Page 65 of Can We Try?

She slides under the covers while I strip down to my underwear and take my spot next to her. She cuddles up to my side, and I wrap my arm around her, and within minutes, I’m drifting off to sleep.

“He takes after his uncle Lachlan,” I say as I stand with Roman, Forrest, and Maddox, watching Kane smash through his own personal little birthday cake. He’s shoveling it in by the handfuls.

“Looks like it.” Roman laughs. “Remember when Lilly turned one? She didn’t want to touch it, but once she did, it was game on. She had cake everywhere.”

“She did,” Forrest agrees. “I think Legend is wearing just as much of that cake as Kane is.” He chuckles.

We bullshit for a little longer, and eventually, Legend joins us. “I can’t believe he’s a year old already,” he says, smiling widely.

“Won’t be long, and Lachlan and I will be a part of the dad’s club.” Maddox grins.

“Best thing ever,” Forrest tells us.

“I’d have to agree,” Roman says.

“How are things with Maggie?” Legend asks.

“Good. Really fucking good. She’s been feeling the baby move. I can’t wait until I can feel him too.”

“It’s a rush,” Forrest says, running his fingers through his hair. “Unlike anything else.” Legend and Roman agree with nods.

“I want her to move in with me.”

“Does she know that?” Maddox asks me.

“No. Her ex tore her down, and I’ve been taking my time letting her see with not just my words but my actions that I want her.”

“I don’t think she’ll turn you down,” Roman says, nodding to where the ladies are sitting.

I turn to look to find all of them watching us. They smile and wave and turn back around. “How did five assholes who ink for a living get so fucking lucky?” I ask my best friends.

“Good question,” Maddox says. “I know I don’t ever want to know what life is like without them, so I say we just keep doing what we’re doing.”

“Amen to that.” Legend bumps his fists with each of us, almost as if we’re all in some kind of club and taking an oath.

“We’ve come a long way,” Forrest says. “From those five guys who just wanted to pave their own way, to husbands and fathers. I knew it would happen one day, but I never dreamed it would look like this. I’m glad our wives are as close as we are.”

“I’m working on it.” I laugh.

“Oh, you’re going to ask her?” Roman asks.

“Baby steps. I need to get her to agree to move in with me first. Then after that, all bets are off. Once I know she’s mine, I’ll pull out all the stops to get the three of us to share the same last name.”

“Do you guys want cake?” Monroe calls out.

“Is that a real question?” I call back to her, and she grins, waving us over.

The five of us move toward the kitchen where Monroe and Emerson are cutting the larger cake and passing them out.

“Take your wives a piece. The kids are already handled,” Emerson tells us.

Doing as I’m told, loving that they’re already referring to Maggie as mine, I carry two small plates of cake and ice cream to the living room, handing her one.

“Thank you. I could have gotten that.”

“I was already there,” I tell her, taking a seat on the floor in front of her, resting my back against her legs where she sits on the couch.

“Monroe’s passing out orders like a drill sergeant,” Maddox teases, handing Brogan her plate.

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