There had been something between us from the very moment we met. Going to him, I did my best to bring tranquility to his mind, body, and soul. When I pressed my lips to his, I felt the tension seep from his body and was pleased I could help do that for him.
But the situation was a little crazy and it only got more chaotic. Kace came flying through the door with his son in his arms and behind him, hot on his heels, were the paramedics.
And while it was good they had all made it, my suspicions were right, nobody was headed to the hospital until after Kace and Teal’s baby made an appearance. Paxton moved to the side and let the medics take over at the last second before we all witnessed Teal deliver a precious baby girl like a champ. She’d been phenomenal.
I wasn’t sure once she was in her right mind how she would feel about us all having been right there but she’d waved it off saying it was fine. When she was thinking clearly again she may be singing a different tune, but it was something I would never forget. Of course, we’d not been right up in her business, but off to the side. To hear the innocent cry and watch the proud parents' faces light up with so much love had been special.
Watching the family that had just grown by one sent an undeniable longing through me.
Kace had been holding his wife’s hand, wiping her forehead with a wet cloth, and whispering soft encouraging words to her the whole time. Afterwards, I watched him kiss her softly, and say, “You did so good, Little Momma.”
Then Jurnee let Teal and Kace’s son down she’d been holding and he toddled over to his dad. He looked down at his mommy and the baby in her arms. “Sis, sis, sis,” he said, making us all melt on the spot.
Next to me, Bodie let out a rush of air and I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tight to me.
“See, honey, she and the baby are good,” I whispered to him.
Just as they were about to load Teal onto the stretcher, the door opened and the rest of the guys in our group, along with all the kids, piled into the house. It was packed to the top like a box of sardines. But the gang was all there.
My eyes swept to Teal and she nodded at Kace, who couldn’t contain the love in his eyes shining brighter than a thousand stars in the sky.
He then turned to us and with a radiant smile, said, “Everyone, meet Aspen Jane Griggs.”
* * *
The sleepover was postponedand for good reason.
We all followed the ecstatic new parents to the hospital so we could make sure before heading to our own homes that mother and baby were good. Our group had gathered at the hospital many times over the years in both terrifying and joyful moments. While I preferred the happy times, the point is we were always there for each other.
Bodie calmed more and more as each minute went by. Once Kace had come out letting us know Teal and Aspen were perfectly okay, it seemed as if he could truly breathe again.
It was late and the kids were exhausted, so with our minds at peace, we headed home. Both girls had crashed in the car so Bodie grabbed Peyton to carry her inside and told me he’d be right back for Piper. Not listening, because what fun would that be, I managed to get the little angel out of her seat and into my arms, then headed into the house.
“You’re a stubborn woman,” Bodie said with a smile on his face as he intercepted me at the front door and took Piper from me.
Leaning over, he kissed me quickly and headed toward the girl’s bedroom while I locked up, then followed behind him.
With both kids snug as a bug in a rug in their beds, I watched Bodie kiss them goodnight and my heart fluttered with love. The three of them had become my world.
“Daddy,” Piper said sleepily. “I want Gemma to kiss me goodnight too.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t say goodnight to the girls but Bodie had been doing it himself all their lives and they had their routine so I tried not to get in the way too much. When he noticed what I was doing, he’d told me that without change, there’d be no butterflies. I remember my mouth dropping open at his profound words and asking where he’d heard that before.
He’d told me that his mother had heard the quote somewhere and had passed it on to him. It had stuck with him and when the guys offered him the job he took it with that quote in his head.
I silently thanked his mother after hearing that.
“Yeah, daddy, I want Gemma to say goodnight too,” Peyton added.
Not able to deny them any more than their father ever could, I stepped into the room and headed to their bedside. Giving each of them a kiss and hugging them tight, I let their innocent, loving touch sink into my soul.
“Night, night, Gemma,” both of the kids said.
“Goodnight, sweet girls,” I whispered.
Bodie grabbed my hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing the back of it. The sweet gesture and tender touch of his lips sent my heart racing. Not letting go, he pulled me from the room and straight to ours.
I was bone tired but when Bodie shut the door and slowly started to undress me, my lady bits flared to life. His large palms skimmed over every inch of my skin as each article of clothing was swept from my body. Then he lifted me into his arms and laid me down on the plush bed before standing to remove his own clothes.
