“I’m glad we are getting to travel now, but I don’t want to keep coming home to quiet like that.”
Gage nodded. They’d gotten back from a trip out west to visit Sloane’s family with a quick stop in Montana just the week before. Nash had been back and forth for the last few years leading The Trident II expansion in Montana, and everyone from the team tried to travel up there as much as possible. Nash’s extended family had become an extension of their own. Gage and Nash had even spent time working on his family’s ranch, helping to turn one of the old barns into a wedding venue.
It turned out to be a beautiful project. So beautiful, in fact, that Sloane agreed it would be the perfect place to finally get married. Texas was home, but Montana was going to hold such a special place in the beautiful story that was being written about their lives.
Traveling was easier now than it had been, although his heart ached at why that was true. They’d had to say goodbye to Betty just a few months after Beckett was born. It was horribly emotional, and Sloane had retreated back into herself a bit when it happened. But their friends were there, and in those weeks after she passed, they had more nephew and niece sleepovers and cuddles than they knew what to do with.
Darius was there, with cuddles too, until late last year, when it was his turn to cross the rainbow bridge. Gage had no doubts that Darius, and Betty, and even Cookie, too, were being well taken care of by Mel and Mikey.
“As soon as we get back from our honeymoon, I think we should stop into the shelter.” He squeezed the hand that was resting firmlyon her thigh.
Sloane’s eyes lit up. “Perfect.” Her smile slipped as they arrived.
“I told you we were going to be late!” She sighed and her hand whacked playfully against his chest. “There’s no more space in the driveway. You have to park on the road.”
“It’ll be okay,” Gage chuckled. “No one is keeping score of who parked in the lawn and who parked on the side of the road.”
“Still,” she tsked. “Honestly, I’m supposed to be the reliable friend. You’ve got me all sorts of wonky!”
“That’s just the orgasms talking.”
“Gage!”
He laughed all the way up to the house, his hand pressed into the small of Sloane’s back until they met Seb and Emma on the porch.
“Hey, there’s the mom and dad of honor!” Gage wrapped Emma in a big hug as Sloane set the present they’d ordered weeks ago on one of the tables by the door.
“Thank you so much for coming today.” Sebastian smiled as Sloane wrapped her arms around him.
“Are you kidding me?” she said. “We wouldn’t miss this for anything. And I am so sorry we are a little bit late.”
“That was my fault,” he winked at Sloane and Emma burst out laughing.
“Don’t worry about it, lovebirds. It’s a very casual event.”
Gage ran his hand over the wooden banister that was covered in pink and blue flowers and ribbons and balloons. “Sure Em. It’s looking real casual too,” he teased.
“Should we go inside?” Sloane asked. Emma and Sebastian exchanged some sort of worried glance with each other and Gage’s stomach clenched.
“Actually, before we go inside, we have something we want to ask you. And you don’t have to answer us right away. You can take time to think about it,” Emma said, her eyesshimmering with tears. Gage looked between her and Sebastian, who also looked like he was about to fall to pieces.
“What’s going on? Everything’s okay with the baby, isn’t it?” Sloane asked.
“Oh, god! Yes! Daisy’s been having a textbook pregnancy. She truly has been the best surrogate.”
Gage was still in awe of Emma. The strength she had to move on from everything that had happened to her. Even though she’d never be able to carry a pregnancy herself, she finally had found the strength to ask for help. Daisy Porter agreeing to carry Seb and Emma’s baby for them was an incredible gift. That was more than friendship. That was sisterhood. Family. And it was a beautiful thing to get to be a witness to.
“Okay, well stop scaring us and just ask.” Gage grasped Sloane’s hand, pulling her closer to his side. He felt her fingers give a reassuring squeeze.
“Tracker.” Cap ran his hand over his chin. “Emma and I were planning to keep the sex of the baby a surprise until delivery…”
“But, there was a little snafu with the envelope where the information was written down and an invitation RSVP that looked very similar.” Emma smiled.
“And… Well… We found out.” Sebastian’s arm went around waist. “We’re still keeping it a secret for now, but were hoping the two of you would keep the secret with us.”
Sloane gasped, her hand going over her heart. “Of course we would love to!!”
“Okay, but there’s one more question we need to ask.” Emma winked at Gage and Sebastian cleared his throat.
