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“Daddy, Mama.” I look over at my mother still perched up on the edge of the couch as Prince plays with her necklace. She smirks and winks, already knowing what’s coming by way of motherly instinct. “Kingston and I are pregnant.” I bite my lip and my face pinches in fear.
Slowly, my father’s head lifts, and his blank eyes don’t even look me over. Instead, they find Kingston’s. Releasing a breath and clenching his fist, he speaks. “You smug bastard. You just don’t give a fuck, do you?”
My lips seal shut, folding in on each other as I look up to Kings. With a shake of his head and a cheeky smile, he replies, “Never did and never will.”
The only sound anyone hears is my hand hitting my forehead in defeat. When will he learn?
“I honestly want to ring your neck, son.” My dad blows out an exasperated breath.
“Wait, did Daddy James just call me son? Well, look at that!” Kingston breaks formation and slaps his hand down on my father’s shoulder.
“Don’t push it.” Focusing his attention on me, Dad reaches for my hand and pulls me into a hug. “You happy? You want another baby?” he whispers into my hair at the top of my head.
“I would tell you first if I didn’t, Daddy.” I kiss his chest and snuggle in. Feeling my mother coming, my father wraps her, Prince, and me up in his warm embrace.
“Congratulations, baby,” Mama whispers. “Hopefully, after this one, big man can calm down and give you a break—keep his hands to himself,” she teases.
Daddy growls, and Kingston scoffs.
“Nope, she said I can have as many as I want, and I sure as hell ain’t stopping at two.”
“Kings!” I turn and reach out to slap his chest. “Enough from you, caveman.”
We aren’t even a day in and these two are driving me nuts. Pray for my sanity, Lord.
“Hey, Jeffery?” Stepping out onto the deck, I seek out Lana’s dad on purpose. He leans against the railing, overlooking our waterfall pool where Becky, Lana, and our son are floating around, the setting sun in the background casting an orange and purple sky over us. It was a little warmer than usual today, so Lana took advantage of it and slipped on in.
“Great. Yes?” He busts my balls. Trust me, I don’t want to have to ask him what I intend to, because his answer will not change what I plan to do, but I’ll do it for my woman.
“I need to talk to you. All bullshit and bickering aside, I have something important to ask you.” I grow serious, manning up, checking in my cocky demeanor at the door.
“What? You already knocked up my daughter—again,” he says matter-of-factly, a hitch in his brow. “What else you have to ask?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to marry Lana.”
“Oh. Well.” Dropping his head to the side, he watches over Lana, contemplating and leaving my question in the balance. I felt it too, the shift in the air, the pain in his chest, the sudden realization that she is truly mine now.
“Jeffery, she’s mine. She always has been. I make her that way.” I point down at her as she throws her head back to laugh at our son splashing his hands.
“What about you? What does she make you then?” he inquires, finally looking at me again.
“Whole. I’m a whole man because of her. You have no idea, sir. You think you love her better
than anyone, but you have no idea what loving her truly is. I love Lana. Nothing could ever compete with that.”
He shakes his head, not letting me off that easy. Jeffery wants me to fight for her, to defend myself, because no matter what, no one will ever be good enough for Lana, and I couldn’t agree more. I sure as hell don’t deserve her, but I don’t dare let her go.
“She’s settling with me. I will never be enough, but what’s better than enough? My willingness to try. I’m willing to give her everything in me, if that means she’ll have me.”
“I didn’t ever stand a chance of separating you two. Kingston, you should see the way she looks at you. I’ve watched her give you that same damn look for the past fourteen years.”
I smile, praising myself inwardly.
“Regardless of what you think, Jeffery, I can take care of her, protect her.”
He huffs. “You saved her life that night. I guess my blessing is the least I can do to thank you for keeping my angel alive.”
I’m nearly paralyzed as he sticks out his hand for me to shake. Holy shit. He said I can have her. I didn’t have to go against him for once in my life.
