Chapter Twenty-Six
Colton
My mouth hangs open at her unexpected words. “Are you serious?”
She nods slightly. “It’s too soon to test, but I had early symptoms with both pregnancies, so I think it’s possible. I know my body pretty well and when it changes.”
“What symptoms are you havin’?”
“Tender breasts. It’s always the first one I get, but they only get this way when I’m pregnant.”
I swallow hard, lowering my gaze to her stomach. “Holy shit.”
“Are you upset? It’s okay if you are. It’s quick, and we didn’t exactly plan for this, so if you—“
“Hell no.” I roll over, taking her with me, and slam my mouth to hers.
We didn’t exactly use protection, so I can’t say I’m all that shocked.
“Wait, are you?”
Her words from not long ago about her ex leaving her knocked up and homeless ring through my mind, so I can understand why she’d be wary.
She blinks a few times, chewing her bottom lip. “I don’t know. So much is happenin’ and so fast, I’m still processin’.”
“That’s understandable. Take as much time as you need.” I kiss her forehead. “But I’m here for whatever you need or want me to do. I’m not goin’ anywhere, darlin’.”
“I know.” She sighs playfully. “Always so perfect.”
“Yes, you are.” I wink, and she rolls her eyes. “When can you take a test?”
“Technically, five days before my period, but I’d rather wait until I miss it. It can be an emotional rollercoaster continuously testin’, so if I don’t get it, then at least I’ll be mentally prepared when I do test.”
I lower my palm to her belly and tear up at the image of her swollen stomach. “Would it freak you out if I said I like the idea of you carryin’ my baby? All cute and waddlin’ ’round the house or seein’ a little one in your arms. Fuck, now I wanna knock you up if you aren’t already.”
She arches a brow. “Do you have a breedin’ kink I should’ve known ’bout? At this rate, I’m gonna need to make a list of all your obsessions.”
I pin her against the mattress, towering above so I can kiss her again. “When it comes to you, my obsession has no limits. I’ve wanted you and this for so long, I don’t care how crazy it makes me look ’cause I know what we have is real.”
Hell, I’d propose right now if I weren’t concerned about scaring her away. Even I know that’s too fast, but mark my words, I’m going to make her my wife.
“This is where I’d start freakin’ out that I’m lettin’ history repeat itself and should be more guarded, so I don’t make the same mistakes, but for the first time, this feels right. And I’m not gonna allow myself to second-guess or sabotage what’s happenin’ between us.”
My heart sings with relief. “Thank God. Would be a shame to have to do joint custody for real.”
She snorts. “Knowin’ my kids, they’d rather live with you anyway.”
“Only ’cause Remy’s here.”
We both laugh, and I spend the next several minutes kissing her lips, neck, and stomach.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Even if she says it’s too soon to know, I don’t need a positive test to know she is. I feel it.
When morning comes, I’m in the best mood, and don’t bother sneaking out this time. If the kids see us, there’s no reason to hide it now.
Which means I can officially tell my family. Not like they’ll be surprised, but it’ll be nice not to hide it.
I help Lily pick out clean clothes and try to tame her tangled hair, but I’m still learning how to do it. Once I wet the brush and work through the ends, it goes smoother.
“There. How’s that?” I ask once it’s up in a half ponytail.
It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s the first time she’s let me do her hair. Usually, she waits until Amelia can do it, but I wanted to let her sleep in today.
“Good!” she squeals, smiling at her reflection. “I need a pink bow.”
“Oh, okay…let’s see if I can find it.”
I dig through the basket of her things until I see one. Then, I clip it above the hair tie and tighten her pony.
“Beautiful.” I beam. “Like it?”
“Mm-hmm! Thanks, daddy!” She hops down from the stool, and I’m left speechless.
She’s never called me that before, but probably overheard Sam say it.
Still, it makes me smile.
After I get breakfast on the table and we eat, I give Remy his meds and check his surgery wound. It’s looking better every day.
“Mornin’,” Amelia says with a sleepy smile on her face. She tightens her robe, glancing around the living room to Sam coloring at the coffee table and Lily on my lap with her book. “You did her hair?
“Yep, it took a minute, but we figured it out. Didn’t we?” I tickle Lily’s side, and she giggles.
“Y’all ate breakfast?”
“Mhm, but I can warm up your plate.” I set Lily on the couch next to me before walking over to Amelia. “She called me the D-word,” I murmur.
She furrows her brows. “Dumb?”
I snicker. “Daddy.”
Her eyes widen as she peers around me at Lily. “Really? Wow.”
“Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised too. Is it okay if I kiss you now? I mean, they’ll probably be okay with it…” I tease.
Smirking, she pulls me in by my T-shirt and smashes her mouth over mine. I wait for any kind of reaction from the kids, but none comes.
Looking around, they’re completely oblivious and sucked into their own worlds.
