Page 72 of Can We Try?

“Taking my girl to bed.”

“Is this what I have to look forward to?” I tease.

“Yes. Every night for the rest of your life.”

“Deal.”

Just like that, every hope and every dream for us to be a family becomes my reality. This man, he’s my future, and I’m his. There is nothing sweeter than knowing our hearts are on the same page.

Chapter

Sixteen

Maggie

* * *

“Stop!” I’m laughing so hard that I’m fearful that I’m going to pee my pants. We’re having Friendsgiving the day after Thanksgiving—the latter we spent with Lachlan’s parents and Grandma Doris.

“I kid you not. They both had shit all over them from head to toe,” Monroe tells us, through her tears from laughing so hard. “Legend took it like a champ. He stripped them both down in the shower and bathed both himself and Kane at the same time, dressed them both and took care of the nasty poop-covered clothes.”

“I’ve known these guys all my life, and it’s cool to get to see them be dads. Forrest was always a father figure to me,” Emerson adds. “But to see him with his daughters, to see all of them, it warms my heart. They were these guys with no attachments outside of me being Forrest’s little sister, and now they’re family men.” She smiles wistfully.

“I’m certain Maddox and Lachlan are going to be the same way,” Briar adds.

“Yeah,” Brogan and I agree, and we all start laughing again.

“Ladies, are you ready to eat?” Lachlan calls out. “The deep-fried bird is ready,” he adds.

“Say less,” Monroe says. She’s been talking about how good it smells since we got here.

We make our way to the kitchen, where the men are handling Friendsgiving dinner and taking care of the kids. We tried to help, but they kicked us out, telling us it was their day to spoil us. We didn’t argue, but they take care of us every day. The girls and I already have a plan to do something special for them as a surprise.

Once the kids are set up at the small table I bought for them, now positioned in the corner of the dining room, well, minus Kane who is still in his high chair, the rest of the adults make their plates, and find a seat around the large dining room table Lachlan and I picked out after he bought this house.

Lachlan is at the head of the table, and I’m to his left. Instead of sitting, he stands, taking a minute to glance over at the kids, who are chatting and eating, to every person at the table. “Friendsgiving,” he says with an easy smile. “Thanksgiving has always been a holiday to eat great food and be with the people I care about most. That’s all of you in case you missed that,” he jokes. “However, this year it’s hitting a little different.” He makes a fist and taps his chest over his heart. Then his gaze turns to me. “This year, I get to celebrate it with the love of my life. And in a few short months, our son will be here.”

“Hold up.” Maddox raises his hand. “What did I miss?”

“Have you not been paying attention?” Brogan asks. “They’re together.”

“I knew he wanted to be, but I didn’t know that we’d reached the ‘love of my life’ confession stage.” Maddox chuckles.

“We?” Lachlan asks.

Maddox shrugs. “Rome, Legend, Forrest, me, and now you. Through it all, we’ve been there for each other. We knew you loved her, but we didn’t know if you knew that you loved her.”

“Trust me, I know.” As if he needs to prove his point, he leans over and kisses me. Just a quick peck, but it still has my heart tripping over in my chest. “Anyway. I love you all. Thank you for allowing me and my girl to host this year.” He sits in his seat, and before we can start to eat, Maddox stands.

“This year has been insane. I got married.” He smiles at Brogan. “And now, we’re having a baby.” He swallows hard. “I wouldn’t want to take this ride with anyone else.” He makes a fist and taps his chest just like Lachlan did, before sitting down and pulling Brogan into a kiss.

Forrest stands and clears his throat. “I think this might be our new thing,” he says with a slight chuckle. He looks at Briar, and his expression softens. “I’m going to be a dad for the third time. Three babies, and a wife who brings so much love and light into my life, I didn’t really know what I was missing until I found them. I’m thankful every single day that you and our daughters came into my life. I can’t wait to have forever with you.” Forrest makes a fist, taps his chest, and bends over to kiss Briar before taking his seat.

“I never could have imagined this is where we would end up,” Legend says as he stands and locks eyes with Monroe. “This beautiful woman who offered to help me out ended up being the one person I can’t live without. Then, she gave me a son, and now, another son or daughter to love. I don’t ever want to imagine what my life would be like without you and our kids.” He, too, makes a fist, taps it over his chest, and then kisses his wife.

My heart is so full, I feel like my chest could burst open as I listen to each declaration.

“Saved the best for last.” Roman laughs as he stands. “First, Legend, Monroe, congrats on the new baby.” Everyone around the table says the same. “Looks like the Everlasting Ink family is going to keep on growing.” He smiles down at Emerson. “Lilly’s getting a little brother or sister next year too.”

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