Speaking of baby Aspen, that little girl was adorable. But the process of bringing a child into the world scared the fuck out of me and the fear still sucked me under. When I thought about Gemma ever being pregnant with our child I couldn’t help but worry over losing her and I didn’t think I’d ever survive that. But as I watched her hold that tiny bundle in her arms I could see it so clearly. She wanted that and I wanted to give it to her.
I wanted a child with Gemma.
But first I needed to make her my wife.
ChapterThirty-Seven
GEMMA
What a nightit had been so far.
Peyton and Piper wore matching pink dresses that had sparkly red hearts all over them. They looked so adorable and had me cracking up when they fell over dizzy after showing me all the twirls they could do to show their pretty outfits off.
The heart necklaces I gave them—ones they rarely took off unless for bed or showers—hung from their delicate necks and sparkled as if winking at me with love.
When the four of us walked into our friends’ home, hand in hand, I couldn’t contain the smile on my face. Teal and Kace’s home was an explosion of pink and red. There were hearts on everything: balloons, streamers, cups, plates, napkins, vases, and more. Even the cupcakes were hearts and decorated for the occasion, which I knew had to be compliments of Capri. They were that pretty. And when the pizza arrived, yup, they were all heart-shaped too.
I couldn’t believe it had been the guy's idea in setting the party up, even if the ladies did the decorating. It had been a brilliant idea that worked for everyone and Lord knew there was so much love in the house with all of us together that it was practically bursting at the seams.
Speaking of love, I looked down at the precious baby in my arms. My finger tenderly traced over Aspen’s head, and down her baby soft cheek, and then I found myself counting every tiny finger on her small hands. I’d probably have counted her toes too if they were exposed.
After my exploration, I looked up and my gaze caught with Bodie’s. I tilted my head trying to figure out what was going through his mind. Multiple times throughout the evening I’d noticed him watching me and he wore an expression I couldn’t quite read.
I may have tried getting to the bottom of what was going on with him but Embry went running by with something in her hands, and as always, in true Embry fashion she not only caught my attention but that of everyone else too. How was it that at almost nine she could command a room like a queen?
We all watched in anticipation as she marched up to Dexter and thrust something into his hands. “Will you be my valentine?” she asked him.
The handsome boy looked down at what I could see was a small basket and then back up to Embry, who stood waiting for an answer. “You bought me all my favorite candy?” he replied in wonder.
“Of course, silly, it’s Valentines,” Embry told him as if that made all the sense in the world. She,
however, was smart beyond her years. Many adults messed up the said special day she was referring to.
Dexter checked out his basket again and then, shocking the crap out of us all, he looked back at Embry. “Okay, I’ll be your valentine because you gave me candy.”
I smiled at his answer. Dexter was a boy so I guessed getting candy was as good a reason as any to say yes.
Embry herself was surprised and something happened I didn’t think I’d ever seen happen before. She was speechless. However, before she could gather her wits, her brother, Hudson, and Brinley and Rowan’s boy, Zander, barreled up to the group of kids with oversized milk-chocolate candy hearts in their hands.
“Will you be our valentines?” the boys asked in unison as they held out the sweets to two little girls whose eyes widened and then faces lit up with smiles.
My head snapped to Bodie and the panicked expression on his face had laughter bubbling up inside of me. I looked back at his daughters, who gladly accepted the treat handed to them.
“Shit, what the hell just happened?” Bodie asked loudly.
“Well, you just said two bad words and owe me double the money,” Embry said proudly.
Damn these times with the group were fun.
“My friends better get control of their boys,” Bodie said pointing at Braxton and Rowan. “Embry, I will pay up later,” he told her, looking in her direction. Then his eyes locked with mine. “If we are going to do this valentines stuff, then I guess now is as good a time as any for my gift.”
Sensing like me that something was going on, Teal sidled up to my side and carefully scooped her little one from my arms.
Bodie stalked toward me with a gleam in his eyes.
What in the world was he up to?
* * *
