free from our everlasting hug, I pull away to look at her face. She is crying, of course, just as I am, but they are all happy tears. Besides her puffy and red eyes, she looks good, great even. She looks happy and I wonder if she sees the same in my face. Can she tell how happy I am?
“You know, you guys can sit down, too,” Ivan calls from the table. I look over and see Xander has already taken a seat beside Ivan, and I take Ella’s hand into mine, walking us to the table. Months ago, I never would’ve thought this moment could exist. A moment where we would all be sitting together as one big happy family.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Ella,” Ivan greets her but doesn’t extend his hand to her. Xander’s just as protective of Ella as Ivan is of me, and even though we’re all on good terms, neither of them approves of the other touching their woman.
“Thank you for arranging this.” Ella nibbles on her bottom lip, looking between Xander and Ivan, who both smile at her.
“I told you I’d give you whatever you wanted, Mouse.” Xander’s nickname for her makes me smile. Mouse? Does she know that Ivan calls me Kitten?
“I know but I just never thought this would happen.”
“For what it’s worth, neither did I.” Ella gives me a half smile, as she takes her seat. I sit in the seat beside her and take a sip of water. I hadn’t told her about being pregnant yet as I wanted to tell her in person. She looks nervous as well and I wonder if she, too, has something she wants to tell me.
We order lunch and the entire time, I’m jittery, wanting to spill the beans. Ivan keeps smiling at me, making me even more nervous.
“What’s going on?” Ella finally leans over and whispers in my ear. Nothing has changed, not really. She can still tell when I’m nervous or if something is wrong.
“I’m….” The words sit on the tip of my tongue, and I look to Ivan across the table for permission. When he gives me the nod, I burst at the seams. “I’m pregnant.”
Ella blinks, her eyes going wide, then as the shock wears off, she smiles, looking to Xander. He doesn’t nod, all he does is smile.
“Me, too,” she says with a joyous smile on her lips.
“Wait, you guys are having a baby, too?” I question.
“We sure are, and I cannot wait for the moment when her belly gets nice and big.” Xander’s eyes twinkle with love, with pure joy.
“Oh, my god, I can’t believe it. We are pregnant together,” I laugh. “Don’t you remember we used to talk about that when we were kids? How we said we’d have babies at the same time.”
Ella smiles. “I know. We said we would do everything together, including having babies.”
Who would have thought that our dreams would one day come true? We might have planned getting pregnant together, but we definitely didn’t plan on finding the men we love the way we did.
Our original plan included living next door to each other. Both houses with large connecting backyards and white picket fences. I don’t know if I see that in our futures now. Maybe two mansions with high-voltage security fences is more likely. That’s if Ivan and Xander can manage to live that closely to each other.
Either way, I’ll take it. I’ll take all of this. We might have not planned to end up with two mob bosses, but I am sure as hell not complaining now. I’ve never been loved or cared for more in my life. Ivan might kill with his hands, he might destroy, but when he touches me, it’s with nothing but kindness, with a gentleness. Seeing him as that man when no one else gets to is something I’d never give up.
“Ivan and I are open to letting you both plan each other’s baby showers if that’s something you would like to do, Violet? Of course, it cannot be the typical baby shower, being we will need security, and such but it will be just as good, I assure you.”
I look away from my sister and to Xander. “I would love that. I’m hoping soon that we can make a visit to your house? Maybe stay for a short while?” I look over at Ivan; he knows I’m not asking. I will make this happen. That’s the one thing about me that