Page 107 of Risk

“So, who’s who?” Lo asks, coming over and perching on the side of the bed.

He kisses my temple and reaches over to shake Kaden’s hand in that manly way they do. Ares and Zeus both shuffle over, giving me cheek kisses and congratulating Kaden with handshakes before taking seats around the bed. Cam and Ari sit around the bed, too, all peeking over to look at our boys. My dad stands at the end of the bed, staring over at us. He’s not spoken a word yet.

“Well, everyone, meet Henry Creed Scott.” I lay my hand over Henry’s tiny, bunched-up legs.

“Aw, Henry Creed,” Ari coos. “I love it.”

“After Duval?” Zeus asks Kaden knowingly, and Kaden nods by way of reply. Zeus’s hand finds his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

“And this is Dionysus”—I lift my eyes to my dad, hoping this will have the effect I want it to—“Brett Scott.”

My dad’s expression is usually stoic, but his eyes get wet, and his mouth trembles. He covers it with his hand.

I hear a sniffle and see that Ari is blubbering.

“What?” she asks defensively, making us all laugh, breaking the obvious tension. “It’s just such a beautiful name.”

My eyes search out first Zeus and then Ares. I know I shouldn’t, but I need to know they’re okay with me giving Dion Dad’s name as his middle name. Mostly Zeus because he was a dad to me when Brett wasn’t.

Zeus smiles. “I love it, Missy. But you’re gonna have to tell me how the fuck I spell Dionysus ’cause I ain’t gotta clue.”

I give a watery laugh. “It’s D-I-O-N-Y-S-U-S. But pronounced Dai-uh-nai-suhs.”

“So, basically spelled nothing like it sounds.” Lo laughs.

I dig into his ribs with my elbow. “He’ll be called Dion pretty much all the time, buttmunch.”

“Who was born first?” Lo asks me, knowing how important that is for a twin.

“Dion.”

He leans over and lifts Henry’s tiny hand and gives it a gentle fist bump. “Don’t worry, little man; Uncle Lo’s got your back. Us second-born twins have to stick together.”

I shake my head at him, but there’s no fire in it, just love for my dopey younger brother.

Everyone takes turns holding Henry and Dion.

My dad is the last to hold them. When he has Dion in his arms, he comes and sits on the bed so he’s facing me.

“Thank you,” he says to me, eyes holding mine.

“For what?”

“Giving him my name.” His eyes go down to Dion again. “He’s got your eyes,” Dad says softly.

“Mom’s eyes.”

He looks at me again and nods. “Yeah, your mom’s eyes.” He glances over at Henry, who is currently being held by Lo, who seems to be having a serious one-sided chat with my few hours’ old son. “Henry looks like Kaden.”

“Yeah, he does.”

“I’m proud of you, Artemis. And I know your mom is looking down right now, thinking the exact same.”

I brush a tear away. “Thanks, Dad.”

He leans over and kisses my forehead before drifting over to Lo to switch babies with him.

I wonder if this is what it was like when Lo and I were born. Family in the room, fawning over us.

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