Page 86 of The Virgin Playboy

“Oh fuck, Jaq. Just do enough to get me hard. Because I really want to feel your pussy again.”

***

Without hardly trying we had gotten the right news, debating on how we planned to announce it to our families. We decided the quickest and easiest way was through WhatsApp, and then just ignore it when the shit went crazy.

In less than a minute, we had no less than 100 notifications, and because we didn't respond to them, the efforts came in phone calls and text messages. It was beginning to feel real, so over the next few weeks, we made a few appointments with our physician, even if just for tips on another healthy pregnancy. Carrying Elliot in a sling with Melody on my lap, we waited excitedly as the doctor performed Jaq's ultrasound.

“Elliot, Mel, are y'all ready to welcome a new baby brother or sister?” I asked them. Elliot, being too young to answer, but Melody, responding with a clap of her small hands.

Melody had my eyes and hair, but resembled Jaq when she was her age, whereas Elliot was a toss-up for now. They shared a rich blend of both of our skin tones, and while it was considered deeply toned in my culture, arguably they were light skinned to Jaq.

“Actually, there's a possibility it could be both. The scan is detecting more than one heartbeat, that's a sure sign that you're having twins.” Jaq sat up from the examination table, probably in more shock than I was.

“Say what, Doc?”

“Actually, when you factor in things like your age and your race, it's actually quite common to be pregnant with twins if you're actually trying.”

“Twins, you say?” I questioned, trying to hide the fact that I was freaking the fuck out. With Melody and Elliot, at least we had had time to space out their different needs. Taking turns really helped, but two at one time? That meant none of us would know rest.

“Just to be sure, I'll take your bloodwork to the lab, but I'm hardly ever wrong.” I pressed my lips into a line, praying I didn't sound too sarcastic when I said this.

“Well Jaq, the one we actually plan, and we got more than we bargained for. I'm not even waiting to go under the knife, I'm setting up my appointment today. You just had to expand.” She threw her hands up in protest, forgetting the physician was even there.

“Well, how the hell was I supposed to know you’d get me pregnant with twins?” The doctor stood holding her folders close to her chest.

“I'll give you all a minute,” she excused herself, leaving the four of us to the room. Jaq blew out a muted breath, and I already knew what was coming, so I covered Elliot's ears and advised Melody to do the same. Jaq let out a glass cracking scream, and with no protection over my ears, I received the full range of it.

“Babe, feel better now? Mel, go over and give Mommy a hug. She could use a good hug right now.” With a mouth full of giggles and a head of bouncing curls, Melody ran over to the table as Jaq picked her up and placed her in her lap.

“Thanks, baby, you're the only Walker I feel like hugging right now.” I rolled my eyes, knowing she was just joking. I'd remind her of that tonight if she tried to hound me.

“Look on the bright side, Jaq. I grew up with three siblings, and we had the bestest of times. Unlike me and my sisters, ours will be closer in age,” I tried looking at it more positively.

“Lordt, why does thou hate me? I populated the planet! I gave back to my community. I became an honest woman, and this is how I'm repaid?” she announced in her theatrical voice. I almost thought she had retired that one, because she hadn’t used it in a while. I guess it took a landmine to get my cringey Jaq back.

Like me, Melody had found her mom hilarious. I wonder how long that would last? Eventually, the doctor returned with the confirmed blood test, reiterating what she'd already told us.

“Well, doc, how do we prepare differently for twins?”

EPILOGUE

Jaq

Fixing Elliot's party hat, I rounded up the kiddos as we decorated the kitchen with Congratulations Daddy banners and party favors. He'd been on a Zoom call that felt like all day that he took outside, so we wouldn't add to his anxiety. To be talking for this long, I hoped it was good news, but I was prepared to pivot if it wasn't.

For now, Graham was still taking a lot of freelance composer jobs. An animated movie there, a TV theme here. He even taught a few classes at the university, teaching editing and production. But my Graham was a doer, I knew he'd never take a permanent teaching job that planted him in one place. He had spent years building his portfolio, attending workshops, interning with film directors, and scoring events. Because he didn't want any of my connections as help, his talent had finally spoken for itself when he landed an apprenticeship with a big animation studio to score for a project that he described as an adult version of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

We were definitely stans in this house, and I could tell he was excited to even be considered for a project of that size. It would mean he'd get to travel and learn a few different styles of music, since from the treatment, it was inspired by five unique cultures inspired from the real world. It looked like all that smoozing and hard work was finally paying off. We were preparing the kids for a move, we just didn't know where yet. But even if it was just a continent away, I was excited to give the kiddos the traveling bug.

Melody had just started the first grade, and Elliot was gearing up for kindergarten. Our little multiples, Māia and Tāine were just months away from celebrating their third birthday, and like their mama, they were always getting into trouble. Thankfully, like their daddy, if you put an instrument in their hand, suddenly they were preoccupied and well-mannered. Balance.

A few years ago, I truly questioned the idea of having this many kids, but then I looked on the bright side. I'd never have to get up to turn off the light or get the remote ever again. Things like that made it all work out. Plus, like the characters I crafted in my books, these kiddos all had their own little styles, quirks, and personalities. It was actually kind of fun watching them evolve.

I was praying for the day one of the kids took after me bearing the role of weird, cringey outcast. My bets were set on Māia, because Melody and Elliot were gregarious and had AuDHD like their dad. But Tāine? He was always in his own little world.

“Hey, we're not bringing the cake out yet, honey. We want to hear your dad's news first.” I took the blank cake from Melody and placed it back on the fridge shelf.

“What if Dad doesn't get it?” Elliot asks, it still wild to me that my kiddos spoke in a different accent than me.