Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
CHELSEA
“Spash, spash!” Dom yells out, splashing water from the tub where he’s got more water outside than in.
I laugh at him. “Easy, baby! We need the water to stay inside the tub!” I gently wipe the remaining soap bubbles from his body and go to lift him out. “Come on, time to dry off. Daddy will be here soon.”
It stops my heart each time I get to call Adam Daddy. Each time I get to say it and mean it, knowing it’s okay to speak it out. To allow it to be real. There’s no hiding anymore, no secrets.
And what a daddy he is. I’ve seen the change in the short time he’s gotten to know Dominic, and me, again.
It’s like we needed to break down that barrier of us before we could move into the role of us three.
I’m actually surprised it happened with such ease.
I thought Adam would have been more out of control, not being able to work through our situation.
I step back, letting Dom crawl over the side of the tub and grab a towel to wrap around him. Gently rubbing his blonde little curls dry, I know the moment Adam enters the house. I can feel his energy. Then I see Dom’s eyes focus on something over my shoulder and light up.
“Daddeeeee!” he yells, and electricity zips through my body.
Dom wiggles from my grip and in three short little steps he’s thrown himself into Adam’s arms. Adam is already bent down and gets knocked back into the wall by Dom’s excitement.
He slides down the wall, letting his legs come out in front of him and they’re both laughing.
I’m smiling and tears pool in my eyes. I hope I never get over the happiness I feel at seeing both my boys together.
“That will never get old,” I say quietly, my grin matching Adam’s.
He shuts his eyes and just holds him for a moment.
When he opens them, I see they’re glistening.
Dom pulls back from him, already onto the next idea in his head, which is to run from the bathroom naked and screaming his little baby laugh.
We laugh as we watch him run down the hallway, shrieking, into his room. I put out my hand to Adam to help him stand only to have him yank me in close to him and wrap his arms around me.
“Thank you,” he says as he kisses the top of my head.
“For what?”
“For giving me that. For making me a daddy.” He nods his head towards Dom’s room. “I never knew that word would end up being my favorite.”
“I can call you daddy if it makes you that happy,” I raise a brow with a tight little smirk.
He reaches down, grabs my ass then directs me down the hall and spanks me, hard. “Not now, woman, we’ve got places to be.” He whispers, “But I look forward to hearing it later.” His voice sends shivers through my body.
Smiling, I skip down the hall, the sting of his hand lighting me up. “Come on, Dom, baby, let’s get dressed. Grandma is waiting for you.”
We both enter Dom’s room seeing clothes strewn around. It seems he’s decided to try to dress himself. I laugh, pulling out one of his pullups and a pair of different shorts. “So, what’s your mom got planned for him today?”
Adam grabs the diaper bag from the back of the door and begins refilling some supplies. “You know mom, probably the park and McDonald’s.”
This is so domestic. Adam packing the bag, me getting our son dressed. It’s comfortable.
It’s what home looked like, too, for me as a child before Dad threw it all away.
Don’t go there, Chelsea. Adam isn’t like him.
“And what do we have planned for today?” I’m surprised Adam isn’t working today.
It’s the one day he gives his crew off, but it doesn’t mean he ever takes a day off.
Today, though, he’s up to something. The fact that he showed up right when he said he would be here is not lost on me, so whatever his plan is, it’s important.
We’re important.
I’m important.
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” He mimics locking his lips.
“Oh? You mean you didn’t plan today?”
“Well, kind of. I planned the after-party,” and he winks.
I shake my head and smile. This teasing, fun-loving Adam is my favorite.
We get our things together, jump in the truck, and head to Adam’s parents’ house. Dominic is quickly learning and feeling comfortable in his surroundings because he goes tearing into the house yelling “Gamma!” leaving Adam and I to bring in his stuff.
After lots of baby smothering kisses, me to Dom, and a fist bump with a kiss from Adam, Adam and I are back in his truck and heading out of town.
He’s calm, cool, and relaxed, and I am sitting beside him buzzing with nervous energy.
I don’t know why I’m so worked up today.
I’ve had some time to get used to us again, but this time around it feels different.
