Page 319 of Second Sets Omnibus
In the end, the five broken pieces patched themselves back together from the inside out and, in turn, connected again. The love is here. The timing is right.
And us?
Well, we’re whole.
The Fucking End
Shut the curtain.
Take a bow.
The boys and River are done for now.
Six Months Later
“You’re goingto tell them tonight?” Olivia practically begs, bustling by with bright flowers in her hands. She grins when she sets them on the little table in my master bath.
“Yes. But they won’t tell me what we have planned for the honeymoon,” I say, wrinkling my nose when Ode brushes bright red blush on my cheek.
“Stop moving, bitch,” Ode quips, flicking my nose. “Or I’ll miss and poke you in the eye.”
“She will, too,” Rocco quips, leaning against the bathroom counter, watching intently.
“I will,” Ode says, grinning, pointing a makeup brush in his direction.
I side-eye Ode, who grins wider, dipping the brush into the red blush again, preparing to paint my other cheek.
“But definitely tonight?” Kaycee asks, cocking her head to the side and letting her blonde curls fall down her back. “I don’t know if I can hold my tongue anymore. This is the hardest secret I’ve had to keep in a long time.” She makes a face, shaking her head. “And I don’t keep secrets very well.”
“Please tell them before we collectively die of secret-keeping,” Rocco groans, shaking his head
I snort, ignoring his whines. “Well, the rest of them,” I say with a shrug. “Kieran kinda walked in on me peeing on the stick.”
Literally. The man knows no personal space when it comes to me sometimes. There I was, minding my own business and trying to be discreet. Then, walks in Kieran, tossing his shirt off and letting me know he’s going to hop into the shower.
“And he’s kept it a secret?” Ode snorts, brushing on the red to my cheeks.
I suck in a breath as another round of nausea rolls through my stomach. This has been happening more and more as the weeks have gone on. I mean, I’m only about seven weeks pregnant, but I found out two weeks ago. Just in time to get this wedding done and start our lives together.
“Like a good boy, yes,” I quip, taking a sip of 7-Up. “He’s been helping me ever since the morning sickness decided to come along.”
He’s been the sweetest man since he accidentally walked in on me in the bathroom. Right after I had set the test on the counter.
“Is that?” he whispers, plastering his front to my back. Those mismatched eyes peer down at the test, lighting up when the results finally appear. “You’re pregnant,” he whispers, wrapping his arms around me. “It finally happened.”
I swallow hard, tracing the test with tears in my eyes. “You’re only happy because you don’t have to wear a condom anymore,” I quip, sniffling.
“That too,” he murmurs, kissing my cheek. “Oh, River Blue. I can’t believe this is finally happening. We’re going to be here every step of the way. I can’t fucking wait.” Emotions bubble in his throat, glazing over his eyes. Silent tears fall down his cheeks, expressing the joy he’s feeling. “I’ll always regret not being here the first time around,” he confesses, rubbing a hand along my flat stomach. “Anything you need, My Blue. I’ll be here.”
“I want to wait to tell them,” I say, catching his gaze in the mirror above the sink we’re standing in front of. “Until after the wedding.” A slight smirk pulls at the edge of his lip with satisfaction. “It’ll be the ultimate surprise.”
“So I get to know before those other assholes?” His brows wiggle as his hand glides over my stomach. “I’ll keep it a secret for now.” He takes a deep breath, brushing his nose against the column of my neck. “They’re going to be so fucking excited for this, especially Rad. That fucker’s been throwing you in closets every chance he gets.”
I snort, closing my eyes and leaning into his touch. “Ever since we decided to start trying, he’s been fucking insatiable,” I whisper as goosebumps spread across my flesh.
Since we decided three months ago to start trying to expand our family, Rad’s been the clingiest. Deep down, I know it’s his guilt tearing through him for not being here for Lyric. He’s wanted more children since we went all in, and finally, we decided not to wait any longer. We started planning the wedding the moment they picked out a ring and slipped it on my finger.
This is our future, and we’re finally settling into our new normal.
