Epilogue #2
As we stand here experiencing this traumatizing event, I realize I needed a sibling more than I thought. That my life would have been a little brighter if I had her by my side from the beginning. I hug her, and she gasps before looking up at me, a little stunned.
“What was that for?”
I shrug, letting go of her. “Thanks for completing this childhood moment with me. I don’t feel so alone experiencing it with my sister.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I look away when I feel the prick of my own.
“Now, now. No crying. Colt will know and he might kick my ass.”
She snorts. “Our first sibling secret.”
I grin, nudging her shoulder and sighing. “You hungry? I always promise Brielle some barbecue on our way back, and I ain’t going back in there until I can wash my eyes out with some holy water.”
Kinsey nods, patting her bulging belly. “We could eat.”
I lift the pot just as Easton rounds the corner, laughing as he cradles a doll to his chest.
“Hey! No running in the kitchen,” I scowl, and then I glance toward the hallway, wincing just as Eliza’s cry echoes throughout the house. “Easton! Give your sister back her doll!”
I turn back to the sink, finally dumping the noodles while listening to my toddlers’ fight pick up. Shaking my head, I reach over and turn the sauce to simmer and storm to their playroom.
When I reach it, Easton is on the ground, his arms covering his head as my daughter swings her little fists at him. My lips twitch in amusement before I pick her up and cradle her to my chest.
“Hey, hey. No hitting.”
Her lip trembles, and she looks up at me with those blue eyes that remind me of her mother. “No, Easton.”
I look down at my son, who is smiling up at me, and I scowl. “It’s not funny to take something that isn’t yours.”
His eyes narrow, and he pouts. “Mommy says, ‘Share.’”
Well, fuck. He’s got me there.
"I said, ‘No! No share!’” Eliza screams, and I look between them, scratching the back of my head.
Her heavenly scent hits me before I see her, and Brielle comes walking into the room.
Her blonde hair is slung into a messy bun on top of her head, and her eyes are still blinking away the sleepiness, but my favorite part is the way her shirt catches on her growing bump.
We hadn’t planned on another baby, not with Cooper doing one more rodeo circuit. Going out in style, he says.
My wife frowns, taking in our kids. “What’s going on?”
Easton sits up, running to his mom and hugging her leg while immediately turning on his tears. It’s impressive how quickly that boy can turn on a performance. It’s never-ending entertainment with him.
“Daddy yelled.”
My heart clenches, then soars when Eliza sets her head on my shoulder. My hand rubs up her back, and Brielle looks up at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Dinner is ready if you’re hungry, Princess.” It's all I say because we both know that our twins are mischievous when they want to be, but they’re still good kids. We’d rather they act up at home, this is their safe space.
Brielle squats as comfortably as she can, cupping our son’s face. “Did Daddy yell because you did something you weren’t supposed to?”
His face scrunches, and then he pouts, not saying anything because the last time he tried to lie, Duke made him help clean out the horse stalls. None of us like the smell.
“How about we all go eat and forget all about this?” I say, setting Eliza back on her feet. She immediately grabs her brother, and they take off to the kitchen.
I help Brielle to stand as she shakes her head.
“I swear those two are going to give me gray hair. One minute they’re enemies, and the next we’re the problem,” she says, and I can hear the annoyance in her tone.
This pregnancy has been hard on her, with never ending morning sickness and toddlers whose energy never drains.
The past few days with Cooper and Duke gone on the road, it’s been a lot on both of us.
We usually are a team of four, and we're missing half our teammates.
I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her and cupping her ass. Her bump rests against my stomach. “I love it, I love them, I love you.”
She groans, hugging me. “Ugh. I hate when you calm me with just your words.”
Chuckling, I kiss her head and then tap her ass as I let go. “I wouldn’t change our life in any way, it’s perfect.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I raise my eyebrows. “Brielle?”
She wipes at her waterline. “Sorry. You’re right. I never thought about being a mom much, and I love those little gremlins. They frustrate me, but I can’t imagine a life without them anymore. I can’t fathom a life without you, Duke or Cooper either.”
I kiss her, and then we both wince as a loud crash sounds off in the next room. “Come on, let’s go wrangle our rugrats, and you dream up where we should go for the babymoon.”
With the mention of a vacation, she brightens and bounces out the door. The smile on my lips widens. I never thought I had it in me to be a father, but I love my life and the omega with a wild spirit at my side.