help. Does the horniness ever go away?
Callie: Don’t ask me. I’m about to throw myself at Jaxon again.
Olivia: Hot.
Olivia: Just ride the wave. Eventually, you’ll want to cut their dicks off.
Me: Violent. I like it.
Callie: I doubt it. His dick is just so pretty.
Me: Valid.
“Pass the mint chip,” Callie says, setting the pint of vanilla ice cream on Griffin’s coffee table next to her empty jar of pickles.
I put my spoon in my mouth for safekeeping and slide the carton across the coffee table to Olivia, who then hands it over to Callie.
“Want some cookie butter?” Olivia offers me the jar with a sleeve of graham crackers.
I take it happily.
“God, I really needed the girl time.”
“Wilder still hovering?” Callie asks.
She sighs. “It’s gotten worse. I get it. Really, I do. Gracie’s birth wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but I’m not even allowed to put on my own shoes or take things out of the oven by myself.”
“Look on the bright side. You only have”—I count out the weeks on my fingers and wince—“six weeks left.”
“I might murder him before that,” she deadpans, reaching for the vanilla ice cream.
Callie snorts. “None of us is in any fit state to be hiding a body.”
“You know we can hear you, right?” Wilder’s voice filters in from somewhere.
The men have been waiting on us hand and foot since everybody arrived at Griffin’s place about an hour ago.
I suppose it’s our place now. I should get used to thinking of it that way. They’re moving my stuff in as we speak, unloading the last of my boxes from the moving van. They balked at our offer to help, relegating us to the living room with snacks, not that any of us are complaining.
“Love you, Big Guy,” Olivia calls back.
He comes up behind her and presses a kiss to the top of her head. “Love you, too, Livie girl, but you’re still not taking the cupcakes out of the oven by yourself anymore. You almost burned your belly last week.”
She pouts. “But I didn’t.”
He tugs on her bottom lip before releasing it to replace his finger with his mouth. “Quit arguing with me and enjoy your girl time.”
“I would if you three would stop listening in on our conversation.”
“Alright. Fine. We’ll get back to work. Holler if you need anything else, my queens.” He makes a dramatic bow and heads back the way he came.
“You breastfed Gracie, right?” I ask Olivia.
She mumbles her ascent around a mouthful of vanilla ice cream.
“Was it awful? I mean, physically? I just can’t wrap my head around having a baby attached to my nipple, not to mention I’ve heard about them cracking and mastitis.”
She sits up straighter like she’s about to deliver some incredible wisdom.
“It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
Babies don’t always latch well, you’re on call 24/7, and it can hurt.
But I wouldn’t do anything differently. At first, Gracie was exclusively breastfed, but it was so difficult, and it took a toll on my mental health.
Eventually, I started pumping and stockpiling in the freezer so we could bottle feed, and it took away so much of the mental load. ”
She takes another bite of ice cream and continues, waving the spoon in the air as she speaks.
“There’s no one right way to do things. There’s only what works for you,” she says, pointing the round end of the utensil at me.
“As long as the baby is fed, you’re doing great.
” She laughs. “It is nice to be able to whip out a boob whenever the baby gets fussy, though.”
“Jax and I talked about it,” Callie says. “He’s going to be home with them more than I will after my maternity leave, so we’re going to supplement.”
Olivia clutches her chest. “Aww. Stay-at-home dad Jaxy.”
“I can totally picture that,” I concur. “He’s always been amazing with Emmy and Gracie.”
Callie’s expression softens like she’s lost in a memory, and a smile tugs at her lips. “He’s so excited about it. It’s really sweet.”
“Ok, enough about boobs and babies and baby daddies. Surely somebody has some hot gossip to share,” Olivia says. “This isn’t just breeding season at Whispering Oaks Ranch.”
I manage to stop the spit take from happening, but not before a drop of water escapes down my chin. After wiping it on my sleeve, I say, “It’s so much worse when you say it like that.”
She throws her hands up and purses her lips. “Am I wrong?”
“I mean, technically, I didn’t get pregnant on the ranch.”
And the baby isn’t Griffin’s, but I’m not about to bring that up.
“Whatever,” she says. “My point stands.”
“Unless you want to hear about old man Wilson’s donkey and the litter of adorable kittens that came into the clinic yesterday, I’m fresh out of gossip, I fear.”
“Pink eye again?” Olivia asks.
“I swear it’s a quarterly problem with Clover.”
Callie’s mouth drops open, and she presses her hands to her chest. “The donkey’s name is Clover? I’m sorry, that’s so fucking adorable.”
“Yeah, she’s actually aggressively cute when she’s not contagious.”
“I’m trying to convince Wilder to let Emmy and Gracie get a highland cow.”
“Oh my god, are those the fluffy ones?” Callie asks.
“Yep. But he’s not budging.”
Callie’s expression turns downright mischievous. “Christmas is coming up soon, and Uncle Jaxy and Auntie Kiki haven’t picked out a gift yet.”
“Wilder might actually kill you,” Olivia says. “And he wouldn’t have any trouble hiding the body.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” Callie shoves half a pickle into her mouth and chases it with a spoonful of ice cream.
“Wait, speaking of Clover. Have you guys thought about baby names?” Olivia asks. “Sorry. ADHD is so much worse when I’m pregnant.”
