Liam snorts and toothpaste spews from his mouth. “Hold on,” he mumbles before dipping back into the bathroom. He returns moments later and smiles. “You’re hot because your blood pressure is spiked. What did the doctor tell you about relaxing?”
Groaning, I roll my eyes and release a slow breath. “That if I don’t take it easy, I risk going into labor too early.”
“Exactly,” he says. “Now get that cute little ass of yours into bed, and I’ll push some pillows under your legs.”
Walking, I quickly spin around and poke a finger at him. “This is all your fault!”
Liam’s lips twitch. “I know, and I’m very sorry. The next time you jump me in the shower, I’ll put on a condom.”
I know he’s only saying that to amuse me, but it works for now. I’m hot and miserable, and these next four weeks are going to drag by until I can coerce this child out of me.
FIVE WEEKS LATER
“Tobias Liam Evans, you’re late.” I rub my nose against his small, soft one. “But I’ll forgive you since you’re so cute.”
Liam takes him from my arms so our oldest can hold him for the first time. He’s so excited that I can hardly contain myself. It’s the picture-perfect moment, and my heart squeezes by how blessed we are. A houseful of boys and me. Ironic, considering I grew up with sisters, but I love it.
“I can’t get over how adorable he is,” Lennon says, leaning over and watching the boys.
“Of course he is. He’s mine after all,” Liam chimes in.
Hunter and Lennon’s kids, Alison, Aaron, and their youngest, Aubrey —who’s a little older than Sophie’s daughter—take turns holding Tobias. Then Sophie and Mason visit, and Layla gets her turn.
“You’re next…” I taunt Sophie, rubbing a hand over her large bump. She looks like she could pop any day now.
“I’m hoping the air in this room puts me into labor,” she quips, fanning her hand around her face. “The air in hospitals is always special and pumped with good oxygen.”
I snort at her dramatics.
“That baby’s gonna come out when she’s good and ready,” Mason tells her.
Liam sets Tyler on his lap, and they sit on the edge of my bed. He leans over, then steals a kiss, making me smile wide. The moment I held Tobias for the first time, I fell in love all over again. I hadn’t realized I could love someone as much as I already loved Tyler and Liam. But I do.
Then Liam, being his natural sweet self, told me how proud of me he was and thanked me for giving him another son. I know he wasn’t always sure he even wanted a family, but with me, he wants everything.
I want to give him everything he deserves and more.
Not only is he an amazing husband and partner, but an incredible father. When his dad found out we were expecting Tyler, he nearly popped a blood vessel he was so ecstatic.
“Did you two pick a name yet?” I ask Sophie.
“Yep. Layla picked it out.” She beams.
“Aww…wanna tell me, Layla?” I turn and look at her, smiling as she holds Tobias. Mason sits next to her, making sure she holds him carefully.
She’s shy, like Sophie, but she smiles proudly. “Lily. After my favorite flower!”
“Oh my gosh…” My eyes widen. “I love that!”
“We do too,” Sophie says, rubbing her belly. “Hopefully, they grow up and are as close as the three of us are.”
Lennon comes over and hugs Sophie, then grabs my hand. “They will be.”
“All of our kids will be as long as the three of us are together,” I say, squeezing her hand.
Sophie smiles. “Always.”
Hours later, it’s finally quiet when it’s just Tobias and me. I told Liam to take Tyler home so he can sleep in his own bed and to come back in the morning.
“Should we FaceTime your uncle Tyler?” I ask him quietly. “I think he’d really like to meet you.”
I hit the button on my phone and beam when I see his face. “Hi,” I whisper. “There’s someone new here.”
Tyler smiles. “Really? Let me see!”
I turn the camera around so he can see him. He’s sleeping peacefully on my chest.
“He’s beautiful, Mads.”
I turn the camera back. “Thank you. I wish you were still here.” I pout, sticking out my lower lip.
Tyler chuckles, then we’re interrupted by a feminine voice in the background. “Hey, Ty—” The dark-haired beauty behind him stops in her tracks. “Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were on the phone.”
“It’s fine. I’ll be off in a minute,” he tells her.
Once she leaves, Tyler turns toward me.
I raise both my brows. “Excuse me, who is that?”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s not what you think. Her dad is my new boss.”
I lower my voice. “Gemma?”
Tyler nods once.
“Oh. Em. Gee,” I whisper. I managed to pry some info out of him over the years but just the basics. Gemma was his sister Everleigh’s best friend growing up, and now he’s working for her dad. He had a secret crush on her, but he’s “too old,” and after he joined the Army and moved away, he tried to forget about how he felt but has never been able to—well, that’s what I got out of his not-so-easy to read between the lines. But I’m pretty good at putting things together. Now I’m guessing he’ll play that ‘I’m not good enough for her card’ because of his past and record. I’ll be changing his mindset if I can help it. “The plot thickens.”
He groans, brushing a hand through his hair. “There’s no plot. We’re…friends.”
I snort and nod. “Yeah, I remember when Liam said that for years, too. Good luck with that.” I smirk.
“For someone who just gave birth, you’re awfully energized.”
“Don’t change the subject,” I tease. “So when are you gonna ask her out?”
“Jesus.” He blows out a breath. “I gotta go, Mads.”
“You liar! You’re just trying to get rid of me.”
Tyler smirks. “I’d never.”
“I want details, you hear me? Text me all the juiciness.”
He scrunches his nose. “I think you’ve confused me for one of your gossipy girlfriends again.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to persuade him anyway. “Liam and I won’t be able to have sex for six weeks. I need your dating life to hold me over.”
“Maddie, I didn’t enjoy hearing you guys in the next room for three weeks, so I most definitely don’t enjoy hearing you talk about it.”
“Geez, you’re so dramatic.”
“If you want a girl to gossip with, I’ll give you my sister’s number.”
“Really?” I perk up. “Good. She’ll tell me all the details of your love life.”
“Shit. I really shot myself in the foot by saying that. Never mind. My sister doesn’t have a phone.”
“I gave birth today, but I wasn’t born today. So nice try.”
“Quit hassling the man,” Liam’s voice comes from the door, and I nearly jump in shock.