Page 427 of Bride of Choice

“I won’t stay long,” she mumbled, forcing a smile that wasn’t quite reaching her eyes. “I just- I wanted you to have this. I made it- I mean, I mostly made it- I had help but I-”

Taking the gift from her, I opened it as she babbled. Unearthing a thick, luxurious looking baby blanket made out of the softest woven material, I knew what it was made of the second my fingers smoothed over it. “Oh, it’s beautiful! This is kep-kep fur! It must have taken you ages! Thanks heaps, Squeaks!” Grabbing Dace up, I spun us a little as I hugged her to me, the blanket smashed in between us.

Spying Berkr still glaring, I lifted my free hand and pointed from my eyeballs to him, letting him know I was watching his ass.

Berkr quickly looked away. It was more than hate with that wad of fur. Buu and Rek had called it. Pepé was jumping rope with that fine line— borderline obsessed.

Rosa said the whole thing had Joanie and Rek in the early years vibes. She probably wasn’t wrong. Poor Dace thought he hated her. The woman had no clue.

Speaking of my cousin, I released Dace and lifted a hand to wave as to my location as Mal and Rosa began loudly calling out for me and their caravan of trailing minis cried out for their Auntie Jojo.

“Right here, babes!” My mates all looked to me at once for that one. I grinned saucily and tossed them a wink.

Odix made a loud rumbling noise and moved in closer. Besides Buu, who was already right next to me, my Griz of a Yeti was the first to reach me, sidling up behind me. “S’pports want make baby showers, but we make happen,” Odix huffed and puffed.

“Make goot. Better,” Buu consoled him.

Odix’s annoyed grumblings quieted as I hugged him, thanked him most thoroughly, and then patted his chest until he was just a big ol’ pile of purrs.

“My goodness- Let me through!” Rosa bellowed from behind my mates as they gathered around me in a loose circle.

Mal laughed and then agreed, Doro joining in on the fun.

“She’s mine, too!” Rosa joked, coming in hot for a hug.

“Me, too!” Kehko agreed, followed by her brothers quickly parroting the sentiment.

Before I knew it I had Kehko hugging and talking to my belly and two minions at my sides, attached at the hip.

“She’s mine.” Kehko looked straight at Rek as she said it. The little stinker was a shit starter after my own heart.

Celuk laughed, clapped Rek on the back and said something to him in Lo denaii that had Kehko grinning victoriously and Rek grumbling something that to me said, Fine, whatever.

Gopher and Odix grinned at the byplay.

“Boog knowed Jo first,” Booger teased.

“Rek knowed first, ‘fore Boogers,” Rek grumblingly countered.

Kehko made a face at them but held tight to me.

“Technically…” Rosa started to chime in with a laugh.

“Don’t you give my godbaby niece a freakin’ complex,” I warned the lot.

“Mommy wins!” Kehko announced, then moved to stand with Rosa and make room for Mal and her lot to move in.

“Happy showering of your baby!” Mal joked, repeating Khri’s attempt at saying baby shower.

“Khri says it right,” Khri argued with Boog, pointing at their mate as they each held one of their girls in their arms. Binc was starting to pass up Kitty, making her seem older than her smaller sibling. They were both growing so damn fast I could barely stand it. Soon they’d be wreaking havoc like Gopher’s sisters.

“Make the ways! Makes the ways!” Gopher’s BapaFuz called out. “Make turns!” BapaLuz agreed, with BapaJo and BapaGo grumbling their approval.

“Take turns,” Papa corrected.

Mamma laughed while the Bapas countered as one, “Same things!”

“Presents!” someone shouted over the din.

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