“I’m glad we’re on the same page, baby doll.”
Now to get that ring on her finger and make her ours forever ... I don’t know if I’m going to be able to wait.
VALERIE
Dinner is amazing. Somehow, we all feel like one big family. I also kind of love seeing how Sophie’s husbands take care of the baby. When Link cries, it’s Nick who picks him up without a second thought and takes him into another room to calm him down.
It’s like they don’t care who is the biological father, they all just love him. What a lucky kid. I’m almost jealous.
Chase and Hunter fill the guys in about some of the updates, including their mother coming back, Chase taking over, and me. They show pictures of our vacation, they talk about how well I’m doing in school. They brag about me so much that I can’t stop my face from burning.
“Okay. Okay.” I hold up my hands. “Enough about me. How are you guys? What have you been up to? How’s work, the baby, Sophie?”
Which gives them the chance to brag about Sophie and fill in the gaps. Lief rubs my knee sympathetically. No one has thrown a million questions his way. By the time we’re all stuffed, I’m overwhelmed with the conversation. I know I promised Chase a night alone together, at least one full round just the two of us, but I’m half ready to pass out already.
Roman suggests we have some wine, so we go to the living room with the oversized sectional and loveseat. I sit on Chase’s lap so the three of us fit on the love seat, but Holden excuses himself back to work as Nick comes back.
“I should put him down soon,” Sophie says as she cradles her son. He looks like he’s fighting sleep.
“I have something in common with Link now.” I tease.
Hunter strokes my hair and I lean back and shake my head. “You’ll put me to sleep if you start that.”
He chuckles.
Chase rubs my hip and whispers in my ear. “Looks like I’ll have to bathe you.”
I smile at the idea. Roman clears his throat. “How are you handling your men, Valerie?”
“Um ... I guess the same way a lion tamer handles lions?”
Sophie laughs with Gunner.
“I mean are you happy.” Roman rephrases.
“Oh. Absolutely. They treat me so well, I can’t believe it. Who knew Gunner actually had good matchmaking abilities.”
Gunner rolls his eyes. “Listen, I found the love of my life. It’s not my job to help others do the same.”
Sophie smiles softly. Hunter suggests cards and we play a few rounds of spades while finishing our wine. We chat, and have a good time, and at one point, I just look around us. Chase laughing under me, Hunter wearing a real smile, Lief sipping from his wine at peace.
Sophie giggling while Roman bounces the baby. Gunner and Nick teasing each other. It’s perfect. This moment, right here, I just want to take a picture of it, memorize this feeling of hope, peace, happiness, and save it for when I need it most.
“Baby doll?” Chase asks, bouncing me on his knees.
I gasp and he catches me before I can fall forward. Laughter takes up all around us. I smile. “Just savoring the moment.”
He kisses my shoulder. “Are you about ready to go?”
“I think Sophie’s about ready for us to go,” I tease as I see her nodding off against Roman.
She starts. “What? I’m fine. Perfectly fine.”
“Sure you are.” Roman kisses her temple. “Let’s put the baby to bed, bambina.”
She nods. “Thank you. I promise I’ll be more alive tomorrow. I’m an early to bed person now.”
I hug her and Gunner, then we head to a classy five-star hotel. The suite is beautiful, but all I care about is getting off my feet. I feel like I haven’t been on them at all, but I know that I’m sore.