I fidget with the tassels on my pillow, braiding the strands. “I think I want to name them Jessie.” I swallow thickly as my eyes well with tears. “It’s neutral, so it works for a boy or a girl.”
The explanation comes out hoarse, and an oppressive silence falls around us.
“Do you think Wilder would be okay with it?” I ask. “I don’t want to make things awkward or step on any toes, but she was my best friend, you know? We both loved her, and she’s still such a big part of my life even if she’s not here with me anymore.”
It’s a wonder I’m able to get all of the words out without sobbing into the cookie butter. I don’t often get to talk about her anymore, so when I do, all of the pent-up emotions come rushing back.
Olivia reaches for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t need his permission, but if you asked, he’d gladly give it. Jess is still a part of our lives, too. She always will be.”
Callie dabs at the corners of her eyes with a napkin. “You can’t cry, or we’re all gonna start.”
“Too late,” Olivia chokes out. “It’s beautiful, Angie. I’m sure Jess would be so proud.”
I barely register the distant sound of the back door opening and closing as Callie and Olivia pull me in for a group hug.
“I blame these stupid hormones,” Callie says, sniffling.
A chorus of watery laughter follows.
Griffin
We stop short of the living room, where Callie and Olivia have Angie wrapped in a group hug. Tears are streaming down their cheeks, the coffee table is strewn with discarded snacks, and there's a puddle of melted ice cream in one corner.
Jaxon runs his hands through his hair while I pull mine back in a low bun, and Wilder turns his hat backward like we’re preparing for battle.
“You go first,” Jaxon says, nudging me with his elbow.
“What? No. Wilder should go first. He’s the oldest.”
“Couple of fucking children,” Wilder mutters as he strides into the room. “Everything okay in here?”
Olivia nods, then looks to Angie. “Can I tell him?”
My wife nods her approval as she slides back to her spot on the sofa, wiping her damp cheeks on her sleeve. That’s enough spectating for me.
I close the distance between us and wrap her in my arms. I love the way this beautiful, headstrong woman melts into me like she can finally let her guard down. I can almost imagine that she needs me in some small way, even though it’s the other way around.
I need her more than I need air.
Liv takes Wilder’s hand in hers and guides him to sit beside her just as Jaxon takes a seat on the floor in front of Callie.
“They want to name the baby Jessie,” Olivia says.
Wilder blinks rapidly, running his hand down his beard. “She.. uh..” He coughs, clearing his throat. “She’d love that.”
“Are you sure?” Angie asks. “I don’t want to overstep or anything.”
“Auntie Jessie would be so goddamn honored,” he says, offering up a half-smile.
“Personally, I was hoping for Griffin Junior,” I say, providing a little bit of levity.
I wasn’t sure if she was set on the name, and I should’ve known she would want to run it by Wilder first. If he has any qualms about it, he hasn't let on. I think we’re all just proud to honor Jess in any way we can. She was such a huge part of our lives for so long.
“That’s never going to happen,” Angie says, her face adorably scrunched.
“Do my nieces have names yet?” I ask.
“We have some ideas,” Callie says. “But it’s so hard to commit. I don’t want to stick my kids with a name like Calliope.”
Angie sits up straighter. “Wait. Your full name is Calliope? Like the muse?”
“Yep. The one and only. My sister got stuck with Clio.”
“No way! My middle name is Thalia.”
“Seriously? Were your parents super into Greek mythology, too?”
“Not exactly. My mom is actually from Greece. Dad’s Italian. They recently moved back to Europe so they could be closer to their roots.”
“That’s so cool,” Olivia says. “I’d love to visit Europe sometime. Have you ever been?”
“No. I tried to talk Tyler into going for our honeymoon, but he wasn’t into it. Turns out he wasn’t actually into me either.”
My back teeth grind together.
Fuck Tyler.
I hate him for the way he hurt Angie, but if he hadn’t done what he did, she wouldn’t be here with me right now. The guilt is fucking suffocating, but knowing she’s mine makes it easier to bear.
As if she’s read my thoughts, Callie says, “Screw that guy. It’s his loss. You’re one of us now.”
One of us.
Our family has changed so much over the last two years.
I don’t relish the circumstances that brought him home, but having Wilder back seems to have spurred our lives into motion again.
Olivia wafted in on a breeze, and it felt like she’d always been there.
Ruby finally settled down with Liam after ten long years of waiting.
Then Callie came along and repaired whatever part of Jaxon had been broken.
Now I have Angie, the missing piece to the puzzle, the woman I’d all but given up. It almost feels too good to be true.
I run my fingers through Angie’s hair, and her eyes drift shut.
“Tired?” I ask.
She responds with a quiet hum.
Olivia gives me a knowing smile. “We should get going. Emmy and Gracie will be waiting for us.”
Jaxon looks up at Callie. “Us, too. Atticus could be withering away as we speak. He’ll never forgive me if he doesn’t get his afternoon treats.”
Angie starts to stand, but I pull her back down.
“Stay. They know where the door is.”
“That’s rude,” she says, the words coming out on a yawn.
Olivia laughs. “Growing babies is hard. Get some sleep. We’ll text you later.”
Not more than five minutes after everyone leaves, Angie falls asleep against my chest. I press a soft kiss to her forehead and reposition her across the sofa, draping a blanket over her prone figure. Stepping back, I let my eyes linger, vowing to turn too good to be true into forever, somehow.