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Her smile rocks my world. “You can’t get me pregnant again. You already did.” Her laugh is soft and warm enough to melt the surrounding snow.
“We can’t lose the practice.” I rocked my hips and took immense pleasure in hearing her moan of pleasure, but the underlying nerves that had her fingers trembling in mine sobered me up.
I settled my hands on her hips. “Why are you really out here, baby? You can tell me.”
She stilled. “What if Serenity doesn’t show up? What if she does and tells me to lose her number?”
I sat up and tucked my wife into my arms. “What if she accepted your invitation and is just as nervous about meeting you? What if she is so excited about having a chance at making a new friend with a cousin she can’t wait to meet?”
Januari sat back and pegged me with a smirk. “You’re cute and annoying when you do that.”
She leaned in and pressed her forehead to mine. “But you’re?—”
“Januari? Is that you?”
* * *
Januari
Drake helped me out of the snow and I forget all about my nerves and the fear of being rejected by yet another family member when my eyes connect with Serenity’s. Honey red hair frames a heart-shaped face similar to mine. She stood at my same height and I saw she loved a good pair of jeans as much as I did even if they are maternity fitted.
I’m in a set of arms before I could confirm my name.
“I know it’s you. I don't need to hear it to know it!”
My newfound cousin pulled back and took in my face and then the rest of me. “I had no idea I had family.” Tears welled in her eyes, making me want to cry too. “This makes me so happy.”
“Me either.”
Serenity took my hands in hers, her smile genuine and so full of love.
“It’s cold out here. Come with me and I’ll get you something warm to drink while we talk. We have so much to learn about each other.” I linked arms with her and started toward the house.
“I am so glad you reached out to me. Fate is so funny.”
So is desperation and loneliness, but I kept that to myself. I was scared and alone in this world until fate led me to search for some kind of family who might want me in their lives and the Universe gave me more than I could ever dream possible.
“I want you to meet our daughter, Winter. She has your color of hair and my eyes.”
Serenity’s smile is gentle and kind.
“I can’t wait and you already have a new one on the way? Oh, my.” I take her hand and settle it over our son’s favorite spot to kick. “It’s a boy. He’s due in March.” I eye my cousin's belly bump and my heart swells with love. “I think we are due around the same time?”
There’s so much happiness on her face I can feel the energy reach out to me. “Yep. Mine is a March baby too! That makes us instant friends, you know that right?”
My smile faded.
“Oh, no. Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all, I spent a lot of time alone and now that I have my chosen family, it’s just surreal to have my actual blood family in my home wanting me in their life, too.”
Serenity’s hug is warm, and I soaked in her kindness, never wanting to feel the cold again.
“We have a lot to catch up on. I’m glad you reached out and found me. We have an odd family that has a nasty habit of leaving people behind. Let’s make a pact right now that we will never do that to each other.”
We made it to the backdoor, but I paused before leading us inside. I felt the heat of Drake’s gaze on me and the urge to connect with him, pulled me around. I find his love reaching out to me, gently telling me I’m safe, I’m loved, and this is where I was meant to be.
I made one pact already, and I got a family that came with that promise and a husband that shows me the depth of his love every single day of our lives together. He was the villain to most, but he became my hero.
