Page 79 of What About Now

I take my time getting back to the truck, grabbing both of our bags, and heading inside.

“Hey,” Forrest greets me with a one-armed hug. “There are a million bedrooms left to choose from.”

I laugh at that. “I’ll let Brogan choose,” I say, placing our bags on the floor. I whistle when I take in the cabin. It’s not overly fancy, but it’s exactly what a cabin in the Smoky Mountains should be. Lots of windows looking over the vast mountains, and a huge living space big enough to support a large family.

“Good thing Royce is giving us the family discount on this place. I don’t know if we could have afforded it otherwise,” Lachlan says.

“I had to force him to do that,” Roman speaks up. “He wanted to give it to us for free, and said he’d be by the new shop for some more ink, but I insisted.”

“Thanks for doing this,” I tell him.

“The ladies are happy.” Roman nods.

“They are.”

The five of us, along with the twins, Lilly, and Kane, settle in the living room. The kids have already got toys spread out to play with, and it makes me smile. I can’t wait until this is our home, full of toys and the pitter-patter of little feet. Some parents complain about stepping over toys, and I can’t wait for it. I can’t wait to start a family with my wife.

A few hours later, the guys and I are in the kitchen making dinner. We’ve vowed that our wives, and Maggie, of course, have a nice relaxing weekend, and we’re going to take care of everything.

“Thanks for being born,” Monroe tells them. “I can get behind being spoiled like this.” She laughs.

“It’s nice,” Emerson agrees, “but I also like to be the one spoiling. I feel like Rome does so much for Lilly and me already.”

“For sure,” Monroe agrees.

“Right?” Briar says. “I don’t know how we got so lucky.”

“We’re the lucky ones,” I call out to them, and they all laugh.

“You’re not supposed to be listening to us!” Brogan calls back.

“You know better than that,” I say, joining them at the table and placing a bottle of water in front of her. “Anyone else need a drink?” I ask. They call off what they’d like, and I move back to the kitchen to get it, but Lachlan is already pulling the drinks out of the fridge and moving to pass them out.

“Ladies.” He winks.

“Don’t flirt with my wife!” Roman, Forrest, Legend, and I all shout at the exact same time. The ladies snicker, and Lachlan smirks.

“I can’t help it. It’s my sex appeal. Chicks dig it,” he jokes.

I turn to glare at him, but find him grinning and tossing a wink at Maggie. Her face heats, but she quickly looks away as if nothing happened. Interesting. I make a mental note to ask Brogan if she noticed that little display later tonight.

Once dinner is ready, we rally the troops and sit down at the huge dining table together to eat. We laugh, we talk, and enjoy a great meal. For the next couple of hours, we play with the kids, and once they go to bed, we build a fire in the fireplace, and we’re all snuggled up. The ladies, minus Briar, have a glass of wine, while the guys all have a beer, well, all except for Forrest. In solidarity with his wife, he’s not drinking. I imagine I’ll be the same way once Brogan is pregnant. Not to mention I’m certain I’ll be a mess and will want to stay sober in case she needs anything.

“What are you thinking about?” Brogan asks.

“How when we’re pregnant, I’ll probably not drink like Forrest tonight, because I’ll want to make sure I have my wits about me if there is anything that you need.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to do that,” she tells me.

“I know, and that only makes me want to do it even more.” I kiss her cheek.

“When are you thinking that this might happen?” she asks, keeping her voice low as she takes a sip of her wine.

“What about now?” I ask her, and her body shakes with silent laughter.

“Maybe not tonight.” She raises her glass of wine to remind me she’s been drinking. “We could practice.”

“Now?”

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