Page 115 of Senior

Deuce smirked. “Nah, Ms. Maddie just got your ass with her belt in Paris.”

That caused another round of laughter. Daxon grinned as he looked around the table.

“I can’t wait to have my own memories with y’all.”

Deuce playfully rubbed his head. “You’re building them right now, kid. Remember what I told you. Your brothers and sisters got y’all.”

“I know. I got y’all too.”

“My man.”

They all dapped my boy and I was a proud father, watching the moment. I could already tell they were gonna fuck up the world behind their little brother.

“Mr. Stanley?” Daxon said.

“What’s up, son?”

He looked around nervously. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. You can ask me anything.”

“Wait. I need to ask Ms. Stephanie too. Can you get her?”

I nodded and located Steph, sitting with the ladies. Her eyes met mine and she smiled. The moment I motioned her over, she excused herself and came.

“Are y’all behaving yourselves over here?” she asked, slipping into the cusp of my arm like she often did.

“They aren’t,” I answered. “Dax has a question for us, my love.”

She smiled and cupped his chin. “What can I do for you, my sweet boy?”

“Well… I know it’s not official just yet. But you’re adopting me and Sevyn. You both call me son or my boy so… I was wondering… can I call you mom and dad?”

Stephanie gasped as her hand flew to her heart. I couldn’t believe he asked that shit my damn self. There was no doubt in my mind that I saw him as my son. Knowing he could see me as his father… that shit hit different. Steph looked at me and squeezed my hand. We both nodded.

“Of course you can, baby,” she whispered, pulling him in for a hug.

While she rubbed his back, I kissed the top of his head. Now I’d never been the most emotional man, but lately, shit was just bringing it out of me. I guess this was what it felt like to just be happy and content with love and life.

TWO WEEKS LATER

I looked over myself in the mirror as I prepared for one of the biggest moments of my life. Tonight was not only the night I proposed to the love of my life, but I had a wedding ceremony set up immediately after. Was I jumping the gun in hopes that she would say yes? Maybe. Did I care?

Fuck no.

She would say yes.

She would wear my ring and in front of all our family and friends, we would finally become Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Dillinger.

I’d sent her on a five-day trip to Vegas with her girls and she was due back any minute now. I needed her to be out of the way to execute the plan I had. Tavia, Allison, and Maddie were all in on the plan. I’d met with them a few days after Dax and Sevyn met the family, to plant the bug in their ear about my plans. Steph was having a spa say with Karen, so it was the perfect time to meet with my other baby mamas.

Everyone gathered at Allison’s. They were all patiently waiting around the kitchen table sipping wine when I walked in. Conversation ceased and they all stared at me.

“Well damn. Hey,” I said.

They all rolled their eyes at me. While I was happy Maddie was finally a part of the fold, that just meant I had four people to team up against me now.

“What do you want, Stanley?” Allison asked.