Page 82 of What About Now

“What’s that mean?” Rayne asks.

“It means that I made it right here in my kitchen instead of buying it from the store or bakery.”

“Oh, we like to bake too. Uncle Maddox and Aunt Brogan let us bake cookies when we had a sleepover.”

“They did?” Mom sounds shocked, playing into their responses. “Well, I wonder if sometime you could have a sleepover here and we can bake all the goodies.”

“Mommy, can we?” River asks.

“Please, can we?” Rayne adds.

“I’m sure we can make that happen,” Briar tells them.

“Dinner is ready. Let’s eat,” Hank calls out.

Forrest and I help make plates for the girls and set them at the table between us. Brogan and Briar sit together on the opposite side of the table, and my parents are at either end.

The day is filled with laughter, love, and family. When my eyes meet my wife’s across the table, she mouths, “I love you,” and I give her words right back to her. This is our life now, and what our future will look like for many years to come.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Tonight feels like old times, only better. It’s better because instead of sitting in Forrest’s backyard around the fire holding my beer, I’m holding my wife and my beer. I’m pretty damn sure it doesn’t get better than that. Oh wait, it does because my wife is in love with me. The night couldn’t be more perfect.

Somehow, after dinner last night at my parents’ place for Briar and Brogan’s birthdays, we ended up with my parents offering to watch the girls, which led to Monroe calling her parents to watch Kane, and Roman calling his to watch Lilly, and here we are, having an adult night.

Brogan snuggles close to me, and I wrap my arms a little tighter around her waist. “Love you,” I whisper, keeping my words soft just for her. She turns her head to smile at me, and I lean in for a quick kiss. Just a peck on her lips, but it’s perfect.

“It’s so weird with the kids not being here,” Forrest speaks up.

“It is, but it’s also nice to know they’re safe and that we can unwind a little,” Monroe says.

“You want to unwind with me, baby?” Legend asks her.

“Later.” She winks, and Legend pulls her into a kiss so heated, I’m sure someone flying overhead in a plane would feel uncomfortable watching them.

“I agree,” Emerson adds. “I love my daughter, but it’s nice to have a night just to be us, how it all started.”

“Might be a good time to give Lilly a little brother or sister.” Monroe winks at her best friend.

“NowthatI can get behind. What do you think, baby girl?” Roman asks his wife. “Time to head home?”

“No.” Emerson chuckles. “It’s not time to go home, but if you’re not too tired, we can probably make time when we get home.”

“La la la la la,” Forrest sings loudly. “I love you both, I do, but, dude, she’s my sister,” Forrest complains good-naturedly.

“She’s my wife,” Roman counters. “You’re going to have to get past it.”

“Leave them alone,” Briar tells her husband, and he instantly turns all his focus to her. Even with nothing but the light of the fire, I can see his entire demeanor change. He softens for her, just as he does with their daughters.

“Baby, she’s my little sister.”

“And he’s your best friend, her husband, and the father of your niece. It’s been years, Forrest. You know she’s in good hands,” Briar reminds him.

“Oh, she’s in expert hands, all right,” Roman quips.

Forrest groans, and everyone else laughs at their antics. We all know Forrest has accepted the two of them and that he knows how much Roman loves Emerson. He’s just playing, and the twitch of his lips as he’s also trying not to laugh is a testament to that.

“At least with the kids here, I have someone to snuggle,” Maggie quips.

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