After, when the jubilation has settled, Connor sighs. "You know, while she's in the limelight, there will be others."
"But she'll have us to deal with it," I remind him. “There will never be a time when at least one of us won’t be there to protect our girl.”
Later, when we've made our way back to the hotel, we find Luna resting safely between Elijah and Ben. With her hair spread across the pillow, she looks so perfect. We decide not to wake them, even though all of us want to get close to our girl. There's no rush now. Just a long future together, and many more nights to look forward to as we walk together as a family.
This relationship might have started in an unconventional way. A scribbled sketch under the Athens sunshine was the catalyst to bring us all together. It might be unconventional in its form too; seven men and one woman isn’t the most obvious relationship construction.
But for the first time in a long time, I feel at peace.
Before I leave the room, I search around in my pocket for the gift I bought Luna on the way back. It’s a pretty gold necklace with a crescent moon charm. I want her to always remember this day for something positive. And for every day that follows to eclipse the next in perfection.
EPILOGUE
LUNA
"So tell me again what they're going to expect from us?" Connor says, frowning as he pours me a huge glass of milk. I swear, these guys think I'm growing a football team in my uterus, not one single tiny baby girl.
"They want to follow us around, film our day-to-day lives. It'll kind of be like a reality show that has lots of planning beforehand. Obviously, Blueday wants to ensure that everything that gets aired paints us in a favorable light." I take a sip of the cool milk, then reach for the cookie jar. Before I can overstretch, Jax is pushing it across the table toward me.
Not for the first time. I'm thankful that there's no one breathing down my neck about staying in shape and living off avocados and grilled chicken. If anything, my men are happy to see me putting some meat on my bones. They think about my health first, then the health of the baby. My image comes way down the line, which is fine. Every picture of me that gets officially published is airbrushed into a work of fiction anyway.
And they all like me a little juicier than I used to be.
"And you say that there's already been a show like this?"
"Yeah. The production company for ours is the same one that filmed that show about the McGreggors. Don't you remember it? Laura and her harem of ten men? It was called McGreggors Uncovered."
"I never saw that show," Mo says, slumping back in his chair.
"We were probably still overseas when it aired." Hudson rubs his hand over his heart, and I know immediately he's thinking about his brother. Every time he does it, I get a pang for Jake too. When this pregnancy is over, I'm going to get a tattoo tribute to my brother with angel wings too.
"Well, I can see if it's available to stream. I think it would be good for you to watch it and make sure it's something you are comfortable with doing."
"None of us is that comfortable with our lives being exposed for other people's entertainment," Elijah says. "But we understand the benefit to our family, so we'll do it."
I sigh, dunking my cookie into the creamy milk and taking a bite. Damn, it's good to eat comfort food. "I’m sick of seeing my name associated with Marcus’s trial. There is too much speculation about our relationship. I just really want to be able to control the narrative. I hate that we even have to consider this shit, but without the positive publicity, I might as well just give up."
"And that's exactly what we don't want to happen," Asher says, reaching across the table to take my free hand. "Singing is important to you. It makes you happy. And just because you've shacked up with seven men and found yourself in the family way doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to carry on doing something you love."
"It's not going to be forever," Ben muses. "It'll just be for one season, right? To change perceptions."
"Exactly," I say. "Just one season. But only if you guys are one hundred percent on board. I love singing, but I love you guys and our future daughter more."
As I say it, I rest my hand protectively over my belly. We decided to find out what we were having so I could better mentally prepare for it. I'd already had enough surprises, and it feels good to be able to plan for her.