and girls, all different ages, but all close enough that they will grow up together the way me, Beaumont, Rylan, Ford, and Stephanie did.
The sleepy town of Gallup isn’t ready for this brand of wild, but they’re going to have to buckle up, because this bunch of wildings are on their way.
Ford makes his way toward us, carrying his younger daughter, Shelby. She’s almost one year old and named after Stephanie’s mother. Their three-year-old twin boys are off with Louis and Tulip’s almost three-year-old twin daughters.
The four of them have some kind of twin bond thing happening, we all just kind of let them do their own thing when we’re all together. None of us really understanding them.
“Havin’ another baby?” I ask Ford.
He grunts, then lets out a sigh as his eyes flick between all of us men. Louis has just joined the group and I hear him cough.
“Another one?” he asks. “That’ll make five, brother. You almost got a baseball team.”
Ford rolls his eyes to the sky, then flicks them back to us and his lips curve up into a huge smile. “How’d you know?” he asks.
I shake my head with a laugh. “Didn’t for sure. But the fact that y’all insisted we come over, it just seemed like that could be it.”
“It’s the last one,” Ford announces. “No more.”
Louis laughs. “That’s what I said last time.”
“Louis?” I ask.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Told her it was just gonna be another girl, but honest to fuck I’m okay with that. Four girls, sounds like the kind of chaos a man like me can handle.”
Beaumont whistles. “I have two, I can’t imagine doubling that. My house already looks like it throws up tulle and lace. The fact that I know what that means is mildly disturbing as well,” he mutters.
“Face it, boys, our lives definitely aren’t what they were ten years ago,” I say, a smile on my lips, one that I don’t think a damn thing could wipe away.
“They aren’t, thank fuck,” Rylan chuckles.
“Two more babies to the mix,” Beaumont murmurs.
“Couldn’t think of anything better,” I point out.
Rylan lifts his arm and slides it around my shoulders. “Fuck no. Nothin’ is better than this, cousin.”
SIX MONTHS LATER
FORD
“We have to take the baby out now. I’ve already called in the anesthesiologist and ordered the operating room to prepare for her.”
The doctor’s words, they rattle me. We knew the risks, we knew there could be complications. Hell, we’re both over forty. Bottom line is that Stephanie probably shouldn’t have even gotten pregnant.
We weren’t trying, it just fucking happened, and we both weighed our options, in the end, we knew we had to have him. There’s no way we couldn’t.
She’s had all the tests, damn near weekly visits, too. Everything has been normal. That is, until now. Her blood pressure is too fucking high, the doctor is afraid that we could lose her, or the baby, or both.
Lifting my hand, I run my fingers through my hair. “Okay.”
Leaving him, I make my way in to talk to her. She’s got tears running down her cheeks, her bottom lip is trembling, and she nods her head.
“C-section, right?” she whispers.
Walking over to her, I wrap my hand in hers and I give her a small smile. “Yeah, but it’s okay, honey. He’s ready to meet us, it’s time for our family to be complete.”
Her lips tremble in a small smile, but the tears continue to flow. Four babies, even the twins, she never had to have one, she’s scared, I know she is. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m terrified too. Every time she’s been in this hospital, I’ve been downright fucking scared.
I can’t lose her, couldn’t live this life without her, never could. Leaning over, I touch my mouth to hers. I ignore the taste of her salty tears and press my forehead against her own.
“I love you, honey. It’s time for Sawyer to meet his mom and dad, his brothers and sisters too. No more after this, Stephanie.”
“No more,” she breathes. “No more.”
The doctor doesn’t take long. He comes back in and I stand to the side helplessly as they prep my wife for surgery.
They’ve been monitoring her blood pressure and Sawyer’s heart rate, it’s time for him to meet us. It’s a little soon, but the doctor is convinced he won’t have to stay even a minute longer than Stephanie, that we’ll all be able to go home together.
I watch as they wheel her away, taking her back to the OR. They get me cleaned up and prepped as well, then finally reunite us. I stand to the side, in the small cramped room, holding my wife’s hand and watching as the doctor cuts into her belly.
“You’re doing great, Stephanie,” the doctor murmurs, his voice soothing and gentle.
Looking down, Stephanie’s eyes are on me and she’s got tears sliding down her temples. I squeeze her hand just as the doctor tells me to look over at him. I watch as he pulls my son out of my wife’s body.
I didn’t think it’d be as beautiful as when our others were born, that somehow a C-section took away some of the magic of childbirth. It doesn’t. It’s fucking breathtaking. I watch as they clean him up a little, I can’t take my eyes off of him.
“Is he okay?” Stephanie asks.
Lifting up the camera, I take as many pictures as I can. “He’s perfect,” I cry out.
The nurse brings him to me, all wrapped up. Thankfully, she takes the camera from me. Smiling at her as she takes a few pictures, then I dip down and show him to Stephanie. We smile for the camera, but mostly she cries as she looks at our new bundle.
“He’s perfect,” she cries.
“He really is.”
I’m ushered out of the room a few moments later, baby in my arms, and am forced to leave Stephanie behind. I hate it. Every fucking minute of being away from her.
After Sawyer is checked completely out. I hold him and wait for Stephanie. It seems like seconds later she’s wheeled out of the operating room and they inform us that they can do skin to skin contact.
I watch, completely mesmerized by everything in front of me.
This is it.
This is the life that I always wanted, that I dreamed about and it’s a reality. Twenty-three years ago, I didn’t think that I would have this with her.
I thought this dream would never come to fruition. That we’d never be married, never have a family and now? It’s all right here in front of me, and every chaotic moment of it is perfect.
“Thank you, honey,” I whisper as she holds our newest baby against her chest, both of them sleeping soundly.
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About the Author
As an only child, Hayley Faiman had to entertain herself somehow. She started writing stories at the age of six and never really stopped.
Born in California, she met her now husband at the age of sixteen and married him at the age of twenty in 2004. After all of these years together, he’s still the love of her life.
Hayley’s husband joined the military and they lived in Oregon, where he was stationed with the US Coast Guard. They moved back to California in 2006, where they had two little boys. Recently, the four of them moved out to the Hill Country of Texas, where they adopted a new family member, a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.
Most of Hayley’s days are spent taking care of her two boys, going to the baseball fields for practice, or helping them with homework. Her evenings are spent with her husband and her nights—those are spent creating alpha book boyfriends.
Acknowledgments
I always say a special thank you to my husband, my best friend, truly he is the man who supports every single dream of mine and works to make them all come true.
My mom is everything. She’s the kindest, most loving, and most supportive mom in the world. Thank you, Banana Boots.
Ellie McLove, this book would not be without you. This cover is the BEST. The content clean and crisp. Thank you so much for being my friend, Jeremy’s sister, and for generally being a badass.
Rosa Sharon, thank you so much for proofreading, you always add that finishing touch that makes my books sparkle!
Celia one of my biggest fans and supporters. You’re the best. Thank you for always being there for me.
Tammy Cole, thank you for always being there for me. I truly appreciate our friendship! Thank you for alpha reading for me!!
Crystal Snyder, thank you for being a friend, always, and for alpha reading for me!!
Thank you to my reader group, Hayley’s Asshole Alphas, you ladies always brighten up my day!!! Love you!
To all the Blogger babes that have taken a chance on me…
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.