“Tell him what though?” Tasha asks, handing me a fresh diaper and reminding me about what I was just saying.
“Oh, I’m a little scatterbrained lately… I mean I didn’t tell your dad that night. The night we both found out we were pregnant,” I explain.
“I mean, I told Sla— I told your dad I was pregnant, but I left the other surprise up to you,” I tell her, putting Tasha on the spot a bit.
“I was gonna tell him, but then you railroaded me with your own baby news,” she protests, poking her tongue out and making me laugh. Blake startles awake again and Birdie starts to howl too, just because she copies everything she sees or hears right now.
The front door bangs open and I hear Slade’s heavy steps before he calls out.
“Anyone home? Oh, hi sweetie,” he says as he pretends not to hear two babies screaming.
He stops to kiss me, asking how everything is before he greets Tasha, leaning over to hug her and to lift up his grandson who stops bawling in a second.
I quickly thrust little Birdie up so her dad can take her, and she goes quiet too.
“Perfect,” Slade exclaims.
Tasha and I think he means the babies going quiet.
Until we catch a whiff of it.
“Just… Perfect,” Slade says again, eyeballing both Tasha and me once he realizes he has two babies and two full diapers.
“That’s called welcome home, dad,” I cheer, and Tasha echoes. “Welcome home grandpa.”
I feel a little something in my eye as I watch Slade pretend to be horrified before he gnaws at the babies like he’s devouring them.
But he’s just so gentle with those babies.
It’s beautiful to watch.
“I’ll change these two back into proper babies,” he calls over his shoulder, making giant ogre sounds and the babies squeal with delight as he takes them to the changing table in our room.
With all the excitement I don’t think Slade even noticed my shirt is open.
I’ve got my chest out so much, feeding Birdie, it took us a while to find a feeding schedule that didn’t clash with our time.
“What does your mom think?” Tasha asks, fully relaxing for a minute while her dad deals with the dirty diapers.
“Don’t tell your dad,” I murmur, leaning closer. “But she said it’s the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen,” I squeak.
“You’re kidding me?” Tasha asks, shaking her head.
“But don’t tell him. He still thinks mom’s gonna give him a black eye if he ever inks me.”
Tasha gives me a knowing wink, eager to be in on our little secret.
“At least dad had the decency to put a ring on your finger,” Tasha grumbles, and it sounds a little like the Tasha I remember from before.
“Brad still hasn’t proposed?” I ask, not hiding my own annoyance at that.
“His dad hasn’t proposed to your mom either,” Tasha drones, knowing how much that winds me up every time.
The thought of Rex and my mom?
I just can’t even.
“That’s below the baby weight belt, Tasha,” I say, making her laugh.
“Well, we’re not all lucky enough to be swept off our feet. A regular Prince Charming, that’s my dad,” she tells me proudly.
Tasha grips my hand and yanks it over. She always wants to look at my rings.
“I think Brad’s saving for a ring that outshines this one. Ya know? Like a bigger rock,” she decides, dropping my hand like a used diaper, but she’s only teasing.
I know she can’t wait either, and her day will come.
Even my mom’s. Maybe.
Ugh.
“Did you tell Abby the good news, hun?” Slade asks Tasha, bending his knees to pass Blake back to her.
“Tell me what?” I ask, wondering what Tasha might not have told me.
“We’re pregnant again… Brad and me,” Tasha says, giving me an apologetic look.
I feel a stab of hurt for a second.
How could Tasha not tell me that?
But running my hand down my side and over my belly, I look down at the space next to my tattoo.
I have a little news of my own.
Maybe I’ll forgive my bestie just this once.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
FIVE YEARS LATER
Slade
When baby number three, Ashlee came along, I knew we had to do something.
“Slade, either tie a knot in it, or build me a new house,” Abby joked, but I kinda felt her urgency. It felt like the walls were closing in on us.
There was no way I was tying a knot in anything that would stop me from loving my woman even for a little while, so a new house was bought.
I could’ve built it myself, but that’s what the money’s for.
For us. For our family.
I sold the Tattoo business and the house for more than a hefty profit.
A couple of guys I used to ride with, old timers now who still ride with the same patch I used to wear bought it.
The house is the new MC clubhouse, and they all run the business side of things, keeping it just the way it was and probably always will.