Page 86 of Claim Me

“No, but I’m trying not to startle Indigo.”

Caveman frowns and looks in the direction of the bedroom. “I’ll go talk to him and be back to make sure Vanilla is happy with your clingy shit.”

As my uncle walks away, I ease into a chair and sigh. “He’s so nosy. We’re doing fine, right?”

Glen nods wildly. “I want to stay with you.”

“We’re putting a bed on the floor in the room. You’ll need to listen to me snore.”

His panicked expression flips into a grin. “I don’t care. I snore, too.”

Stroking his cheek, I imagine Indigo being this small and confused about his place in the world. Getting emotional again, I hug Glen against me.

“I’m just so crazy about you,” I explain as I smother him with my affection. “You’re my boyo.”

As Glen laughs at my clinginess, Nora hurries over to get a hug. I’m surrounded by blond beauties when the twins enter the house.

“They’re scared of Indigo’s face,” Sync announces rather than sugarcoat his words. When I frown at him from where Kiera joins our hug huddle, my ex shrugs. “Is Indigo awake?”

“He’s talking to Caveman.”

Sync kneels next to a teary-eyed Deirdre. “Want to put a Band-Aid on Indigo’s face?”

Once Deirdre looks at me for the right answer, I say, “Remember when Pork Chop got stung on the face by the bee? His face went back to normal.”

“No, he’s actually hotter now,” Carys announces, winning an eye roll from Sync who shows Deirdre a box of Band-Aids.

“Let’s go fix his face.”

“Caveman might be having a private conversation,” I say, wiggling free of the cuddle huddle.

“Then, he should have locked the door,” Sync replies as he takes Deirdre’s hand. “It’s getting late and the girls need to settle down.”

I follow after Sync and Deirdre with the other three kids close behind me. Caveman sits next to Indigo, speaking to him in nearly a whisper.

“Indigo needs Band-Aids,” Sync explains to Caveman before lifting Deirdre onto the mattress. My baby starts breathing too fast when she sees Indigo’s swollen eye. “It’s okay, baby. He’s going to be fine. Right, Indigo?”

Offering her a smile, Indigo nods. She crawls closer and touches his face.

“He hit you.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“No one should hit you.”

“I agree.”

Deirdre takes the Band-Aid handed to her by Sync and carefully presses it to Indigo’s eyebrow. She starts breathing fast again until Indigo hugs her. Cuddled up against his chest, she smiles at me and then Kiera. Her sister wants love, too, and joins them on the mattress. Caveman catches the hint and gets up. Unfortunately, he turns to me, clearly ready to meddle.

“I was telling your boy how he ought to marry you before the baby comes.”

“No way. My due date is in less than a month.”

“Just do it here on the farm. Tomorrow, maybe.”

“Is your brain filled with mashed potatoes?” I demand. “Look at him,” I say and gesture at Indigo and then point at my stomach. “And look at me.”

“Don’t be shallow, Siobhan. Marriage isn’t about looking your best.”

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