“There’s one more thing.” Oscar smirks once the excitement of Hunter’s gap year has died down. The next thing we know, Oscar drops to one knee. OMG! Stacey gasps, as does her family. It’s happening. It’s really happening. I can’t believe it. He pulls out a black velvet box from his pocket. “The moment I met you, Stacey, I knew you were different. I fought my feelings for you until I couldn’t anymore. I was scared to take the leap, but I’d be more scared of living my life without you.” Dammit, Ragnar, that was beautiful as everyone tears up. “Will you marry me, Stacey?” he asks, taking out the huge yellow diamond and slipping it onto her shaking ring finger.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” Stacey squeals as Oscar, looking rather relieved, picks her up and kisses her.
“The last Dirty Texas man has fallen,” I yell out.
What a Christmas!
46
DERRICK
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Derrick: Happy New Year.
Imessage Charlie, but I’m still blocked. I know Jackson has told me not to take it personally, but it seems kind of hard not to when I’m the one blocked.
Olivia and Axel have arrived from England, where they have been for the past month helping her mother after her father’s death. It’s so good to see them again. It’s a subdued New Year’s Eve, maybe because of the snow, or maybe it’s that the gang is moving into different stages of life, but we are all not in a partying mood. We just celebrated Evan’s birthday with a big cake, and we’ve retired to the games room while the grandparents have taken the babies.
It's a beautiful man cave-inspired games room with fake deer antlers hanging on the wall, a pool table, and a bar. It’s like an old hunting lodge, but Christian definitely doesn’t do any hunting.
“Happy birthday, Evan!” Christian says, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the bar as he starts pouring the guys’ glasses.
“And happy new year to you all,” Evan adds.
Once all our glasses are filled, Axel hands out cigars to all the boys. My eyes narrow on the gift as I turn it around in my fingers. Axel doesn’t normally smoke cigars. I know the boys do occasionally for big celebrations, I think the last ones we had were for Easton’s birth. Does this mean we are celebrating something? I look over at where the girls are sitting, sipping on champagne, and nothing looks amiss there. Unless this is for Oscar and Stacey’s engagement, which he missed.
“I just wanted to say Happy New Year, guys. Another year around the sun completed and another year in business with you fools.” He smirks, the guys all grumble and curse him. “This new year is going to be amazing, we have Finn and Isla’s wedding to look forward to. And now we have the engagement of Oscar and Stacey to celebrate, and Olivia and I are pregnant with twins.”
He slips in that piece of news that stuns us so much we just look at him, but the girls catch on before us and they scream with joy. We all congratulate Axel and Olivia. This is fantastic news. They are having twins.
“Welcome to the dad club.” Evan smiles, slapping Axel on the back.
“I’m still kind of in shock … it wasn’t planned.”
“Never usually is,” Finn adds.
“Now we need the Viking to spread his seed, and the Dirty Texas family will be complete,” I joke.
“Dude, I proposed. Babies are a long way off,” Oscar growls at me.
“That’s what they all say. And now look at everyone.” Oscar shivers. “We have a menagerie of kids. It won’t be long until you’re bitten by the kids’ bug. I see you with Easton.” Oscar shakes his head at me.
“Take your time, man, there’s no hurry. Enjoy Stacey and Oscar time,” Finn explains.
“Did you miss that with Issy?” Oscar asks Finn.
“Yeah, I did, and I wish we had it,” Finn tells him honestly, not to be a dick to Oscar because he is, in essence, the reason they weren’t able to be together. “I wouldn’t swap what we have for anything, though. Being a father is the best thing in the world, it’s also the most draining.”
“Stop it, guys. I’m already clucky. Listening to you hot men talk about babies is making my ovaries pop.” I groan. It’s something I’ve been thinking about as another year passes me by.
“You don’t have ovaries.” Christian chuckles.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not clucky. I envy you all. I wish I could find someone to have a baby with. It makes it hard when the person I want doesn’t have the right reproductive organs.” Way to go being a Debbie Downer, Derrick. Everyone else is celebrating, and here you are being a gloomsberry.
“Hello, modern medicine, man,” Christian says, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “You pick an egg or a surrogate, and you have a baby. Heaps of single women do it, why can’t you?”
Maybe I’ve had one too many sips of whiskey, but why does Christian’s idea sound like a good one? “Yeah? Like a gay single man is going to be able to have a baby. They are going to shut the door right in my face.”
