Page 74 of Power Play with My Brother's Irish Friends

“Damn fucking straight!” Murphy yelled and jumped up onto the nearest bench. “We won, bitches!”

Our mix of laughter, shouts, and congratulations turned so loud and obnoxious that I finally moved closer to the door and wrapped my arms around Miranda. “We never would have made it here without you.”

“Damn fucking straight.” She tapped me in the chest with every word, then took my hand and placed it on her belly. “Your kids think you’re amazing.” Her stomach undulated, a foot or hand pressing against her skin as the twins tumbled around in their own version of water aerobics.

“I love you.” I kissed her on the lips before guiding her deeper into the room and into Duncan’s arms.

“For Miranda.” Scott raised up a blue and white jersey with MIRANDA stitched across the back. He tossed it toward her, and she snatched it out of the air with one hand. “We even made it with an expandable waistline. You and those babies have to stick with us through the off season too. Gotta represent.”

Tears welled in Miranda’s eyes. She shoved her head and arms into the jersey and pulled it down. A bark of laughter shot out when she found the zipper on the side that released an extra swath of fabric. “You really thought of everything.”

“Damn fucking straight.” Austin hugged her tight. We’d taken the phrase Miranda first used when she convinced us to toe the line and made it the team’s catch phrase. She’d caught on, and now it became something of a game.

“You make us better.” Charlie slung his arm around her waist and guided her to the bench seat. “You turned us into a family.”

He was right. We’d always been a team, and a pretty close one at that, but Miranda showed us how to be more.

We’d started our own family outside of the team too. The house we’d bought met our needs perfectly, and soon we’d add the twins to the already chaotic mix. I couldn’t wait.

Extended Epilogue: Miranda

My stomach contracted in an excruciating squeeze. I tightened my hold on Duncan’s hand and worked my way through the wheezing breaths the lamaze coach had showed me. They helped only because they gave me something else to focus on, which lasted all of a second before I was ready to start screaming.

“Almost there.” Duncan had given me his hand as soon as we slid into Patrick’s SUV, and I had refused to let it go.

I could probably break it and he’d thank me for it. “Get there faster.”

“I said that last time we rushed you to the hospital.” Duncan chuckled easily and smacked the back of Patrick’s seat. “You hear that?”

“Yep. On it.” Patrick pointed his index finger straight ahead without letting go of the wheel. “Five seconds.”

“These babies better be out in five seconds or I’m going to have a serious conversation with management.” I doubled over with the pain. “Oh, wait. I am management. Hurry up, babies.”

Patrick peeled into the parking lot. Charlie jumped out first and grabbed the duffel we’d packed weeks ago. He knew we’d not want to leave the room for anything, so we’d set up the plan to bring everything in at once. Patrick had even parked in a parking spot instead of under the emergency awning. I’d been okay with it in planning, but looking at the long stretch of pavement between me and the automatic doors almost sent me into a panic. “Women have done this for centuries. I can do this. Walking is good for delivery.” Hell, if that was true, I’d walk until my legs gave out. I wanted this over and babies in my arms.

Patrick jogged ahead to clear a path, his arms out straight. “I’ll let the front desk know.”

“Yeah, don’t let Duncan do that part.” Charlie stayed behind me, keeping an eye on traffic in case a contraction hit and I had to stop.

I puffed my cheeks full of air and marched ahead. By the time I walked into the brightly lit lobby, my OB, a single nurse, and a wheelchair waited for me in front of the delivery room doors. We’d even toured the hospital so we’d know exactly where to find everything when we needed it.

Austin and Samantha ran in behind us. “Baby time.” Austin cupped my shoulders and squeezed. “You got this, sis. Samantha and I will be out here in the waiting room.”

“Ready, Miranda?” Doctor Sinclair had taken over my care from Doctor Matthews when I moved to Washington. I liked her spunk, her thick accent, and her no-nonsense approach to childbirth.

I sank into the wheelchair and let Duncan put my feet on the rests. “Let’s do this.” I waved at Austin and Samantha. “You’d better make a decision on the wedding cake before you come see me. I’m delivering twins, I deserve to hear wedding plans.”

“Sure.” Samantha grabbed her phone and waved it overhead. “I’ll put him to work.”

“That’s why I like you.” I blew them both an air kiss and did my best to hold in the groan that came with another contraction.

It felt like hours dragged by. Contractions. Nurses checking vitals. Pain. Then, I reached the point where it all came together. The children I’d carried and nurtured within my body made their appearance with red faces and hearty lungs. They’d been examined and cleaned up, then placed in my arms. A boy on my left, and a girl on my right. Jayden and Hope. I nestled my cheek against Hope’s head and closed my eyes. “You two are so loved. You have no idea just how much.”

“We’ll show them.” Patrick traced the line of hair across Jayden’s forehead. “Can I hold him?”

“Of course.” A small part of me hated to relinquish either one of them, but I’d been carrying them for eight months. I almost made it to nine, shocking Doctor Sinclair with my tenacity. I helped him scoot Jayden into his arms and hefted Hope toward Charlie. “You too. Come on.”

He took a few cautious steps forward, his brows scrunched with what looked like concern or worry. “She’s so little.”

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