Page 67 of Claim Me

“Everyone fails,” Hunter says, refusing to kiss my ass. “These kids have parents who are failing. You’re offering them a safe place. Maybe you don’t need to do that full-time. Take them for holidays, school breaks, and weekends. If you can’t be their second mom, be their fun aunt.”

Natasha nods. “And after the baby is born and you have a good routine, you might decide you can keep the kids full time. But even if you can’t, those kids will be lucky to spend time with you.”

“I hadn’t considered keeping them part-time beyond the weekend outings,” I mumble as I warm up to the idea. “I felt pressure to go all in.”

“From Caveman?”

“No, it’s Indigo,” I admit as my heart hurts. “He was rejected by the family who adopted his brother. I didn’t want my hesitancy about Vanilla and Chef to trigger bad memories.”

“Indigo doesn’t need you to baby him,” Hunter insists. “He needs you to be honest. I don’t think he understands how things work in a normal family. He also assumes a lot about people. You need to spell things out so he feels in control of this situation.”

“I don’t know if that’s enough.”

“Indigo grew up in chaos. Now, the best thing you can do for him is to explain exactly what you want.”

Sighing, I glance at my mom laughing at something Suzanne says nearby. “My parents are good at making the world seem simple while I tend to amp things up with my drama. I don’t know if I have the right personality to handle loving so many people.”

“No, don’t do that,” Natasha says.

Hunter nods. “You’re feeling insecure. The answer isn’t to drag yourself over flaws you don’t even possess. You're very calm andloving. You talk to the twins about their problems. You’re very organized. Right now, you may feel overwhelmed. It’s normal to be scared of taking on more responsibility.”

I take a deep breath and smile at my friends. “I’m glad life is settling down. I know that sounds weird since we’re creating babies and increasing the noise level in Banta City. But it’s good to have us all together again.”

Natasha tears up as the weight of the last few years hits her. She cradles her belly, seeming fragile yet joyful. Her expression brightens when we receive our updates from the babysitters outside. I smile at the sight of the twins standing with Vanilla and Chef. All four have their faces painted like animals.

A few minutes later, I receive a video. Vanilla stands protectively next to the three girls as they consider entering a bounce house. Kiera is the first one to decide to give it a try. She calls for Deirdre to join her. Soon, they’re calling for Vanilla and Chef. My heart hurts at the sight of them holding hands and bouncing.

I’m afraid to let down those four children or the baby growing inside me. Somewhere in this house is the man I love. Our relationship is still so new. I occasionally get startled in the morning when I find him next to me.

My life has changed a lot in a short time. However, as I watch the four kids stick together, I choose to be the best version of myself and make room in my heart to love Vanilla and Chef.

INDIGO

The holiday season is the best time of my life. Two weeks after Natasha’s baby shower, I help Siobhan decorate the house for the kids. The inflatable snowman lasts a week before Grumpy feels under attack by the massive smiling object. Sleepy quickly joins in the massacre while the kids stare in horror. Eventually, the dogs get tangled up in the material, and I’m forced to save them.

As Deirdre tears up over the lost snowman, Siobhan calmly explains to the children, “Dogs are stupid. You can’t judge them like you would a person. Like, if Uncle Zoot attacked the snowman, we’d need to kick his ass. But the dogs require our patience.”

The kids turn to the triumphant dogs now sitting on top of their vanquished foe. We all wait for Grumpy to go homicidal on the Santa inflatable, but he seems cool with Saint Nick. Meanwhile, Bubbles watches us from the window, wearing the “I told you so” look he gets whenever the dogs become rowdy.

The rest of the holiday season is relaxing. Vanilla and Chef visit their mom and dad before leaving the hills and spending winter break with us. Having a house filled with kids reminds me of when I lived on the farm as a boy.

A week before winter break, Bear and Natasha welcome their daughter Olívie. The baby’s bigger than any I’ve ever seen. Her head fits her size, and she’s really pretty. When I see her in Bear’s arms, I realize I was dumb to think people wouldn’t love Olívie like they do Jacinda and Hector. I’m now far less afraid of my baby falling short compared to the twins.

Christmas is just like I always dreamed. Siobhan and I wake up with the kids and open presents. After breakfast, we pack into the SUV and drive out to the farm. The twins hang out with Sync while the dogs run around the woods. Vanilla and Chef keep close to Siobhan and me. They’re still nervous about new situations, but they get charmed by Aunt Fred and Elvis just like all kids do.

As the new year arrives, Banta City prepares for the trial of Hunter’s stalker, Matt Parker. The rich nerd has done everything he can to push back the start date. I think he hopes the club and our allies will want the situation dealt with quietly if he drags out the publicity for long enough.

Matt Parker might know a lot about technology, but he doesn’t understand people. There is no way Suzanne Knutsen will allow him to get a sweetheart deal. A lot of powerful people want the man to suffer, and he’s only prolonging the inevitable.

Of course, the trial will put a huge spotlight on the club. I’m expected to testify. I don’t look forward to being on display, but good people died that day.

As the trial approaches, Tack and Hunter are basically in hiding. The stress seems to grow every day. Siobhan often expresses how worried she is over Hunter’s pregnancy.

“She isn’t gaining enough weight. I worry the stress will make her sick. I wish that fucking nerd would die, so Hunter can be free.”

My woman gets her wish when one of Parker’s still-living hired guns decides to take out the guy who brought heat down on him. The sniper’s shot blows off the asshole’s face as he walks into court. I must have watched the unedited video online a dozen times. The fucker looked so smug before his face exploded.

A few days after Parker dies, the club celebrates at Above Snakes Bar & Grill. The Hills Chapter shows up. The place is stuffed with bikers and wild girls taking advantage of our good mood.

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