Internally I’m fist bumping myself knowing I did that to her. “Never broken one yet.”
“In that case, I’ll be home early.”
“That’s my girl,” I say, kissing her one more time. “Drive safe, babe.”
“Have fun.” She gives me a pointed look.
“Impossible not to with the crew,” I tell her with a laugh. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I wait until she’s in her car and pulling out of the garage door, except I don’t get the chance when Kent pulls in and he and Seth climb out. I wait for them to enter the garage before shutting the door.
“My contribution.” Seth holds up a twelve-pack.
“You drinking?” I ask Kent.
“Nah. I’m his DD. Just talked to Ty. He and Ridge are leaving his place now.”
“Come on in.” I walk back into the house with them on my heels. “I ordered pizza and wings. Should be here soon.”
“Where we doing this?” Seth asks.
“Basement. You can take that down to the fridge down there if you want? Unless you want to keep walking upstairs to grab a beer?” I chuckle.
“That would be a big, fat negative.”
Kent and I share a look, but before we can discuss what might be going on with Seth, the doorbell rings. “Food’s here.” I happily pay the delivery kid for dropping off the four large pies and four pounds of wings, making sure to add a gracious tip.
“Fuck, did you invite someone else?” Seth asks.
“Nope. Just the five of us.”
“Is Dawn not feeding you?”
“Like you can’t devour an entire pizza on your own,” Kent says.
Seth grins. “You know it.” He opens the top of the first box and pulls out two slices, adding them to a paper plate.
“It’s been ages since we’ve done this,” Kent comments, helping himself to some pizza.
“Life,” I say, “has a way of getting in the way.”
“Our little group has had a rough couple of years,” he agrees.
The doorbell chimes. “Come in,” I call out, and Ridge and Ty come walking in. They immediately make themselves a plate.
“So, which of you two are next?” Ty asks. “We’ve got this one married off, or close enough.” He points to me and I nod.
“Not against it,” Kent says, before shoving another bite of pizza into his mouth. “Just need the girl,” he says once he’s swallowed. I don’t think he even chewed.
“What about you?” I ask Seth.
“Believe it or not, you fuckers make it look like we’re missing out,” Seth says. “You’re all fucking smiles, giggly babies, and ‘gotta go home to my wife.’ I admit I’d like to have what you have.”
Kent nods. “You do make it look like it doesn’t suck,” Kent agrees.
“It doesn’t suck.”
“How’s that going? With Daisy and Dawn, I mean? Is the adoption started?”
I nod. “It’s in the works. I’m glad we’re going to be married before it’s official so we all have the same last name.”
“You’re a good man, Marcus Adams,” Ridge says.
“Nah, man. I’m lucky to have them.” I’m not just saying that. I’m honored to be able to call both Dawn and Daisy mine.
“What happened with that chick?” Kent asks Seth.
“What chick?” We all know he’s playing dumb.
“The one you wanted. You met her once and she had you all tied up in knots.”
“Not much. I haven’t seen her since.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“We’ve texted a few times,” he confesses.
“And?” Ridge asks.
“Nothing to tell.”
“I call bullshit.” This from Tyler.
“Call it what you want. There’s nothing there. Not yet anyway. We’re getting to know each other slowly. If and when something happens, I’ll be sure you four know first,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Why the sudden interest in my love life?”
“We’re all established,” Tyler says. “Kent isn’t seeing anyone, and you have this girl that we know nothing about. You can bring her around, you know. We won’t run her off.”
“Yeah, I won’t even flirt with her,” Kent says.
“Like you do my fiancée?” I ask him.
“Or my wife,” Ridge adds.
“Or mine,” Tyler chimes in.
“You guys are too easy. I can’t resist,” he says, grinning. He picks up the pizza boxes that are not yet empty. “Grab the wings and let’s play some cards.”
Two hours later, I’m fifty-dollars richer. “Read ’em and weep, boys,” I say, dropping my cards to the table and pulling in the pot of money.
I hear the garage door open and glance down at my phone. It’s just after ten and Dawn is home. I want to rush upstairs to see her, to see Daisy before Dawn puts her to bed, but I stay in my seat. Seth drains his beer and announces he has to go to the bathroom.
“I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go see if Dawn needs any help getting Daisy in bed.” I don’t wait for a reply before I’m rushing up the steps, taking them two at a time. Dawn and a sleepy baby greet me at the top of the stairs.
“Hey, Daddy,” Dawn says, her voice low.
Hand on her hip, I lean down and kiss her, then Daisy. “How was your night?”
“Good. Ben and Beck were exhausted, and Knox and Everly were already in bed, so we called it a night. This little lady has been fighting sleep. I thought for sure she would crash on the way home, but no such luck.”
“Come here.” I take Daisy from her arms. “You want Daddy to rock you?” I ask her. She snuggles into my chest. Slowly I begin to rub her back.
“Seriously?” Dawn asks.
“What?”
She points to Daisy. “She just closed her eyes.”
“What can I say? I’ve got the magic touch.”
“Is she asleep?” I hear Kent ask.
Turning, I let him get a good look. Daisy must open her eyes because he smiles softly and jiggles her foot around. “You look tired, pretty girl.” Leaning in, he kisses the top of her head. “Let your old man rock you to sleep.” He winks at Dawn and she laughs.
“Old my ass,” I mumble.
“I’m gonna head out. Reagan is on her way home with the boys, so I’m going to go in case she needs help getting them down,” Tyler announces.
“They were fighting it when I left. Amelia was helping her to the car,” Dawn tells him.
“Yeah, they’ve been doing this thing where they fight sleep. It’s like they’re afraid they’re going to miss something. I’ll see you guys later. We’ll do it at my place next time,” he says as he heads for the front door.
“We’re all calling it a night,” Ridge says. He kisses Dawn on the cheek, runs his index finger down the side of Daisy’s face, and leaves.
“Thanks, man,” Seth says. “I cleaned up downstairs. Left the cards on the table.”
“That works. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.”
“Night,” Kent and Seth say at the same time, and then they’re gone.
“Sorry,” Dawn says. “I didn’t mean to break up boys’ night.”
“You didn’t. We’ve been playing for two hours. I’m up fifty bucks.” I wag my eyebrows and she laughs. “Let me get her down, and then I’ll be in.”
“Thank you.” She covers a yawn.
“I’m coming for you,” I tell her with a wink.
“I’ll be ready,” she says, kissing Daisy on the cheek and rushing off to our room.
It takes me longer to get our girl to deep sleep than I anticipated. Every time I thought she was sound asleep, I’d stand from the rocking chair and her eyes would pop open. So I snuggled and rocked her a little longer. She’s growing so much compared to the day we brought her home. I hate that she’s growing up so fast.
Finally, I’m able to place her in her crib and she stays asleep. “Night, baby girl,” I whisper, and
quietly step out of her room. When I reach our bedroom, Dawn is sound asleep, curled up in a ball on top of the covers. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and my guess is nothing else. My cock twitches, but he’s not getting any action tonight. Grabbing an extra blanket from the closet, I cover her up, turn off the lamp, and climb into bed. Not exactly what I had planned, but at the end of the day, she’s here in my bed, and Daisy is safe in hers. What more can a man ask for?