Page 43 of Heat Haven Holidays

“True, I heard Lana call another girl a weak bitch the other day at the playground,” Easton says.

“She said what?” He just shrugs his shoulders, grabs a Gatorade, and heads back to his bedroom.

“What the fuck is going on around here?” Emmett asks.

“Language, Dad.” Theo smirks, grabbing a bag of chips and heading off to some unknown corner of the house. We added an addition to our home, and since Kelsey’s and my heats have synced, we built a pool house outside as a combined nest. The basement is a complete kid zone now.

Emmett kisses Jacob’s head. “You will be such a good boy when you’re fifteen, I just know it.” He kisses his dark, curly hair once again.

“Theo and Easton are just going through a rough time right now,” Shyla says, grabbing a coffee. I nod my head, needing to touch her. It’s kind of crazy being responsible for tiny humans but also still having your own needs. She perches her hip against the tile and nods her head at me. I eagerly walk across the tiled floor and wrap my arms around her waist. “You good, Cam?” she asks lightly.

“Just tired, and I know today is going to be a lot.”

She nods her head. We’re all excited to see everyone. It’s just a lot of people and kids in one place.

“I know, It’s just for the day. Plus, all the kids will be able to keep each other entertained.”

“Uh huh,” I say, knowing damn well that if we survive this New Year’s party with only one colossal child breakdown that it will be a win.

“Why don’t you go find Kelsey and Dom and make sure they’re ready,” she suggests, and I nod my head. Wanting to see them both and have a moment before everyone gets here.

I knock on Dom’s door and he grumbles for me to come in. It smells like clove, blueberries, and sex in here. I feel jealous, but not in the way that I used to. But in the way that I wish I was getting some, too.

I approach the bed and Kelsey holds out her hand. I cuddle behind her, and Dom places a hand on my hip.

“Is it already getting crazy out there?” Kelsey asks.

“Theo wants to invite his girlfriend. Easton called her annoying. Talia and Lana aren’t getting along this morning. Jacob is napping,” I say.

“Sounds about right,” Kelsey says, stretching and turning to give me a kiss. “We should all start getting ready,” she says and Dom groans behind her. She lightly smacks his chest. “You were the one with the five in the morning wake up call. Not me.”

“Did he get his present?” I joke. Kelsey smiles and nods.

“And now he’s sleepy,” she says, rubbing his arm. “Take a shower with me?” she asks, and there’s only one answer. So I nod my head as Dom falls back to sleep and Kelsey and I hold hands as we walk to the en suite. The bedrooms have gotten jumbled since having kids. But we make it a priority that whoever needs time alone, or time with their pack, that they get it.

It feels like we started over with Jacob, the twins go to school now and are far more independent, but I can’t deny I fucking love having a baby in the house, and I have no idea what we’ll do when we’re empty nesters. Figuratively and literally, Kelsey and I probably only have another decade, if that, of heats left.

Kelsey pushes the furrow of my brow. “What’s wrong, Cam?”

“Just thinking about when we don’t have a house of kids,” I say. She frowns.

“The girls are seven and Jacob just turned one. It’s nothing we need to think about soon,” she says.

“But the boys,” I remind her, and she shakes her head.

“Don’t even want to think about it. They really do grow up so fucking fast don’t they?”

“I feel like it was just yesterday that we watched them learn how to walk, talk, and swim. And now Theo has a girlfriend and Easton is taller than all of us except Dom,” I say, and she sighs. She turns on the shower and waits for the water to warm.

“They will always be our kids, no matter what. We just have to enjoy this time,” she says, and I smile. I think back to this past Christmas and how magical it was. Our family complete, and watching the joy spread over each of their faces. The boys got a car to share, of course, a lot of strict rules to follow when they get their official licenses next year. The twins got a new playhouse in the backyard. I can’t help but grin when I think about Dom in that tiny playhouse making beaded bracelets with them.

Our house is covered with family photos, but I can’t wait to hang up the one with Shyla and Kelsey, both kissing Jacob’s chubby cheeks underneath the mistletoe. This Christmas was everything I ever imagined a life with a family could be like. I truly never thought your heart could be this open to so many connections. I have four amazing partners who I still love with a passion I didn’t think was possible. Are there ups and downs in every relationship? Of course, and times it by five people, but with continued therapy and with open communication, we’ve made it work.

“Seriously, stop thinking about our kids getting older and get in this shower before I cry,” Kelsey says.

I shake the thoughts out of my head and get into the warm spray with her. Kelsey’s arms wrap tightly around my waist. I can tell she’s scent marking me.

“Everything okay, Kels?” I ask.

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