Page 136 of Set Me On Fire

“They had to be growly and protective, and sweet and sexy, and be really good at giving multiple orgasms.”

“Oh my goodness…” Heather said, putting her hand over her eyes.

“Whoo!” Jamie grinned like a loon as she pumped her fist. “Millie’s getting the good D.”

“So are you,” the first twin said, shooting her a sidelong look.

“Yeah, but no one cares, so shush.”

“Glad to know we’re good for something,” I told her, my jaw locking tight. Each word felt like it was dragged out of me.

“You’re good for everything.” I followed Millie’s shrug with my eyes, unable to look away. “Everything. You dealt with the surprise of finding out you’re dads by making me the nursery of my dreams, which is great, because the room I had in mind will take biohazard suits to clear out.”

“Bags not me,” Brock muttered.

“Nor me,” the quiet twin added.

“All of the crap I don’t want to deal with is shoved in there, layer upon layer. If I die famous because I become a world-famous supermodel or something, they’ll excavate it,” Millie continued. “Recording each section, pondering why someone would store all this useless shit in a room rather than do something with it.”

This wasn’t about the spare room, even I could work that out, but I stayed silent, waiting for this all to come out. Honestly, I was just glad Millie was talking, not running away.

“Because I’m messy, that’s why. I go to a party dressed to the nines to try and make the guy I was crushing on at school swallow his tongue.”

“That damn near happened,” Noah said.

“Then while I’m there, I tell him to be my wingman to help me get with the guy that rescued me, or his other friend with the cute smile.”

“You like my smile?” Charlie grinned down at her.

“With those dimples? Who wouldn’t.” Millie waved her hand negligently. “Certainly not me, because when solving the age old question of which guy to choose, I decided not to. I put the ho in ho, ho, ho and Merry Christmas to me, I went to bed with three hot firefighters who apparently have super sperm.”

“Our boys are good swimmers.” Charlie held out a fist for Noah and I to bump. Noah obliged him, but I couldn’t be distracted.

“And woke up pregnant.” When her hands slid down, mine moved without thought, covering hers. I needed to get close to her, to touch her, pull her close and stop the public display. Just stroke her back until she calmed down. “Weeks ago I thought I had a stomach bug.” This was said in a much smaller voice, prompting me to move closer. I glared at every single onlooker, making clear their role was done. “I thought I just needed some more antibiotics, but penicillin won’t fix this.”

“We will,” I promised her as her arms went around me and I closed my eyes. Just feeling her, in my arms, against my body, nothing else mattered. “That’s what the nursery was for. If you hate the colour?—”

“It’s beautiful.” Her voice was muffled, and she looked up at me. “A bit grey, but…” I shook my head, trying hard not to smileand failing. “Perfect, and I wish you knew how scary that was. The only people that have done anything like that for me before are blood relatives who can’t get out of it, or Jamie. When two girls forge a bond through discovering that you’ll bleed once a month for the rest of your life, of having your heart broken by stupid boys.” Noah flushed then, but Jamie stepped forward.

“Or breaking theirs,” Millie’s friend added, nodding to Noah. “Or crushing on others that you think are out of your reach.” Jamie looked back at her guys before focussing back on my Millie. “You’ve got a big heart, bestie. I’ll love you forever. Ride or die.”

“Ride or die,” Millie croaked out.

“But right now, I spend most nights riding your brothers?—”

“Oh my god, stop!”

“So now we’re both getting the good dick, maybe you can let them into that heart of yours.”

I’d faced down disciplinary committees that felt less nerve wracking than when these two women turned back to the three of us. Noah and Charlie stepped closer, ready to bear their inspection.

“Whaddya reckon, Splash?” Charlie said, the crack in his voice telling a different story than his smile. “Ready to make the jump with us? I’m ready to sign on for the ride or die crew.”

“Me too,” Noah said.

“Already there.”

Millie smiled at my intent look.

---