She took a hefty swallow and met my gaze through the plate-glass window.
The kids shrieked away in the backyard, laughing and playing in the melting snow like there was no tomorrow.
“You can give me my kid back when you’re ready,” Doc said.
I’d had the kid in my arms for a solid five hours now, only putting him down to change his diaper and then wrap him up in a blanket to head outside with the men.
“I’m good.” I grinned.
“They won’t punch you in the face with an infant in your arms,” Koda drawled.
I looked at the man and winked. “Why do you think Searcy’s let me keep him? She likes me.”
“Searcy’s drowning.” Koda looked at Doc. “You should probably hold off on knocking her up again. She needs a break.”
“I know it.” Doc let his eyes drift to his wife.
Just as he said it, a bull bellowed in the background and Doc narrowed his eyes at the big beast. “God, I wish I could eat him.”
“Searcy wouldn’t let you.” Cutter limped over from where he was leaning against the railing. “Why don’t you look broken right now?”
“Because I work out,” I lied.
I was dying.
My legs were killing me.
But I’d been hiding weakness for nearly a decade now. A little—a lot—leg soreness wouldn’t stop me.
“Whatever.” Cutter continued to limp inside. “I need to go find a comfortable chair. When are we eating dinner? Are we watching y’all open your gifts?”
My stomach sank.
Gifts.
“Shit,” I said. “I don’t have any. All of the ones I got for Calli burned in the fire.”
Gunner’s eyes met mine. “I’ll tell her about the two hours you fucked off at work the other day to find her chips she would eat.”
I opened my mouth to tell him that wasn’t necessary, but then the kid in my arms let out a fart that most grown men would be envious of.
Then started filling his diaper.
I started to hand him off to Doc, but he held up his hands. “Oh, no. You wanted him. You got him.”
I was sure he expected me to argue, but again, I was an old pro.
I took him back to the room that he shared with his brother and got him cleaned up as quietly as I could seeing as Pane was asleep.
I’d just finished changing the youngest Hodges when Pane lifted his head up.
His hair was sticking every which way but straight, and he had a tiny handprint on his face from where he’d fallen asleep with it under his cheek.
He sat up in bed and wobbled on his behind before he lifted his hands up to me.
I finished zipping the tiniest zipper in the world and walked over to the kid.
He dropped one hand down and grabbed hold of his blanket, then held on as I lifted him into my arms beside his brother.