“I think we’re in the clear.” I wink.
“I was hopin’ to invite Samuel over for dinner so he can meet the kids and we can meet Troy,” she says, following me into the kitchen.
“I’d love that. We’re gonna need to find a way to tell my family.”
“You don’t think they’ll be happy we’re a couple?”
“Oh, no…of course they will be. I meant the whole brother comin’ back from the dead situation.”
“And our mother tryin’ to steal my trust fund,” she adds, sitting at the breakfast bar while I heat up her pancakes and sausage. “Yeah, that’ll be a fun conversation.”
“We don’t have to tell anyone anythin’ you don’t want ’em to know. Posey and Bellamy are nosy, but I can tell ’em to mind their business.”
“No, it’s fine. If we’re gonna stay here and be together, they deserve to know ’bout me. Especially if it brings potential drama here.”
“They’re gonna be excited y’all are stayin’, especially Bodie. He loves hangin’ out with the kids, too.”
“I texted Raven to try and get details of their night together, but she’s been tight-lipped. Considerin’ I haven’t told her much either, I guess I can’t blame her.”
“Well…now she’ll have an excuse to come visit.” I grin, setting the plate of food in front of her. “I’m sure Bodie won’t mind sharin’ his bed again.”
She snorts. “It’ll be a hardship.”
Once I’ve cleaned up the kitchen, I text with Wilder and Maddox to see when they can video chat this afternoon. I’d rather not have to explain the story twice, but they both need to know the stalker threat is gone.
“Gonna chat with ’em in my office. Do y’all need anythin’?”
“Can you ask Wilder not to tell Delilah ’bout us? I wanna tell her and Raven myself.”
“You’re askin’ Wilder to keep a secret from his wife? Good luck,” I quip.
“Hey, man. How’s it goin’?” Wilder answers.
“Good, I’m gonna add Maddox quickly, then I can update y’all.”
Maddox picks up, looking exhausted, or maybe it’s annoyance.
“Hey.” He nods.
“You okay?”
“Mhm.”
I stifle a laugh at his obvious lie. I’m guessing his shitty mood has to do with Sienna, but he’ll talk about it when he’s ready.
“Well anyway, we found the stalker, and you’re never gonna believe who it was.”
I explain the situation from the very beginning and everything Samuel told us. From their childhood, to their mom faking his death, and to her wanting Amelia’s trust fund.
“Fuck off, you’re lyin’,” Wilder spits out.
“I swear.”
“So, we need to deal with their mother now?” Maddox asks.
“Yep, and that’s where you come in.”
“I’ll see if my dad can dig up some dirt on her for extra leverage.”
“That’s what I was thinkin’. She might be able to talk her way out of plottin’ and payin’ off people to keep her secret ’bout Samuel and accuse him of actin’ alone, but if she had no problem doin’ that in the first place, there’s gotta be other things she’s done that can’t be so easily explained if they got out. ”
“I’m on it.” Maddox nods. “And if nothin’ shows up, I can handle her myself privately. Guaranteed she won’t bother Amelia after that.”
“Not sure you should be tellin’ me that.”
Wilder bursts out laughing. “I say we let him do that regardless of what he finds.”
“No.” I scowl. “But I’m thinkin’ Maddox should go with her when she goes to their house or be close by in the event she needs him to step in. She doesn’t want her mom knowin’ ’bout me so she can’t use me as bait to blackmail her.”
“Wait, does that mean you two are finally admittin’ y’all together?” Wilder perks up.
I sigh, nodding. “Yes, we are.”
He laughs. “Y’all weren’t foolin’ us. We all knew it.”
“Amelia wants to tell Delilah herself, so don’t say a word.”
Wilder glances to the side, grinning. Delilah’s probably listening.
“Sure, my lips are sealed.”
“Mhm. Anyway, we gotta come up with a strategy so she can face her mom and make sure she gets her trust fund without fear of retaliation.”
“I’ll look into her finances and see what I can find,” Maddox says. “People like her tend to have plenty of skeletons in their closet, and luckily, I know how to find ’em. But if nothin’ shows up, I’ll dig into her call records and tap into her phone.”
I don’t even want to know how he gets access to that stuff. The less he tells me, the easier it is for me to plead the fifth on the court stand.
“Just promise me you won’t confront her mom until we have a plan.”
“I won’t. But I need you to text me her full name and address.”
“Sure, I’ll get it from Amelia and send it.”
“So…is she movin’ there now?” Wilder asks. “Or are y’all gonna do long distance?”
“Yeah, I think so. We haven’t discussed specifics yet, but I’m hopin’ to build a couple extra bedrooms so the kids have their own.”
Posey’s husband owns a home construction company, so he’ll be able to help me do it.
“Wow, I’m happy for you guys. We’re gonna miss ’em here, though.”
“I’ll make sure we come visit.”
