Page 2 of Players and Pages
Taryn face palmed her forehead. "Oh, duh. I'm sorry, you told me that."
I let out a little laugh and Gem cried because I startled her. It took another few bounces for her to calm again. "You're a new mother to twins. You are allowed to forget. It’s called mom brain. Now get your shower, nap, or whatever you need."
"Thank you," she called as she disappeared back to her office in the back.
Gem wiggled in my grip to remind me that she was there and I looked down at her sad little face.
I started to rock her just like I did my sister and her eyelids started to get heavy. "Why are you giving your momma such a hard time?"
She yawned her answer.
"Good thing you are so cute. Just try and be nicer to your mom," I told her as her little snores started.
I turned back to my forgotten game, eyeing the stats to catch up on what I missed. Even as my body moved to keep Gem settled, my eyes were locked on the screen again.
“Cy just made the game winning catch, that will be one of the most replayed clips for weeks to come! The Knuckleball Knockouts win,” the announcer called from my little speaker.Thank goodness I’d turned it down earlier or she’d have been startled right awake as the fans went nuts.
I watched as the Knuckleball Knockouts did a victory dance, barely suppressing my laughter at their ridiculous moves.
Baby Gem went to sleep easily and my team won, that's what I call a lucky day.
I turned the game off and Gem and I took a little stroll down the rows of books. I stopped to chat quietly with the patrons that were milling around, asking them if they needed help and answering a million questions about Gem.
No one could resist the babies.
After about forty-five minutes of napping for Gem, Ash walked in the front door, his smile in place and signature leather jacket on. He’d even gotten a set for the twins, it was adorable. I’d never seen a pack take so well to fatherhood.
Then again, maybe there was something to say for finding your pack in your thirties. We were all well past clinging to our youth.
"Hey, Dani, are you ready to hand over my other best gal?" he smiled at me.
"Of course," I said as I gently transferred the sleeping girl to her father’s arms.
"Taryn in the back?" Ash asked, gesturing that way with his head.
"I'd say yes. I told her to nap or shower or whatever she needed. Liam is with Bea," I explained.
"I love that you and Bea are such a great support team for her here," he smiled as the bell rang and Holt and Mathias came in. All three of them kept work to a minimum as best they could, their full focus on their family now.
"It helps that Liam and Gem are so cute," I laughed. “It’s not exactly a hardship to take care of them and their sweet mama.”
"That they are," he agreed. "Thank you again, Dani."
"Anytime," I told him as the three of them walked to the back in search of their omega.
Their pack was a bit rocky at first, but once they figured things out they were all in. I felt a little hopeless that I'd never find love like theirs.
Hell, I didn't even have any prospects, for that matter. I was a curvy bookstore owner. Most expected me to be shy and quiet, and when I didn’t fit that bill, they were out. I was too outspoken, too set in my ways… or any other variation of saying I was ‘too much’ to handle.
"You okay, Dani?" Bea asked, making me jump.
"Shit, where'd you come from?" It was maybe a minute since the guys had left me standing here. Apparently, I’d really spaced out.
Bea laughed and raised her eyebrow. She was forever sassy and I loved her for it. "I got most of my work done in the back, so I thought since the guys took Liam, I'd come help out here."
I did need to stock some of the shelves and straighten them up, so this was perfect timing.
"That would be great. Can you just work the counter? I have some books to put out," I admitted. “It’s been busy today.”