As it should. We’re different people now, the time we’ve spent away from each other changing our views on what it is we want and need to grow together.
We haven’t had that conversation yet, the one that puts a label on us, it’s comfortable just going through the day to day right now. Though I was told we were ‘doing the damn thing’. I laugh as I remember the words and the hip thrust that accompanied it when Adam gave me that order.
Take Charge Adam is back in full effect. But this time, I use that name as a positive description, as the protector role he was born into, and not as an authoritarian role where he tries to reign over those around him.
A short while later we are pulling into a mall. I look around, confused as to why we are here. We park around back, and he holds my hand as we walk through a small alleyway that leads to a back door.
“This seems sketchy. Is this where you leave me to be kidnapped?”
“Stop being crazy and come on.”
We open the door and I hear laughter, then Francesca’s voice echoes as she yells at Britt for being dirty. Those two are such trouble.
“Take that off!”
“That’s what she said.”
“Billy, that is not meant for your head. Can’t you guys just behave?” I hear Francesca yelling at Billy now. She sounds a little uptight which is not the norm for her.
“Look! Mom and Dad are here. Let’s get this show on the road.” Adam squeezes my hand and gives me a wink at Billy’s words.
I walk into a full-on bridal extravaganza. “Francesca!” I exclaim “What are we doing here? The boys can’t see you like this!”
She laughs and says, “Oh we’re not here for me. We’re here for you.” My face must reflect the drop of my heart to my stomach. Adam chuckles and leans closer to me saying, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of jumping the line. Not yet anyway.”
I look back to see Farrah and Britt hanging around. Billy, Tom, and Bobby are standing with Jackson.
Francesca explains, “We’re here to pick out bridesmaid dresses. If you would all do me the honor of being in my wedding party.”
All the girls start jumping around excitedly, everyone saying they can’t wait. Francesca is happy and Britt starts to chase the boys out of the bridal shop.
“Don’t worry, we’re not staying for the show. We’re going next-door. There’s a sports bar that we’ll hang out in while you shop for dresses.”
My eyes well with tears as I realize we’re all standing around together, picking out dresses for Francesca’s wedding, and I am beyond overwhelmed, knowing that she wants me to be a part of the biggest day of her life.
That this family has still taken hold of me and are not letting me go. They’re not letting Dominic go.
“Come on, don’t get all mushy on me now,” she whispers to me.
I turn and hug her, it’s all I can do. My emotions clog my throat and I can’t get words out. She smiles at me. “He’s different, I see it, I have my brother back.”
“But I—”
“No, you’re here. That’s all I wanted. Now, tell me you’re not planning on leaving again.”
I shake my head ‘no’ emphatically.
“I believe you, Chelsea. I also believe whatever led you to leave last time, that you believe it was the only choice you felt you had. I understand being backed into a corner and I understand making rash decisions without thinking. When you step back though, and take a look around, you’ll finally see you weren’t running from him, you were running from a bad idea, a bad experience.
When that fog clears, you’re going to see you two being together is what’s meant to be.
I mean, look what you made?” Her eyes tear up.
“You made a perfect little human. How can you ever say that wasn’t meant to be? ”
I nod and hug her tight to me again. “Thank you for forgiving me when I still can’t forgive myself.”
She squeezes me tight once more. “Nothing to forgive.” She steps away, grabbing a tissue and handing it to me.
“Now start picking out dresses! Tell me what you like. We need to pick colors and sizes and designs. We’re getting this show on the road.
I’m not wasting any more time now that we’ve picked a date. ”
Like a record scratch, everyone stops what they’re doing and looks to her.
“What do you mean you’ve picked a date? Do you even have a dress? This is all coming way too fast, Francesca. Why am I being kept in the dark?” Britt is trying to be stern, but her excitement bubbles over.
Francesca says, “Don’t hate me, but Mom and I already went wedding dress shopping. It’s here and I’m ready to try it on for you all once you’ve all decided on colors and dresses. Not a minute before that!”
“Are you pregnant? Is that why you’ve got us rushing around this place like it’s on fire?” Farrah eyes her.