“Can’t wait to meet the woman who finally tamed you,” Maddox taunts, fussing with his curly hair. It’s longer than the last time I saw him and reaches his shoulders now. His beard’s thicker, too. He somehow looks like an uncivilized lumberjack and a beefed-up linebacker at the same time.
No wonder he terrifies people and gets whatever he wants from them.
“Me? Look who’s talkin’. Or should I say, ain’t talkin’ since Sienna returned with a fiancé. What’s goin’ on there?”
“Actually, I gotta run. Text me her mom’s info, and I’ll update you in a couple days.”
He ends the call before either of us can respond.
Wilder chuckles. “Good job.”
I shrug. “Had to give it a shot.”
“Speakin’ of, when’s your weddin’?” He flashes a shit-eating grin.
“Look at the time. I gotta run, too.”
“Oh c’mon!”
“Don’t forget to give Sheriff Wagner the update, or at least, the condensed version that the stalker’s been identified.”
“I will, although it was fun tryin’ to figure it out. Kinda disappointed I didn’t get to shoot anyone.”
I huff a laugh. “Maybe don’t say that to Amelia.”
“Eh, she’s used to it.”
“Give my love to Delilah and the twins. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Once we end the call, I find Amelia asleep on the couch with Lily snuggled up to her. Grabbing one of the blankets, I cover them up, then check on Sam in his room.
“I’m gonna take Remy for a walk. Wanna come?”
“Yeah!”
I grab the leash while Sam gets his shoes on.
“Are you excited to meet your uncle?”
Amelia told him after she had her pancakes and gave him the simplest version she could without confusing him. He loves that he’s named after him, too.
“Yeah, he sounds cool.”
“So, you remember how your mom said there’s no more threat and y’all don’t have to hideout anymore?”
“Mhm. Does that mean we’re goin’ home?”
“Well, that’s what I was hopin’ to talk to you ’bout.” Remy leads us down the driveway, sniffing and stopping every few feet. “What would you think ’bout stayin’ in Willow Branch Mountain?”
“Like move here?”
“Right, but you’d live with me. And Remy.”
“Why would we live with you? We have our own house in Sugarland Creek.”
I slow down until Remy stops and kneel to Sam’s eye level. “Your mommy and I wanna be together, so that’s why y’all would move in with me. Would you be okay with that?”
His tongue pokes the inside of his cheek as he ponders this.
“What ’bout all of our stuff?”
“We’d move it here. I’d build some extra rooms, so you’d get your own once it’s finished.”
That has his eyes lighting up. “Really? With my own bed?”
“Absolutely, buddy! And you can put whatever you want in your room.”
He swarms me in a hug, and I nearly topple over, but manage to catch myself before we both go down. Laughing, I return the gesture.
“And you’ll still cook for us?”
I smirk, thinking back to when Amelia told me I’d need to wean them off from my cooking or they’d get too used to my fancy ass food.
“Of course! I love cookin’ for you.”
He beams. “Okay, cool.”
“So, you don’t mind if I date your mom?” I confirm, not quite sure if he knows what it means.
His shoulder lifts. “You sleep in the same bed, so I thought y’all were already.”
Amelia paces in the kitchen while I make dinner. She’s showered, dressed, and looks breathtaking as usual.
“Darlin’, you’re makin’ me nervous. Sit down.”
“What if…” She chews her lip. “What if Troy doesn’t like me?”
I scoff. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“I dunno, but I really want all of us to get along. It’s not every day your brother comes back from the dead, so I need his husband to like me or he might not wanna stay in contact.”
“That’s highly unlikely, baby.” I cup her face, stealing a kiss. “Samuel didn’t stalk you just to not be in your life again.”
She nods, taking a deep breath. “I haven’t had a family in so long, I’m scared to screw up and lose it.”
“Not gonna. And my family is yours now, too. Plus, the Hollises. You’re surrounded by us.”
She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging tightly. “You’re right.”
“I-I’m sorry. Did you just admit I was right ’bout somethin’?”
“Oh God.” She smacks her forehead on my chest. “I take it back.”
Chuckling, I pull her mouth back to mine. “I love you.”
“You’re sure you wanna be involved with someone who’s an emotional mess?”
“I’ve never been more sure ’bout anythin’ in my life, darlin’. I want every part of you—the good, bad, and ugly. Give it all to me.”
“I have a confession.”
“What’s that, love?”
“When we first arrived and you opened the door in only a towel, I remembered every moment we shared the night we hooked up. Every touch, kiss, and feeling. I was so overwhelmed when I saw your face again, I didn’t wanna admit how much I’d thought ’bout you over the past year or how badly I still wanted you. I could never forget you.”
“Fuck, baby.” I crash my mouth to hers and slip my piercing between her lips. “I would’ve waited as long as it took for you to come back to me. It was worth every sleepless night wishin’ you were in my bed next to me.”