“Daddy,” Portia whimpers, running into the room and straight for her father.
He’s always been her favorite, and as he hoists her up and nestles her against his chest, I get why.
Brushing my arm down her back, I smile at her, all snug against Daddy’s chest. “What’s up?”
“Harley’s snoring, and I can’t sleep,” she grumbles.
I share a bemused smile with Carson as he strokes circles on her back, then kisses the top of her hand.
“You can stay here for a little bit.”
“Such a softy,” I mouth.
He wrinkles his nose at my teasing, and I lie down with a laugh, rolling over to switch off my bedside lamp.
Looks like we won’t be getting lucky tonight.
But we’ll get another chance later. And maybe right now, Carson needs his little girl seeking comfort from him. Maybe she’ll help him realize that he’s our hero and he can do freaking anything, even bring a dream to life that he doesn’t think he’s big enough for.
Well, he is.
And we’re going to make him see it.
CHAPTER 21
GRADY
I wake up with a soft groan, my back aching in places it shouldn’t. I’m only thirty-four, for fuck’s sake. But Blake let Nichelle jump into bed with us in the middle of the night, and that little girl can starfish like nobody’s business. To avoid getting a toe up my ass, I had to move to the edge of the bed, my body crumpled into an unnatural position. And now I feel like a pretzel being snapped in half and ready to be eaten.
I ease out of the bed, not wanting to wake my two sleeping beauties.
Covering them back up, I smile down at them, both so precious to me in very different ways. I’m about to hit the bathroom, then sneak downstairs when the door creaks open and Kendall comes running in. I scoop her up before she can wake anybody, and we use the bathroom downstairs. I make her go, in spite of her protests. She has been very reluctant to toilet train, and although she pretty much is now, I’d love to ditch these nighttime pull-ups.
“Good girl. Now wash your hands.” She frowns at me, and I give her a pointed look. “Do it.”
With a huff, she walks over to the sink, and I sing the little song I made up for Nichelle. “Wash, wash, wash those hands,wash those hands today. Wash, wash, wash those hands, wash those germs away.”
She giggles, her little fingers so tiny as she rubs them together and gets them all soapy. I then help her dry them before we pad out into the kitchen.
The living room is already filled with the early birds, and I scan heads, grateful Dom and Jane are awake. They can help keep an eye on the youngest ones.
In fact, Charlotte is sitting on Dom’s knee right now, his football clutched against her chest while she laughs at the TV.
“Funny.” She points at the cartoon characters, and Dom grins down at her.
Jane’s on the floor with her coloring pencils, drawing some intricate design. She really is talented.
And Seb and Olly are sitting on the couch playing Thumb Wars and giggling. We’ll have to keep an eye on those two, make sure it doesn’t turn into something more boisterous. It’s way too early in the morning for play fights.
I wonder if any other adults are up, and my query is answered the second I step into the kitchen and find Zander cursing at the fancy-ass coffee machine.
“Just work for me, dammit. Is one fucking cup of coffee too much to ask?” he mutters, looking more than salty. I can’t help a soft snicker, and he spins, spotting Kendall in my arms and putting on an immediate grin. “Good morning, sweet girl.”
“Hi, Unca Zanner.” She waves at him as she rests her head on my shoulder.
Leaning my cheek against her soft curls, I give my friend a wincing smile. “Where’s Dani when you need her, right?”
“I know.” He sighs. “Just give me a pod and a button. I don’t know how to work this thing.”