“Farrah! That’s a question I’d expect from Britt!” We all laugh, but I notice she doesn’t answer.
The bridal attendant comes out with a tray of champagne, and we all take a glass and cheers. I see Francesca down hers, so I guess she isn’t pregnant after all.
* * *
Three hours later, we stumble through the door of the sports bar where the guys are waiting for us.
We’re all a little tipsy, except Chess. Her excitement overwhelms her, and she’s been running on that high.
We spot the boys at a table near the front window and head in their direction.
The minute Adam sees me, he’s up and out of his chair making his way towards me.
I giggle to myself, eyeing him as he walks, watching those long legs eat up the distance between us quickly. I want to lick every inch of him.
“Peaches, if you keep talking like that, I’m going to take you out back and fuck you in my truck.”
I gasp as he pulls me close, tucking my head into his neck as he runs his hands down my back, to my ass, getting a good grip on me.
I giggle again and push at his chest, trying to get him to relinquish his hold. “Did I say that out loud?”
He slides his hands inside my jeans now, enticing me, pulling me in closer by the string of my thong, forcing me against his chest.
“Stop! You’re going to break another one and someone is going to see us!”
“Let them look. And don’t pretend. I know you love it when I touch you there. Your goosebumps don’t lie.”
A purr falls from my lips and I shamelessly press my breasts tighter against him. He pulls back eyeing me. “How much did you guys drink over there?” A seductive lift to his lips distracts me.
I shrug. “Enough to not care if anyone saw you fucking me in your truck.” His eyes darken and I feel him swell against my stomach.
“You’re playing with fire, Peaches,” he grunts, his hot breath on my ear.
“Nothing says I love you like a good ass grab.” Billy guffaws at his own joke.
“Seriously. Jesus, you two, get a room,” Tom says.
“Right? I’ve never seen them like this. Maybe I need to get myself a baby momma,” Billy says.
I feel Adam try to pull from me, but I hold him tight to me. “He’s just teasing you, let him have his fun.”
“I do the teasing around here.” He gives me one more squeeze, then takes my hand and we join the others at the table.
“So, did you get the dresses?” Jackson asks, Chess sitting on his lap. The waitress drops a bunch of beers and shots at our table, and we all pick up a glass.
Francesca stands with her glass in the air. “We did! So now there’s only one thing left to do!” Jackson stands with her, his arms wrapping around her. “Clear your calendars for three weeks from today, peeps, we’re getting married!”
Elated screams and cries fill the bar. Chaos, too, as everyone starts talking at once, wondering how we’re going to pull this off, asking about the venue and of course the most important part, the bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Adam looks stunned. I know that he knew this was coming. After all, he did know we were going dress shopping. But hearing there is a date, and so soon, I’m sure it is shaking him up a little.
“Adam? Are you ok?” I ask quietly, amid all the noise.
He takes a pull from his beer, then chases that with a shot. My eyes crinkle at the sides as I try not to laugh at his discomfort.
“You knew this was going to happen.”
“I didn’t think it would happen so fast, though.”
“Why are you really upset, Adam? I know you’re happy for them, I’m sure it was a hard adjustment, especially since they kept it a secret, but seeing them I know you must see how good they are together, how good they are for each other.”
I watch him as he watches our family laugh together, with Billy acting like a fool, as usual. Tom goes to the old-fashioned jukebox, adds some money and plays Kool and the Gang’s Celebrate. Jackson grabs Chess and swings her around the dance floor. I tangle my fingers with his.
“She doesn’t need me anymore.”
This is a big thing for him, and I don’t blame him one bit for being hung up on it. He’s always been the go-to guy for all of us. So, watching his best friend take his place now, with his baby sister, well, it’s a tough hill to climb.
“You have new people who need you.” He turns his head and I lean in to give him a quick kiss. “We need you and we want you.” I shrug. “Seems like a fair trade off.”
He smiles softly, his eyes on me, roaming my face for truth. “I think I got the better end of the deal.”
I chuckle and lean into his side.
“So, three weeks? Anyone taking bets on the due date?”
“Billy!” Adam roars. Damn, just when I had him calmed down.