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Zinnia
Iwalked over to a box in the kitchen and began unpacking it. We’d been home for a month and had closed on a house here in North Carolina. We’d agreed that moving in together was something we all wanted. The guys were still assigned to the base here. I’d managed to talk Director Johnson into transferring me to an Army liaison position here at Ft. Bragg so I could be with them.
After capturing Roj and completing our mission there wasn’t much they could do to deny my request. Director Johnson hadn’t been thrilled to lose me from his office, but he knew in order to keep me in the Agency he’d have to concede and let me go.
I’d moved down here almost immediately after getting home, moving into an apartment first until we could purchase a home. The sale had gone through two days ago and we were busy unpacking. I was blissfully happy.
Arms wrapped around me from behind as I put plates away into the cabinet.
“You should be resting,” Keller said, nipping my ear. His hand splayed over my belly.
My baby bump wasn’t very big yet, but all the guys were getting a kick out of my changing body. They’d done what they’d promised and knocked me up before we’d left Iraq. Thankfully everything with Roj had been wrapped up quickly and I was going to be living here in comfort while pregnant.
“I don’t need to rest,” I told him, rolling my eyes at his over protectiveness.
Rush walked in, and set down another box. They wouldn’t let me help carry any of the boxes. No matter how much I argued that I wasn’t delicate they insisted on treating me like glass. I didn’t really mind, but sometimes it was a lot having all four of them fussing over me.
Everything in my life was going perfectly. There was only one thing left to do. I’d seen my family when I’d first gotten home—and wasn’t showing yet—and hadn’t been back since. After everything that’d happened in Iraq I realized I didn’t want to be estranged from my family. I didn’t want to be the black sheep anymore. I just wanted them to love me for me. That meant I had to extend the olive branch.
We were going to be leaving here shortly to drive to D.C. for a family barbecue. I was going to introduce my family to my… boyfriends. I’d already met all of their families and everyone had been very accepting of our relationships. I wasn’t sure that lucky streak was going to continue. My mother could be an opinionated woman and didn’t sugar coat things. I was hoping that she would try because I didn’t want to have to cut ties. Though I would. I’d do anything for these men and the family we were building.
“We’d better get going,” Alden said, poking his head into the kitchen. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?” He raised a brow at me.
“No.” But I was dreading it. I loved their families and had been instantly welcomed. I’d never had that feeling from my own family, so I wasn’t sure they were going to receive it either.
I was quiet on the drive, listening to them talking. After the first hour they quit trying to draw me into the conversation. I was too nervous.
Rush put his arm around me and I leaned into his side, enjoying the comfort he was offering. Before I was ready, we were pulling into my parents’ driveway. It was going to be a shock to them. I hadn’t warned them about any of this. It wasn’t exactly fair to them, but I hadn’t wanted to have the conversation over the phone, or even in person without the guys there to back me up.
I walked around the side of the house and entered the backyard, the guys hot on my heels.
“Oh! Zinnia!” Mom called when she saw me. Her steps faltered and she frowned. “I didn’t realize you were bringing friends,” she said as she approached. “Which one is your young man?”
We were all quiet for a heartbeat. Dad, my sisters, and their husbands were all waiting to hear what I’d say. My sisters’ kids were all over on the playground playing, which I was grateful for.
Clearing my throat, I looked my mother in the eye and bit the bullet. “All of them.”
Dad choked on his beer. That probably wasn’t something a father wanted to hear, so I could give some leeway there.
A dubious smile crossed Mom’s face. She was trying to figure out if I was pranking her.
“I’m not joking, Mom. This is Keller, Alden, Torque, and Rush. They’re all my boyfriends.” I took a steadying breath. In for a penny, in for a pound. “And I’m pregnant with their child.”
Dad choked on his second swallow of beer. I was pretty sure he would be swapping it out for whiskey any moment. Beer wasn’t strong enough for a father in a situation like this.
Mom turned and snapped at him, “For Christ’s sake, Phillip. Put the fucking beer down.”
Shocked silence descended after her outburst. She’d spent every day of our lives chiding us for not speaking like ladies. Hearing her swear like a sailor would have made me laugh in any other scenario.
I felt the guys shift closer to me, a protective gesture. I subtly motioned them back. I didn’t want this to be an us versus them scenario.
My mom met my gaze again. I hadn’t even looked at my sisters or their husbands yet. Mom and Dad were the catalyst here. If we were going to be accepted it would start with them, and by them I meant Mom.
“You’re…all with each other?”
“We each have a relationship with Zinnia,” Keller explained. “Not each other. Other than friendship.”
Mom blinked, then slowly nodded. “This is what you want?” Her question was directed at me.
