Frost made a helpless gesture. “Once upon a time, I would have said no. Now, I know he’s capable of anything.”
Zep tried calming down. Nothing could or would be done tonight. “Well, whatever happens, I’m here.”
Frost rolled back into Zep’s arms and settled his head on Zep’s chest. “I know. You’re amazing. I’m just feeling a bit blindsided, I guess.”
Zep snorted. “I’m sure that’s an understatement. Do you want me to beat him up for you?”
He felt Frost shake with silent laughter, just as Zep hoped he would. “Thanks for the offer, but no. I’m hoping this was just a fluke. Like maybe he just had a fight with Jean Pierre and came running back thinking I’d be an easy mark.” The way Frost said Jean Pierre’s name left no doubt that he was the other man. It also made Zep realize something else. Neither of them really talked about their pasts. They had jumped into being a full-time couple, practically co-parenting the twins from day one. Life was so hectic that they didn’t waste time on the past. They were always barreling forward, focusing on the now. Honestly, he kind of liked that about them. It would be a long time before they heard all of each other’s stories. Right now, the girls were little. They were their biggest focus. Nights like these were precious.
“Mom is taking the girls shopping tomorrow and to some play date with her friend’s grandkids. They won’t be home until around dinner time tomorrow.”
Zep felt guilty for how happy that made him. He loved Millie and Lily with all his heart, but he loved Frost too. He wanted more of this.
Frost wasn’t finished. “So, I was thinking I should stay home tomorrow.”
Zep had to stop himself from squealing like a teenage girl. He forced himself to temper his reaction. “I like this plan. Am I a part of it?”
Frost went up onto his elbow and met Zep’s stare. “You’re more than part of my plan. You’re the whole goddamn thing. All day. You and me. Sleeping, eating, and making love. What do you say?”
“Yay.” Zep’s cheer came out in a whisper. His throat didn’t want to work with all the love sitting on his windpipe. As Frost leaned in and covered Zep’s mouth with his, Zep’s heart swelled to overflowing. Frost was a dream come true. He was the entire package. Maybe tomorrow Zep would find the courage to admit his feelings. Maybe not. Either way, they would be together. That was enough.
Seven
It should have been a beautiful day. Frost’s mom had the girls. They were alone. Frost and Zep had made breakfast side by side after sleeping in. Zep couldn’t explain it, but Frost felt distant—like his thoughts were elsewhere. No matter how hard Zep tried to make Frost smile, it never stuck for long. All day, the tension grew, killing Zep’s plan to finally tell Frost he loved him while he had the chance. Zep had this speech prepared in his mind where he confessed his love and opened the discussion to them becoming one household, but Frost’s mood was choking the life from Zep. Unfortunately, Zep had a bad feeling he knew why Frost wasn’t himself, and his name was Scott. If one visit got in Frost’s head like this, what would happen if Scott didn’t back down? This was just one time of Scott asking Frost to come back. What would happen after the second? The fifth? Millie and Lily were meant to be Scott’s kids. Zep was no one. He was just some guy who had come along later and fallen in love with this family. Zep was starting to think that Frost wouldn’t choose him in the end if Scott kept coming around.
By the time Helena came through the door with the twins, it was almost a relief. Until she left and Millie cried for him to pick her up, that is. Her little body was on fire. Zep pressed his cheek to her forehead. “Holy crap, you’re burning up.” He met Frost’s stare. Frost must have seen the fear in Zep’s eyes.
He immediately moved to Zep’s side and felt Millie’s forehead before moving to her cheek. “Damn. Let me grab the thermometer.”
Millie was lethargic and whiney as hell. Zep and Frost held each other’s stare as they waited for the thermometer to beep. It seemed to take forever. It finally signaled its end.
Frost eyed the device. His gaze shot to Zep’s. “One hundred and three. Holy shit, Zep. That’s high. She’s never had a fever this high. Do you mind keeping Lily while I take her to the hospital?”
Zep made a calming gesture as Frost took Millie from his arms, trying to get Frost to take a breath. “Kids are resilient as hell, Frost. Let’s give her some Motrin first and then some Tylenol in about four fours. We could even call her doctor while we wait. If that doesn’t work, then maybe head to the ER. My guess is it’s just a virus. There’s nothing they can do for a virus at the ER. Plus, that place is full of germs.”
“Will you or won’t you watch Lily?” Frost asked, switching from panicked to pissed in an instant.
Zep didn’t get a chance to respond. The doorbell rang. Zep swallowed a growl. He didn’t get a vote here, but he didn’t think taking Millie out in the rain to sit in the waiting room for hours, with people who had god only knew what, was the answer. “I’ll get that.” He didn’t wait for Frost to respond before heading for the door. With any luck, it was Frost’s mom returning. She could help him calm Frost’s fears. A guy styled to perfection stood on the other side of the door.
Zep fought a spike of irritation. Now wasn’t the time. “No one is looking for Jesus here.” He tried shutting the door.
The guy put his hand out, stopping the door from closing. “I’m here for Frost.”
Frost ran around behind Zep, gathering jackets and shoes they had just removed from the girls. “I don’t have time for this right now, Scott. Millie needs to go to the ER.”
Scott shoved his way inside, looking surprisingly concerned. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“She has a high fever.”
This was Scott? Anger flared to life in Zep’s chest. “Frost said now isn’t the time.”
Scott barely spared him a glance. “Mind your business. Our daughter is sick.”
Zep couldn’t believe his ears. “Frost’s daughter is sick, and you need to go.”
Frost had a girl in each arm as he headed for the door. “By all means, fight amongst yourselves. I have to go.”
Zep lost his patience. “Would you wait a damn minute, Frost? I don’t think she needs to go to the hospital, but if you’re determined—”
Frost spun on him with so much fury in his eyes that Zep took a step back. “You’re not a real doctor and these aren’t your kids. Stay out of it.”
Before Zep recovered from the shock of Frost’s sudden attack, Frost was out the door. Scott was on his heels, helping Frost leave Zep behind. They disappeared out the back door and into the garage. Zep stood there with the front door wide open and his heart beating in his ears. He had no clue what happened, but he was pretty sure—in a moment of panic—Frost had made his choice. He had chosen Scott.
Frost couldn’t stop tapping his foot and bobbing his knee, waiting for the doctor to show. They had been waiting for hours while Scott stared at him relentlessly. Frost’s arms were numb from holding his sleeping girls. Scott hadn’t offered to help. Hell would freeze before Frost accepted, but he couldn’t stop himself from comparing Scott’s every action to Zep’s. He should have waited for Zep to come with him. Zep would never let Frost do all this by himself. Frost was just fucking scared as hell. He would die if anything happened to one of his babies. If Zep had come, not only would he be helping with the girls, he would have made sure Frost didn’t internally panic for six hours. Frost still wasn’t sure how Scott even ended up here. One second, Frost had been strapping the kids in their car seats. The next, Scott had been climbing into the passenger seat. Frost was too panicked to fight with him.