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“An engagement ring,” I smile as I hand Alina to Griff. I hold my hand out for Lilith and Ivy to see.
“That’s gorgeous. I love that vintage setting.” Ivy looks up at Griff. “Well done.”
“Thank you.” He walks over to a nurse who just entered the room and puts Alina into the bassinet after quietly talking to the nurse.
“Congratulations.” Con wraps Griff in a hug. “You didn’t ask for permission.”
“Claire is the only person I need permission from.”
“Yes!” Ivy cheers. “We love a woke man.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite,” Lilith jokes as she comes around to hug him.
Griff sits back down next to me on the bed, glancing at his phone. “Your parents are giving mine a lift down in the helicopter. They’re about an hour out.” His eyes circle the room. “Claire should probably rest for awhile before they get here.”
“Kicking us out, I see how it is.” Levi comes over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations, on the gorgeous baby and the uptight ginger.”
“I love you,” Con leans down and hugs me. “Let me know if you need anything.”
Lilith and Ivy both embrace me and follow the guys out of the room. Griff brings me some fresh ice water and leans down to kiss me. “I love you so much. Why don’t you take a nap until our parents get here.”
I nod in agreement. The exhaustion from all the hormones and the physical act of giving birth is finally catching up to me. I fall asleep with him holding one of my hands.
* * *
GRIFF
ONE YEAR LATER
“Who would have thought this would be our lives ten years ago?” Levi asks as we walk the girls along the beach in front of the house Claire and I bought in Hamptons last fall. He’s wearing Sloan in a baby carrier on his chest. Her two blonde pigtails and chubby legs are the only thing you can see of her.
Alina is toddling along beside me in the sand, her hand grasped around my fingers. Every time a wave approaches she giggles and tries to jump. She surprised us all when her hair grew in a dark red color. She has Claire’s green eyes though they are flecked with gold.
Con is holding Nora’s hand while carrying a screaming Elle under the other arm. She keeps trying to escape into the surf. Nora just watches her sister with a look of bemusement, if a two year old can be bemused. They both have dark brown hair and the only physical difference between the two is that Nora has glacial blue eyes like Lilith. In keeping with her wild personality, Elle has one green eye and one turquoise eye.
All our girls are stunning little creatures and the relationships we see forming between them already make us all so happy. The twins are protective of Alina and Sloan. Even though they don’t play together yet they’re always happiest when they are in the same place together.
“I definitely didn’t see myself getting married and as a father.” I answer.
“But here you are, about to marry my baby sister in a matter of hours.” Con has swung Elle up onto his shoulders and Levi is now holding Nora’s hand.
“I know. The best things in life are the ones you never see coming.”
All three of our heads turn when Victor yells our name from the edge of the backyard. It’s time to get ready. Levi swings Nora onto his shoulders and pretends to let her steer by pulling his hair while he makes horse noises. Connor is still wrestling Elle, giving into bribery to get her to come willingly. Alina rests her head on my shoulder when I sweep her into my arms. We hand each of the girls off to the grandparents waiting in the yard.
The girls have taken over the master suite so the guys and I are getting ready together a guest suite. We wanted our wedding to be casual and beachy. We’re just wearing khaki pants with white button down shirts with the sleeves rolled up to our elbows. It takes us about fifteen minutes to get ready so Levi brings us each a couple fingers of whiskey while we sit on the balcony.
The wedding planner and her staff are running around, setting up chairs. The florist is setting out all the arrangements. A tent has already been erected on the side lawn with a dance floor and the tables for the reception.
We tap glasses and each take a drink, each of us kicked back in a chair. A quiet settles over us, just enjoying each other’s presence and thinking about life.
“You know,” Levi interrupts the peaceful moment, “this is the best outcome for us. Con and Hoodrat. Griff and Baby V. My lucky ass with Ives. All of us have daughters close in age. They’re going to grow up like we did.”
“Except with more supervision,” Con grumbles. “They sure as fuck won’t be partying the way we did.”
Levi and I share a glance. “I’m sure they’ll figure out ways around us.”
“Nope. They’re getting bodyguards or twenty-four seven surveillance. Maybe both.” Con tosses the rest of his whiskey back. “Our daughters will not be spending their teenage years drinking and fucking like we did.”
