Who would she have a big wedding for? She had no relatives and the courthouse honestly sounded perfect to her. “No,” she said. “I like the idea of going down to the courthouse. Besides your club, neither of us has any family. It will be perfect,” she promised.
Savage walked into the kitchen and stopped to look between the two of them. “Can’t you two take that to your room?” he grumbled. Viv giggled at just how put out he was acting. Savage was constantly touching Dallas and Bowie. She caught the three of them making out on the pool table just the night before.
“You’re one to talk,” She teased. “As I recall you had no problem getting the eight ball in the corner pocket last night.”
“Fuck,” Savage swore. “Yeah, well—we thought everyone was asleep and you try being intimate with three kids in your room.”
“Chloe’s still sleeping in your room?” Cillian asked. Ever since her abduction, she hadn’t left Dallas’ side. Viv worried that running away from their problems wouldn’t ease the little girl’s fears. She needed counseling and they wouldn’t be able to find that for her while hiding away from the Dragons.
“Yeah,” Savage whispered. “She refuses to leave Dallas and I honestly can’t blame the kid. She’s been through hell and back.”
“She has, man,” Cillian agreed. “Just give her some time. Once we can go back home, I’m sure you guys will be able to find a family counselor who will be able to help Chloe work through all this.”
“I know. I just wish we could do something now to help her,” Savage said. He looked between the two of them again and rolled his eyes. “Shit, I’m sorry, Cillian. I went and fucked up your make-out session with my problems. What were you two talking about anyway? Or do I want to even know?” Savage asked.
“Well, we were just talking about our wedding. We’re going to go down to the courthouse once we get the all-clear to head home,” Cillian said.
“Hey, that’s great guys,” Savage said.
“Thanks,” Cillian said. “You want to be my best man?”
Savage seemed a little choked up, nodding his answer. He patted Cillian on the back and pulled him in for a quick hug. “I’d love to be your best man, Cillian,” Savage said. “Thank you. How about you let Savage Hell throw you a little party after. You know, nothing too fancy, but we’d like to celebrate you two getting hitched.”
“We’d love that, Savage,” Viv agreed. “Thank you.” Cillian smiled at her and pulled her against his body.
Thanks, man,” Cillian said. “That would be lovely.”
_______
Another week had passed and Viv was bulging out of her regular clothing. She needed to pick up some new pants, preferably with stretchy waistbands, as soon as possible. Convincing any of the guys that it was a necessity and not a luxury wasn’t going to be easy. Enlisting Dallas’ help might have been her finest idea in a damn long time and when she searched the room that Dallas, Savage, and Bowie were sharing, she found Dallas napping on their big bed with Greer and the baby. It was probably the cutest thing Viv had ever seen and she rubbed her little belly. She often wondered if she would be a good mother, especially now that she was around Dallas, who was a fantastic mom, and her kids. Watching her friend with her children had her doubting her abilities and Viv hated that.
She had always been the type of person to face any challenge head-on, never backing down from one. When her grandmother died, she picked up the pieces and did what was expected of her, taking over the diner and making it her own. She loved that place too, but it wasn’t her original plan. Hell, nothing in her life was as she had planned it to be. It was all better—the diner, moving into her grandmother’s little house and now, meeting Cillian and having a baby together. It was all so much more than she could have ever imagined. But, that didn’t stop her panic at the idea of having to take care of another human being or her worry at not doing a good job.
“You know, I can almost hear you thinking,” Dallas whispered.
“Sorry,” Viv murmured back. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“I dozed off,” Dallas admitted. “But, I can’t sleep with these two in the bed with me. I never was much of a co-sleeping parent. I always worried I’d roll over on the baby and smush her.” Viv watched as Dallas shimmied down the bed, trying to escape her sleeping children. Viv softly giggled and Dallas shot her a look that she was less amused by the whole scene.
“What’s up?” Dallas asked.
“It’s more like what’s out,” Viv corrected. She framed her growing belly with her hands, stretching Cillian’s t-shirt over her expanding waist.
Now it was Dallas’ turn to laugh. “Yeah, I’d love to tell you it gets better but it doesn’t. It gets worse, Viv. So much worse. I wish I could help you out but I don’t have any maternity clothes here.”
“I figured. Can you help me convince the guys to get me some? I’m pretty sure that they’ll think I just want to go on a shopping spree but I feel like I can’t breathe in any of my clothes. It’s getting to the point where I just want to walk around naked.”
“Lead with that,” Dallas offered. “Tell Cillian that you’ll prance around naked and he’ll take you out shopping.”
“I do not prance,” Viv protested. “But, I see your point. That might just work.”
“I’ll back you, Viv. Just say the word and I’ll push Savage and Bowie to support you,” Dallas promised.
“You just don’t want me walking around naked in front of your guys,” Viv grumbled.
Dallas giggled and nodded. “True,” she admitted. “But, I also remember just how miserable it was at the stage you’re in. You can’t fit in any of your clothes and you just want to cry and eat ice cream. Am I right?”
“Yeah,” Viv sighed. “Exchange ice cream with cookies and you have me pegged.”
“What if we persuade the guys to let you shop online and have everything delivered? That way you wouldn’t go out, putting yourself in danger. I could help you pick some stuff out,” Dallas offered.
“I’d appreciate that, Dallas.” Viv turned to leave the room. “And, if that suggestion fails, I can still walk around naked to solve my problem.”
Cillian walked into Dallas’ room, as if on cue. “Here you are,” he said. “I was starting to worry that you snuck out. Everything all right?” He looked past Dallas and Viv to where the kids were napping and smiled. “They’re so cute when they sleep,” he said.
Dallas barked out her laugh, “So, what are they when they are awake?” she teased. Cillian looked a little flustered, causing them both to giggle. “Don’t look so serious Cillian,” she said. “I was just teasing you.”
Cillian blew out his breath and chuckled. “So, what are you two up to, you know, besides busting my balls?”
“Well,” Dallas said, looking over at Viv. “Your baby is growing like a weed and Viv needs some clothes that fit her.” Dallas patted Viv’s belly for good measure.