Page 63 of Southpaw Slots

“I’m pregnant.”

Lifting her off me by her shoulders, I gasp, “What?”

“Yeah…I just took the test, and it was positive! Want me to take another one?”

Laughing, Wyatt asks, “Do youwantto take another one, vixen?”

She bites her bottom lip, and I fish it out from her mouth with my own. A groan reverberates out of my chest as she deepens our connection, and I pull Wyatt into us by the back of his head until we all kiss as one. He needs to understand he’s part of this pack, too.

The two of them hurry to the bathroom, where she takes another test. While waiting, Wyatt paces across the carpet and I stand in the hall. I just don’t want to go in there. I’m still not ready. Despite the changes that have already taken place, there’s something lingering from my past I don’t think I can give up when I look around that room.

Finally, she emerges with another white stick in her hand and tears on her cheeks. Wyatt sees it and grabs her in a hug, twirling her little body around. She runs to me like she’s waited her whole life to pass this test, and the pink lines do something to my soul. Theholes that were once there magically mend as my eyes take them in. They blur when tears form in my eyes.

Whispering the words on her cheek, I say, “I think I may have a heart attack. This is all I’ve wanted, empress. You just gave me the greatest gift ever. Our own family!”

Instead of feeling dejected, Wyatt embraces us both, his hands running through her hair and mine.

Tapping Wyatt on the shoulder, I say, “Let’s go make breakfast. And I need you to take over some things for me.”

He steps back, his brow furrowing with a question. “Like what?”

I toss my arm around his neck and give him a squeeze. “Like being the casino manager. I don’t trust Kline. And I want a new lawyer.”

Over the nextcouple of weeks, our routine changes. Arianna spends a lot of mornings running to the bathroom; despite us bringing her ginger tea, or protein, or acupressure bracelets, she still gets sick. She smiles the entire time, though, just as thrilled as us that she’s got my baby inside her.

After breakfast, Wyatt and I head to the casino, where he makes sure the new staff knows their roles. Everything is “Mr. Donovan” now and I get some respect. Except from my boys, who left and haven’tcome back since the last time we saw them. If they can’t handle my sexuality and my new family, then fuck them. I don’t need them. It’s the longest I haven’t talked with them, and I do miss them, but some things need to change before I would let them back in my life.

Like not let them use me.

Wyatt’s men have stayed on East Side, fortunately, but he’s still taking the time to do some gun running, which I don’t like. My business is bringing in enough now with the changes. I’m finally out of the red and don’t want to get shut down for having some illegal trades going on underground.

Arianna strokes my arm as we tour the new back poker rooms. It’s weird. I don’t feel the tug to sit and throw some money down anymore. That was someone different, notme, the real me. Now that I have my wife and my boyfriend with me, my mental checklist has vanished. It’s always full. Even the nightmares stopped and so did Arianna’s.

Something in her renewed something in me and that baby, our baby, just made me feel complete by simply existing. How can I love someone so much that I’ve never met? I guess it was the same as hoping for Arianna’s existence and that transcendent plane we visit that’sours.

“Missing it?” Her big brown eyes glance up at my face, then scan the green felt tops around the room.

Shaking my head, I press my lips against her hair and murmur, “Absolutely not. I was actually thinkingabout that time we played together, and you cheated. You still owe me for that.”

She giggles and playfully slaps my chest. Slipping my arm around her waist, I lead us toward the office in the back.

“I was wondering,” she says hesitatingly. I know what this means. She’s been plotting something. But I can’t say no.

“Yes?”

“If…if I were to have some decorators redesign the other wing, do you think you’d want to use it again?” She rubs her belly. “Like, for the babies? And, maybe us, too?”

Tilting my head, I push open the door leading to a long hallway. “The three of us?”

“Well, a room for us and nurseries.”

My tongue escapes and licks my lips as I consider it. Those holes that caused me to panic have been filled. “Yeah, empress. Have at it. Whatever you want.”

She spins away from my hold and bounces on her toes in front of me, planting a tiny kiss on my lips. “I love you.” The words are like warm sugar around my soul.

“And I love you.”

Wyatt tosses open the director door and steps out to meet us. “You ready to go?”

---