Page 45 of Heat Haven Holidays

“Can I at least show Adeline my trophies at some point?” Easton says. I sigh and nod my head.

“Only if you bring some of the other kids upstairs, and the door stays open.” Looking at both of my sons who dwarf me at this point, I remember when we were all chasing them around in their diapers and now they’re almost full-blown men. I can’t help it when I start to tear up.

Easton comes around and wraps me in a hug. He’s huge. I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up being bigger than Dom at some point. I just know he’s going to designate as an Alpha. He can be brash sometimes, but deep down, he is the sweetest and most caring boy.

Theo comes up and rubs my back. “Mom, do we need to give you the ‘we’ll be your little boys forever speech again?’ ” he says and I shake my head.

“It’s just I’m so proud of you two. You’re both so amazing, you know that,” I tell them. Easton hugs me harder and Theo even wraps his arms around us too.

I clear my throat, and we stop the adorable group hug that I needed. I love them so much. I never doubted how much my parents loved me, but when you’re finally in those shoes, it becomes real. I would lay down my life for these two boys. I’d do anything.

“You both look so handsome. Theo, you can invite Jenny. Easton, you can show Adeline your trophies, but then come right downstairs. The party will be here soon. If any of your dads need help with the caterers, make sure you lend a hand, okay?”

“Okay, Mom,” they say in unison. It’s a twin thing I’ve never gotten used to. Talia and Lana do it even more frequently than they do.

“I’m going to check on your little brother. Can you make sure your sisters and dad don’t need any help in the kitchen?” They both nod their heads and make their way down the hall to the stairs to help Cameron and the girls.

I crack the door to the hall bath, just wanting to get a little sneak peek before I let myself be known. “You little monster, you pooed all over Mama,” Emmett says to Jacob, poking his rounded baby belly. “That was naughty, but it was funny too,” he says, tickling his armpit which has Jacob letting out a massive squeal.

“And what do we have here?” I say. Emmett turns and grins. Holding out his hand. I sit on his lap and grab the washcloth to clean the rolls under Jacob’s neck. “Did you poop all over Mama?” I ask him.

He doesn’t answer, just holds out his arms, begging for me to pick him up. “He’s all clean,” Emmett says, kissing the side of my face. You know what else no one tells you? How hot it is to watch your partners turn into such amazing parents.

Emmett hands me the towel as I take the squirmy little baby out of the tub. He tugs on my hair and my chest. He has not been happy about weaning at all.

“Sorry, kiddo, those don’t belong to you anymore,” Emmett says. Using the soft towel to dry Jacob’s hair and body. Emmett kisses the side of my throat as I kiss Jacob’s chubby cheek. All this fear of kids growing up has hit me hard, and I don’t want my small little baby to grow any more than he already has.

“Let’s go get this little guy dressed, huh?” Emmett says. I nod my head, cradling Jacob to my chest as I stand up. Emmett holds me steadily around my waist until I’m completely off the floor and he follows.

Once we’re in the nursery, I grab Jacob an outfit and coo at him while I get him dressed. He’s so damn precious and perfect. I can’t help but to kiss every little roll.

“Maybe we should have one more,” I say to Emmett.

He laughs and wraps his arms around me. “Don’t you remember the vasectomy fest last year?” he says.

“Of course I remember. I gave you all ice packs for your poor balls, and Shyla and I treated you like kings for the day. You even got a cake. Vasectomies are reversible, you know,” I say.

“I know, sugar. But we all talked about this, that’s why we did it then. So that when you got baby fever again, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s where you all miscalculated. Shyla and Cameron still have more embryos. We could have like five more little Jacobs,” I reply. Clearly having outsmarted my entire pack.

“I’ll do whatever you want, you know that, Kelsey. But take some time to think on it, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say as I pull Jacob’s little arm through the hole of his adorable sweater.

“You look so cute!” I say. Picking him up and blowing a raspberry on his belly, making him laugh hysterically.

Just then, Shyla walks into the nursery. “At least someone thinks it’s funny,” she says. Leaning over and kissing me gently on the lips. A firm hand is around my waist as she kisses our son. “At least that means no blowouts during the party,” she says.

“We can only hope,” I reply. The doorbell chimes and excitement trickles through me. I grin, and Shyla opens her arms to take Jacob.

We safely but quickly make our way downstairs. Theo and Easton have already opened the doors and Liv comes running at me like a linebacker.

“I missed you, bitch,” she says, squeezing the ever living fuck out of me. She pulls back and notices Jacob. “Oh my goodness, come to Auntie Liv,” she says, holding out her arms. Her pack follows. Grayson and River greet my sons and their cousins come after. Jonah is thirteen. He looks like he’s already my height. He has dirty blonde hair and blue-green eyes. Axel is eleven, his dark hair covers his eyes, he tends to keep to himself. Lastly, Dean comes in with their daughter Claire’s hand in his. She’s stunning, the perfect mix of Dean and Liv, with dark hair and bright blue eyes. She’s six, and my twins have been so excited for her to get here.

Like a herd of Elephants rushing down the stairs, our twins Lana and Talia nearly knock everyone over to get to Claire. “You’re here. Do you want to go play pretty princess?” Claire nods and looks up to her dad.

“Yeah, princess, go play,” he says. She touches all of her dads in one way or another. Seems as though Claire has them all wrapped around her finger almost as well as their mother does.

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