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I sprinted ahead, thrilled to show them everything, practically dragging them along. For the next several minutes I never stopped talking, telling them everything I planned on doing, showing them every hallway, every office, every corner of the vast, beautiful space that would soon become an extension of the company I’d proudly built from such humble beginnings.
Eventually we arrived at what would soon be my office — a large corner unit whose only glass consisted of two converging windows that looked out over the bustling city. After all these weeks, Phoenix didn’t look so foreign anymore. In fact, it was getting to feel a lot like home.
“Close the door,” I nodded, when they were all inside.
Devyn was the last one through. The heavy oaken door clicked shut behind him, divorcing us from the noise of the nail-guns and chop-saws just outside.
“Last time we were all together I stupidly left,” I told them. “I pushed you away, because as always I was too concerned with doing everything on my own. And that’s because Icoulddo everything on my own.”
Slowly I walked toward them, moving into ‘my spot’ between their strong, hulking bodies. The guys converged around me, moving into their own positions without uttering a single word.
“But then I realized something,” I went on. “I don’twantto do it on my own. Especially since I’m not going to be on my own very much longer.”
With that I reached down, running a hand lovingly over my belly. The tiny child inside me rolled a little, almost on cue.
“I love you,” I said simply. “All of you. Each of you. At first I tried to convince myself that wasn’t possible. That I was deluding myself to think you’d love me back…”
I glanced down for a moment, searching for the words. A slow hand touched my cheek, lifting my gaze back their way.
“You’re deluding yourself in thinking we don’t,” Maverick said gently.
The others nodded. There was adoration in their eyes. I could say in that very moment that I finallyknew.But in all honesty, I’d known long ago.
“When I finally realized it, it frightened me,” I told them. “This child was supposed to be mine. Not because I wanted it that way, but because that’s just the way it was with me. It’s just the way it’s always been.”
Gage looked hopeful. He raised an eyebrow. “But?”
“But now I’m tired of fighting it,” I sighed. “I can’t live without you! I went back to New York and I was utterly miserable, and I knew not even the joy of raising a child would change that fact.”
I swallowed and nearly choked, fighting back tears. Somehow I did it though.
“I wantallof you,” I said. “I want to be your girl. Yourgirlfriend…”
The word dropped from my lips with a surge of incredible happiness that warmed me from within. It felt so good saying it. So natural. So perfect.
“I want to raise this child with three wonderful fathers, instead of none. And I want to forge a relationship with all of you, with each of you. Whatever it is you want to call this, I want it all just as badly as you do.”
Two arms enveloped me, then two more. And then I was being hugged. Kissed. Picked up from the floor and lifted into arms so big and strong I couldn’t help but laugh, and when the tears started to flow I couldn’t stop them.
“I want to move here obviously,” I sniffed, drying my eyes. “I want to work here. Build here. I want to live and love and laugh with you, and especially, with our child.”
Everything went blurry. The tears of happiness were just too much.
“Of course, I’ll get a place nearby. Somewhere with enough space for all of us, so that when you’re in town—”
“Not a chance.”
Devyn’s arms were folded. He shook his head as he said the words.
“What?”
“You’re staying with us,” Gage explained for him. He stared at my belly. “The both of you. You’reoursnow. We’re a family—”
“But—”
“Our house will finally be home,” Maverick added, “and not just some place in the desert where we sit around waiting for the unknown. It’ll finally have warmth. Love. Structure.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” I cut in quickly. “You’re SEALs. You have a contract, and we all know the terms. No wife. No child. No life beyond the mission, for as long as you—”
