“Seriously?! Not in my bathroom!” Silas looks up to the ceiling and whines.
“Sorry, bud. Might want to change the garbage in here soon.” I pat his shoulder twice while walking out, then grab Bunny’s hand and kiss her temple as I pull her back to the rest of our friends.
“Were you two really having sex somewhere in my house? During my son’s birthday party?” Cecilia looks at both of us with a frown as we enter the kitchen.
“Hey! I had to listen to you and Silas have sex for a while, I think one time from us is acceptable.” Emma narrows her eyes at her friend.
“Okay, fine. As long as you guys didn’t make a mess! I amnotcleaning up your post-sex scene!”
“You have a housekeeper, C. You don’t even clean your house.” Clay adds in from his spot against the counter as he sips his beer.
“Clay! Whose side are you on?” Cece scolds him, to which he just shrugs.
“You know, I kind of feel bad for Silas. His birthday is pretty much forgotten now with New Year’s and Dante being born on the same day,” Aubrey adds in quietly from her seat at the island.
“Oh, don’t you worry. Mira and John took Dante for the night yesterday; Silas got all the birthday celebration he needed.” Cecilia chuckles, wagging her brow as her cheeks turn pink.
My sister groans and scrunches her nose. “Never mind. I don’t feel sorry for him anymore.”
It kind of sucks. This is the second year in a row we haven’t celebrated the New Year all together like we used to. Last year, the whole team and gang spent the night in the hospital for Cecilia.
And this year, Emma and I weren’t up to celebrating much with Gracie being down. I know Morgan and Clay still threw a party at their place for the rest of the team, but it’s not the same.I guess that’s what happens when you grow up and have kids.
“MINNIE!” Silas yells from down the hall as he marches our way. “Do you know what I caught these two doing in my bathroom?”
“Yes, honey. We know.” Cecilia walks up to her husband’s side.
“Inmybathroom!” he says again.
She places her hand on his chest, trying desperately to hold in her laugh. “Shh, it’s fine. Beth is coming over tomorrow morning. I’ll tell her to thoroughly clean it for you.”
“You better.”
“Excuse me?” She pulls back with that same look my mother used to give me as a child. The one that isn’t necessarily angry but is daring you to do it again, knowing you’ll get in shit.
His eyes widen. “I’m sorry. I love you.” He rushes out and bends to kiss her all over.
“You better,” she says back, making everyone laugh.
These two are really meant for each other. I look at Bunny and find her gazing at them with longing in her eyes.She wants this, what they have. I want to give her that, I just don’t know if I’m the right man for it.
Chapter nineteen
Emma
A beautiful blessing.
~ One Month Later / February ~
“Look at you go! You’re doing so well, Little Tulip!” I encourage Gracie as she crawls around the living room, making sure she doesn’t bump into anything or tip over like she does occasionally.
Gracie just turned nine months today, and the difference from when I first saw her to now is unbelievable. She’s still a little baby, but her independence is growing more each day. Mostdays, I let her crawl around in the living room with her toys, and she spends a good two hours without fussing. She even wanders to the kitchen from time to time.
We’ve set up a baby gate with a door that opens in the middle at the bottom of the stairs and another at the beginning of the hallway, limiting her access only to the open space where we can see her.
Things are going pretty well between me and Greyson. I think we’re dating now. I mean, we haven’t said the words‘we’re dating'or called each other boyfriend and girlfriend, but he’s very affectionate in public and even more when we’re alone. The man kisses me every chance he gets and always has a hand on me somewhere.
Since Dante’s birthday party, we’ve spent every night that he’s been home in his bed. He refuses to let me sleep in mine, even when he’s away. The first night when he video called me and saw me under my covers, he got mad and ordered me into his room.It was ridiculous but also super cute.
