Now you’re just spinning tales.A dull laugh pumps through me, and the baby wakes up and gives Logan’s hand a kick.See? You’ve upset her.
His lips purse.I’m sorry.He pats my belly.I was hoping it was true.
Logan and I close our eyes and hold my belly, feeling our love moving inside of me, alive and full of vigor.
I wish it were true, too.
Oh, how I wish it were true.
But Logan and I don’t have a crystal ball.
Right now, and forever, all we have is each other.
22
Gage
The skies above Paragon heave over the island. It’s been nonstop weeping fits, one torrential downpour after the other. It’s been a week and Chloe and the baby still haven’t left the room. She’s forbidden the boys from coming over in the event they get the baby sick—her wording was laced with a bit more toxicity.
Logan called and said they’d be at Wesley’s today. I make my way to my brother’s house to find the boys playing with Tobie while Skyla and Laken chitchat on the sofa.
Skyla casually glances my way before getting right back to her conversation with Laken. I’ve become the invisible man to her. I thought I could take it. I thought I wanted it. A little hell on earth is nothing compared to eternity. But it turns out, it feels just as damning.
The boys crash into my legs and I pick them up one at a time, turn them upside down, and blow elephant kisses over their bellies.
Laken laughs. “The big boys are in the game room. You’re welcome to grab a drink in the kitchen on your way there. I’d get up, but I’m officially two tons as of this morning.”
“Two tons?” I raise a playful eyebrow Skyla’s way and she’s quick to turn her head. Skyla’s skin glows luminescent, and her lips are full and cherry red. My God, she is beautiful. How I miss those lips, every last luscious bit of her, and it drives a very strong urge in me to go back in time and make love to her in the butterfly room, in every room. The only thing stopping me is, well, me. I eviscerated my brother when I found out he was doing that with Laken. I thought he was a monster for doing it. A predator. If I did it, I would be no better. Hell, I’m already a monster, a predator. And if I had to guess—Wes is a hell of a lot better than me.
I thank Laken for the offer and head to the game room with the boys and Tobie hot on my heels, screaming and laughing up a storm.
“Daddy!” Nathan clamps onto my leg and takes a bite out of my kneecap. “Where’s Chloe’s baby dinosaur?”
Tobie extends her hands like claws and stomps around doing her best imitation of a T-Rex.
“Little dude.” I pick him up and kiss his cheek before swinging him and setting him back down, both boys are getting so heavy. “The dinosaur is sleeping. And the dinosaur’s name is Mally. If you call her a dinosaur, Chloe might eat you.” And that’s the honest to God truth.
Tobie growls at Barron, “Mommy’s mean!”
Good Lord. At least she’s perceptive.
“No, she’s not.” I give a sly glance behind me as we head into the game room. Because we all know she is.
Wesley’s game room, aka the man cave, is fully equipped. Two pool tables, one for each of his balls. A ping pong table, air hockey, foosball, a jukebox in the corner that glows blue and green, and skee-ball for the kids and they head right over. The skee-ball setup is new, and I’m thinking this is going to be the kids’ hangout in the future. The future. Just the thought sends a chill up my spine.
I find Wes, Logan, Coop, and Ellis are busy shooting it up at one of the pool tables.
“Wes, my man.” I slap him on the shoulder. “You’ve got this place on lockdown. When’s the bowling alley coming in?” I flash a quick grin at Logan as I nod to the rest of them.
“We’ll put that in your house.” Wes has a sourpuss on his face as he gets back to the game.
Ellis slaps me five. “He’s just mad because Coop and I are whipping his ass.”
“And mine.” Logan blinks a smile my way.
I nod him over and we start up a game of our own at the next table.
“Why don’t you put one of these in at Whitehorse? We’ll have something to do when you invite me and the missus over.” I couldn’t help it. A little dry humor never hurt anyone. More like humor from the gallows. My entire life has evolved into a visit to the gallows.
