more than a little stressed about telling my dads that
Austin and I had become mates, but I had to do it. Besides, we’d arranged to talk to Jesse and Isaac first.
Hopefully, that would be a happy, easy-going video call.
It was Friday morning. Breakfast had been delivered to the suite, and I’d talked to my close protection team to
show them I was awake, kind of alert, and, most importantly, okay.
“Are you sure?” Austin asked.
“Yes. There’s no time like the present, right?” We had to tell Jesse, Isaac, and my dads before the concert the
next day no matter what.
“All right, then.” Austin opened up his laptop, which was on the coffee table in the lounge, and placed a video call
to Jesse.
When Jesse answered, Austin clicked to make the image fill the screen and then sat with me on the sofa.
“Hi!” Jesse said cheerfully.
He and Isaac were sitting cross-legged on the floor. The camera was positioned so we could see the twins on a
brightly coloured playmat. There were two arches over the mat with toys suspended on them, but neither of the
boys seemed interested. Jasper was lying on his back, clutching his tiny feet and giggling, while Colby was on
his belly, rocking towards Jasper with a look of total concentration on his face.
“He’s working up to rolling over,” Isaac said.
I gasped. “He can do that already?”
Isaac laughed. “They’ve both been rolling from front to back for a couple of weeks.”
My cheeks became warm. Wow, I felt dumb. “I don’t have any experience with babies,” I mumbled.
“Nor did I,” Jesse said. “I learnt fast.”
“Same,” Austin said, hugging me.
“Are you thinking of having kids?” Jesse asked.
“I…” I glanced at Austin, not sure what to say. Had he talked to Jesse about wanting another baby?
“We’ve talked about it,” Austin said. “But haven’t made any decisions.”
I wasn’t sure that was true, considering I’d begged to have a baby with him during our heat, but Jesse and Isaac
didn’t need to know that.
“Oh!” I said, pointing at the screen as Colby successfully rolled over.
He collided with Jasper, and both babies giggled happily. I laughed too, utterly captivated by them.
“That was amazing.” I couldn’t take my eyes off the twins as they grabbed hands and pushed and pulled each
other, giggling. It was the happiest sound I’d ever heard. “What?” I asked when I realised everyone was staring at
me.
“I think it would be great if you two had a baby together,” Jesse said.
“It wouldn’t be weird?”
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“It would be fun to have a little brother.” Jesse grinned. “And he’d have these two as playmates.”
My head spun. If Austin and I had a baby, he’d be Jesse’s little brother and Colby and Jasper’s uncle. It blew my
mind, even if everyone else was taking it in stride.
“We do have news.” Austin clasped my hand in both of his and smiled at me. “Charlie and I are mate-bonded.”
“Congrats!” Jesse said.
“That’s great news,” Isaac agreed.
Well, that was easy. I was amazed that they were both so accepting. I’d imagined they would be, but there had
been a little shred of fear that they’d be pissed off or something.
“Does that mean I get to sing at your wedding?” Jesse asked.
“You do need to get married,” Isaac said. “You’d never have let us get away with not getting married.”
“Actually, I think that was your dads,” Jesse said.
Isaac laughed and shrugged. “Minor detail.”
“Maybe,” Austin said.
Weddings were nice for friends and family but not a necessity for a mated pair.
“We debated eloping,” I said in my most serious voice.
“You’re joking, right?” Isaac asked.
I grinned. “Yes.”
My attention went back to the twins as Colby squealed with glee. He was batting at a toy above his head while
Jasper was sucking his own toes.
“I think that means he’s hungry,” Jesse said, running his thumb from the corner of Jasper’s mouth and down his
cheek.
Jasper let go of his toe and turned his head to chase Jesse’s thumb. He made sucking motions with his mouth.
“Yup, hungry,” Jesse announced. “Sorry to cut this short, but we’d better get them fed.”
“It was nice to see you all,” Austin said, a note of longing in his voice.
“When you’re back in the UK, you both need to come around,” Isaac said. “You’re always welcome whenever you
want.”
“You’re part of the family now, Charlie,” Jesse said.
My heart felt all fuzzy as his words sank in. I wasn’t able to speak as Austin said goodbye and ended the call.
“Are you all right?” he asked, stroking his
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