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“Thinking of inviting him to St. Louis?” asks Gigi who doesn’t miss a thing.
“Maybe.”
Octavia’s bright gaze is on me, and it’s a struggle not to tell her what’s on my mind. Soon I’ll know for sure, and I’ll talk to her. Talk to Evan.
Gotta talk to Kaden first. Tomorrow.
“How’s Merc, and Mom?” Octavia has her hand on her belly, and I wonder if the baby is kicking again.
I want to go to her, put my hand over hers, but I have Mary nestled against my side, and tonight she needs all the reassurance I can give her. So I stay put.
“Oh fine. You know Mom. She’s been baking nonstop for you. She’ll probably stop by tomorrow and unload a ton of cakes and cookies for all the babies.” She nods at Octavia with a grin. “Born and yet unborn.”
“If she keeps doing that I’ll be like a whale by the time baby comes,” Octavia mutters, her cheeks reddening.
“You? Nah.” Gigi clucks her tongue. “If I didn’t know you’re preggers, I wouldn’t have guessed. Mom says that’s how it often is with the first baby. Now, after you have the second, well…” She shrugs. “Boom. Whale-status.”
“Gigi!” Octavia laughs. Her sister always manages to shock her and amuse her at the same time.
But… more babies. I like the sound of that.
And hey, what’s wrong with that, right? I love being a dad, running my little troupe, taking care of them, setting them on the straight path. Making sure they gather good memories to keep them happy when they grow up, that they know they’ll always have a home to come back to.
Sure, fatherhood stresses me sometimes, I won’t deny it—but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.
“Come on, let’s make you some hot chocolate and talk,” Octavia says, tugging on a lock of Gigi’s blond hair. “I want to hear what you were up to while we were away.”
“Who me? You make it sound like I’m going to get spanked. Am I? Just asking out of pure curiosity.”
“And how Merc is really doing, not those vague comments you made on the phone, and what Mom baked for us. Come on, or I’ll drink all the hot chocolate myself. Chop, chop.”
Gigi sighs, pats Cole’s head and gets up to follow her sister. “This big sister intimidation thing isn’t working with me anymore, you know. I’m old enough to know your tricks.”
Intimidation by hot chocolate. I need to remember this one. I mean, since I’m sort of a father figure for Gigi. A very young father, considering she’s just turned nineteen, but still. I take this seriously. I’ll have to ask Octavia for more info on that hot chocolate method.
I grin.
And as Cole returns to snuggle beside me, Mary on the other side, I know I wouldn’t give it up.
Ever.
Chapter Eighteen
Octavia
“So spill.” I stir the cocoa powder into the hot milk, and add some vanilla extract, the way Gigi likes it. “You’ve been so secretive lately?”
“Me?” Gigi leans against the counter, crossing her long legs at the ankle. Dressed in tight jeans and low black boots, a long white sweater on top and her long hair in a messy bun on top of her head she looks… beautiful. My little sis is a stunner. “I’m innocent.”
“As a lamb.” I pour the steaming liquid into two tall mugs. “How’s your bestie doing?”
“Sydney? Oh, she’s fine. You know. College classes, boys…”
“About those. You said she has a harem?”
“Sort of.” Gigi shrugs and reaches for the mug I pass her. “How many’s a harem anyway?”
“How many boys is she dating?”
