Page 101 of Hungry Hearts

“But you know everything.” She looks up at me with those baby-blue eyes filled with hero worship, and I realize I can never lie to her. But how do I explain baby making to a six year old?

“It happens in the bedroom when—”

Maia’s mouth falls open and she jerks her head back giving me that look a mother gives a child when they’re about to do something against the rules.

“When the parents go to bed at night.” There. Not a lie. Although, Maia and I have plenty of morning and day sex that could lead to a baby. The thought doesn’t freak me out. Which is kinda freaky in itself.

“So when you’re sleeping?”

I scratch my hand across my palm and glance at Maia, who is now trying to control her giggling, as is the rest of the room.

“Yeah. Something like that.”

Ruby nudges Max aside, indicating to Nora that she’s done holding him. She scrambles off the couch and reaches for her mother’s hand, then comes over and takes mine.

“Can we go home now so you and Mommy can go to sleep and get me a baby brother?”

The room erupts in laughter. I take Maia’s other free hand in mine and rub my thumb over the engagement ring I gave her last week. After she introduced me to her parents, I told them how much I loved Maia and asked for their permission to propose.

To say they were surprised would be an understatement. Maia had filled them in about me, minus the hiccup when we weren’t together, and when they saw how happy she was, how close Ruby and I were, they gave their blessing without a second thought.

I reached out to Adam’s parents as well, assuring them I didn’t want to replace Adam, and that I’d make sure Ruby always knew he was her father. But asked—with a hint of telling—them for their permission to love Maia for the rest of our lives as well. His parents struggled, especially his mother, but they’re kind people and have slowly accepted me into their lives. I can’t say we’re going to do family vacations together, but they’ll always be welcome into our home.

“Let’s go.” Ruby’s little hand tugs at mine.

“Sweetie, we haven’t even had brunch yet.” Maia’s reasoning isn’t effective on Ruby or me.

I’m as anxious as Ruby to bolt out of here and practice making babies with Maia. Ruby’s lip sticks out in a pout. I crouch down in front of her. “I promise you, Princess Ruby Cube. When Mommy and I are sleeping, we’ll work on that baby brother, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

“Yay!” She hugs my legs and I peer up at Maia, who shakes her head with a grin. “Will he sleep in my room with me?”

Maia and I have talked about our living arrangements. Her two-bedroom house is small, and my apartment is not where I’d want to raise a family. I’ve been looking at the housing market, which is limited, but Trey mentioned a home in his neighborhood potentially going on the market soon.

After dinner at his house last week, we took a walk in the neighborhood and I pointed it out to Maia. If all the cards unfold the way I have planned, we’ll be filling that house with lots of babies, and they’ll have Trey and Ella’s future kids to play with as well.

“We’ll figure that out when the time comes, Princess.”

She tilts her head to the side and says, “If I’m a princess, and Mommy’s a queen, are you still a prince or are you the king?”

A collective groan fills the room. “Here we go,” Drake drones.

“No wonder he loves Rubes. She encourages that ego of his,” Nolan snarls.

“It’s cute,” Avery coos.

“It’s precious,” Ella adds.

“It’s sickening,” Trey complains.

“It’s beautiful.” Nora sniffs.

“I’m whatever you want me to be, Princess.”

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