“Sunshine—” He took a menacing step forward, like he was going to test that theory right then and there before Emmie’s bossy voice called out from the side of the building.
“Dad!” She huffed annoyed as she found us standing there, thankfully not humping each other against the wall anymore. We were open about our relationship with the kids at home, but they never saw us do anything more than kiss and hug. The same way any other kid should see their parents love openly.
And my heart still did a stupid little backflip every time she or Toby called us dad or daddy. It was their idea, and I was a freaking mess the day they asked if they could, like we’d ever be able to deny them giving such an honor to us.
We were so unworthy of their love. But we were trying every day to earn it, nonetheless.
“Yeah, pipsqueak?” Trav replied, walking out and blocking me while my hard-on crashed out to normal size in no time at all. To be honest, Frankie’s mini-me scared me a little when she got bossy like she was right now.
“Mom’s ready.” She put her hands on her hips, “You guys ready?” She eyed me suspiciously as I joined Trav, standing side by side and united.
“So, freaking ready.” I smiled at her, and her shoulders deflated as she dropped her fists happily.
“Good,” She nodded as she turned and took both of our hands. “Because I’d hate to have to be the one to break the news to Papa Hal that he lost the bet.”
Trav snorted, rubbing his face, “What is Papa Hal betting on now? Let me guess, Toby is collecting the money.”
“Duh,” She rolled her eyes, “Papa Hal bet it would be Mom or Daddy to be the one to run out on the whole wedding thing. Not you. He said you were too boring to make life that interesting.”
I tipped my head back and laughed loudly, earning myself a wink from Emmie, who peeked up at Trav next.
“Did he?” Travis deadpanned with a shake of his head. “Well, he’s right, I’m in it for the long haul, kid.” He said and then scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder with her sweetlittle baby pink dress billowing in the wind as she squealed and laughed. “You’re not getting out of line drills that easily.”
“Let’s go get married, kiddo.” I booped her nose as she hung upside down over his shoulder, and the smile she gave me back was worth everything in the whole world.
These damn kids, and their tragically, breathtakingly beautiful mother, were the only reasons my heart beat in my chest.
My family.
My life.
EPILOGUE – TRAVIS
“Fuck,”A voice echoed through the bedroom door as I silently walked down the hallway. “You’re a bitch when you want to be.”
Eli.
Sounding, very un-Eli like.
“You love it, and you know it.” Frankie’s smart tone snapped back as I silently pushed the door to our bedroom open, revealing what was happening inside.
And holy fucking damn.
“Shut up, and fuck me.” He groaned, throwing his head back as Frankie slammed into him harder for good measure.
He was hanging from a sex swing in the middle of our bedroom, something I hadn’t seen before, or hung. I was a little more upset that they put holes in my cedar plank ceiling than I was about the fact that they were using fun new sex toys behind my back while I was supposed to be at work.
Eli moaned, pulling my attention away from the hardware in the ceiling as I leaned against the doorframe to watch them fuck.
Or really, to watch Frankie fuck him.
Something I’d been begging to do to him foryears.
Okay, fine, I was most upset about that part.
He laid back on the black swing, naked, legs spread and supported in stirrups as his shoulders hovered in a hammock, swinging on and off our wife’s brand-new strap-on she bought last week.
A toy we were going to break in together at some point but hadn’t even opened yet.
