Page 9 of Momcom Vacation

“And the universe brought me you too.” I beam.

“Not the universe Ma. That was all Bossman.” Liam, Beats around his neck, lumbers through the doorway carrying two bags and his backpack. “Which room does the universe think my energy will vibe with?”

“If you listen, you’ll hear the futon in the yellow room calling you.” I cock a brow at my son’s sarcasm.

He smirks, but as my words register, his face falls.

“I left my king-size bed so I could sleep on a futon in a room with my baby sister and Man Bun. Living the dream.” With a frown directed at Becks, he turns and stomps down the hall.

“Firefly.” Like he’s being pulled by a magnet, Cortney moves to me. He drops the empty car seat and the bag he’s carrying with one arm and pulls me into his solid chest. As he presses his lips to my forehead and takes a deep breath in, the tension in his body loosens.

“Ma,” my daughter squeals, burying her tiny fist in my hair.

I take her from her daddy and nuzzle into her neck. “Hey, girlie.”

Cort rests his cheek on the top of my head for a beat before he sighs and pulls back. “Hold her while I’ll put this stuff away? I’ll be back for her quickly. That way the girls don’t miss you.”

I confused my girls pretty thoroughly. They won’t be looking for me for a while. But I don’t stop Cort from leaving.

As soon as he’s out of earshot, I turn to his best friend. “Be nice to him this weekend.”

Becks laughs, and the boisterous sound ricochets off the walls.

Brow arched, I tilt my head and wait for him to quiet down. “Does he seem okay to you?”

The wedding stuff is wigging him out. I really should have agreed to elope when he asked me to months ago. Now I feel like an asshole. I wanted my friends and family to witness themoment we pledge our lives to each other, but now I just want my future husband to be happy. I miss his smile.

Becks rubs his jaw. “You know you’re not the issue, right, Dippy Do? He loves you.”

“I know. But we should have eloped.” And it’s too late to go back and suggest it again. Once Cort discovered how important it was to me to have our friends and family there, he jumped on board. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens for me, even if it makes him nuts.

Becks narrows his green eyes. I get that he doesn’t want to disappoint his wife, but still.

“If Liv couldn’t be my maid of honor, she would have gotten over it.” I laugh. “After all, she did it to me.”

The sound of car doors slamming carries in on the warm breeze. Then a swarm of kids tramp into the house with Rowan on their heels.

“This place seems awful small,” he growls.

Rather than argue, Beckett surveys the yard through the window, his expression thoughtful, almost like he’s plotting. If I were anyone else, that look might concern me. But stressing won’t deter Becks from his master planning. So I turn away and leave him to his meddling.

“Ya know what you should do, Ro?” I say. “Climb in through Shay’s window tonight and pretend to kidnap her. She’ll think it’s hot.”

Rowan’s eyes heat, and he makes a low humming sound.

“Why?” Phoebe says with a frown. “Not one of these guys was happy about being kidnapped.”

“Auntie Dylan meant that Shay would think it was a funny prank.” Enzo hits me with a glare. “Little ears. Use your filter, please.”

“What’s a filter?” Smiling brightly, I tilt my head and blink innocently.

With a growl, Becks turns away from the window. “Go home, Dippy Do. Stop trying to stir up stuff.”

I hand Willow to him and kiss her tiny hand. “I’ll leave you guys to your bonding, but don’t think I didn’t notice the I’ve-got-a-plan face.”

I pat his cheek, then spin and skip away, leaving him to his plotting. As long as his scheme makes Cort happier, I’ll let Becks have his fun.

Chapter 6

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