Ever.
And being so close to him now like this—and hearing him say sweet words like he was—made me want to grab him and kiss him.
“Stefan…” I gazed down at the tile for a moment, trying to collect myself.What was I supposed to say?That I missed him, too?Desperately?And that every morning when I woke up, I still reached for him?Thinking he was still right beside me?
Because that was exactly what I wanted to tell him.
But I also knew there was no way I could admit that to him.Or to myself.The truth was, I was not only a danger to myself, I was also a danger to him.And to the babies in our arms.As well as to the beautiful people inside the house.
There was no future for us.Yes, I'd marry Stefan.Then hopefully, Raul would stop being a psychopath.Then, Stefan and I would get divorced, and he would go his way—and I would go mine.
“We need a few more minutes.”Giselle rushed through the patio doors, with Dani in her arms.
Stefan and I stepped away from each other and waited for Giselle.
“I’m sorry.Can you take her, please?”She handed Dani over to Stefan.“She's not feeling the greatest.I think the kids brought something home from the mommy and me class on Tuesday.”
I shifted the baby to my hip, which wasn't too hard to do seeing as he was asleep.Then I touched the baby on Stefan's chest and said, “Give him to me for a minute while you sort Dani out.”
Reluctantly, Stefan handed over the baby.Then he told Giselle that we had this covered, and for her to go back into the house.She apologized again profusely but quickly turned and headed back toward the house.She stopped in her tracks in front of the priest.Then she stomped forward and without hesitation, pushed his feet off the table.Then she said a few words that the children should not hear before retreating back into the house.
“Are you feeling sick, Dani?”Stefan asked the little girl in his arms.Then he touched her forehead.“You feel hot.Did your mom give you some medicine?”
She shook her head on his chest and mumbled.“Nope.But my brain hurts.”Then she sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck.She seemed to be comfortable enough where she was.And Giselle could decide whether to dose her with fever meds or not when she came back.A few minutes wouldn't make any difference.
The newest addition to my arms was an angel.He was just as big as his brother.But they definitely weren’t identical twins.Must be fraternal.
He immediately snuggled into his brother and sighed.Then he, too, fell fast asleep.Now I had not one, but two sleeping babies in my arms.
Huge—sleeping babies.Pure dead weight.
Carlo made large children.
I really needed to start doing some arm work.
“Here, give him back to me.Dani's okay now.”Stefan shifted Dani over slightly and opened his free arm.
“Nah, they're settled here.Looks like they enjoy being together.”
Stefan's eyes dropped to the two babies in my arms.“Yeah.”He cleared his throat.“They even sleep in the same crib.Giselle says they comfort each other in the night.And that means more sleep for all of them.And she needs all the sleep she can get.Especially since she's expecting again.”
I kissed Marcello on the head and nodded.“They didn't waste much time in between, did they?”I smiled over at Stefan.
He laughed and shook his head.“No.Carlo wants a big family.Always has.And he can be rather—” Stefan looked off toward the house, “convincing.”
That made me giggle.Carlo was incredibly hot.And I saw the way Giselle looked at him.I doubted he needed to convince her of much.
“Okay, okay, we're here!”Eve emerged, carrying a baby.Nick right behind her.Giselle, and Carlo next.
The priest rose and tossed his cigarette onto the ground.After he stepped on it, he straightened up and followed the group over.
“Everyone take your places,” Giselle said breathlessly.Her hair was frizzy, and she seemed more than a little distracted.“Here, we'll take them back now.”Giselle picked up Marcello from my arms.Or more like she tried to.He instantly howled and tightened his grip on me and his brother.Giselle let go and frowned.Then Carlo tried to grab Nicco from me, and—the exact same thing happened.He, too, screamed and clutched on tighter.
Yikes.
“It's okay, really.Just leave them,” I said even though my arms were starting to hurt more and more every second.
“Are you sure?”Giselle asked while Carlo attempted to remove Dani from Stefan's chest.She cried louder than both her brothers.
