Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

ONE

Forrest

The quiet of the shop surrounds me as I work on my sketch. The last client left a couple of hours ago, and so did everyone else. I stayed behind to work on a mock-up for a new client I have coming in a few weeks from now. It’s a large, intricate back piece that’s going to take several sessions, and I want to make sure I hit every detail.

Besides, it’s not like anything is waiting for me at home. My big ole house is empty now that my sister, Emerson, married one of my best friends and co-business owners of Everlasting Ink, and moved out. I’m not a fan of the quiet. In fact, it’s downright lonely. Sure, my sister, best friend, and baby niece, Lilly, live next door, but that’s their home. Not mine.

And yes, one of my other best friends and co-business owner, Legend, and his wife, Monroe, live across the street. I know I could knock on their door as well, and they’d happily invite me in. It’s nice having them so close, but it’s still lonely and too damn quiet.

Standing, I place my hands on the small of my back and stretch. Glancing at the clock that hangs over the door, I see it’s past eight. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch.

I make quick work of cleaning up my area and locking up the shop before heading home. The drive is short, and the house is dark when I pull into the driveway. I can see the soft glow of light from Emerson and Roman’s house next door. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I see the same from Legend and Monroe’s.

I know that I’m welcome at either place at any time, but this is their family time. I won’t intrude on that. Emerson invites me over every single night for dinner. I take her up on it sometimes, but not often. She worries about me living here alone, but she shouldn’t. She has her husband and her daughter to focus on.

I could have gone out with Lachlan and Maddox tonight, but honestly, the random hookups and nights out at the bar don’t do it for me anymore. I blame Roman and Legend for opening my eyes to what healthy, happy relationships look like. I’m envious of them, and I want what they have. Something tells me I’m not going to find it at a bar. Who knows, maybe I will, but I’m just not feeling it.

I get the same invitations from her best friend, Monroe, and Legend to their place across the street. Again, I accept sparingly, because it’s not their job to keep me fed or entertained.

With a heavy sigh, I turn off my truck, grab my phone and keys, and head inside. Flipping on the lights, I kick off my shoes and make my way toward the kitchen. I don’t really feel like cooking, so I scrounge through the fridge. The leftover Chinese I picked up on the way home two nights ago will have to do.

I don’t even bother heating it up. Instead, I stand at the island and scarf it down as I flip through the mail. Most of it is either junk mail or bills, nothing enticing. Tossing the junk mail in the trash, I set the bills aside to handle tomorrow, before turning off the lights and heading up to take a long, hot shower and go to bed. It’s been a long, exhausting day, and I’m more than ready for it to be over.

Tomorrow, it’s my turn to host our weekly Sunday get-together, and for a little while, this big old house won’t feel so lonely.

The house smells incredible, but that could be because I’m starving. Last night's leftover Chinese didn’t satisfy me, and this morning, I had a banana with my coffee and immediately started cooking. It's my week to host our Sunday lunch, dinner, or whatever you want to call it. It’s something we’ve done for a while now. It used to always be here, at my house, but now that Roman and Legend have bigger houses that have room for our group, we take turns.

This is my week, and I made a huge pot of chili. I have cornbread and peanut butter sandwiches to go with it. I like both, so I made both. I can have two bowls, one with cornbread and another with a peanut butter sandwich. I’m a growing man, and I need fuel. Besides, I know the others like it both ways as well, and we don’t have to choose, so why should we?

The front door opens and voices carry to me in the kitchen. We don’t knock; well, we do now at Roman’s and Legend’s because they’re both married, and honestly, I don’t need or want to see what happens behind closed doors. I shudder at the thought. That’s my little sister, and her best friend, who might as well also be my little sister.

Yeah, definitely knocking.

“Uncle Forty!” my sister calls out.

I smile. I love being an uncle, and I’m about to get my niece fix. “In the kitchen,” I call back. I quickly wash my hands and turn to see Emerson and Roman enter. Roman is carrying my niece, Lilly, who’s smiling widely as she babbles in her daddy’s arms.

“Please tell me you made your chili,” Roman groans. He sniffs the air and nods. He doesn’t need me to answer him, but I do it anyway.

“Yep.” I lean over and give my sister a one-armed hug, quickly pulling away and holding my hands out for Lilly. She grins and leans into me, letting me take her from her dad’s arms. “There’s my favorite girl.” I kiss her cheek, and she snuggles into me, resting her head on my shoulder.

“I see how it is. I father your niece, and you can’t even say hi to me,” Roman jokes .

“Hey, Rome.” I smile down at Lilly, rubbing her back. “Lilly, Daddy is jealous of you,” I say sweetly, running a soothing hand up and down her back.

“I’m his sister, and I barely got a one-armed hug. It was more like a quick lean in with a pat on the back,” Emerson adds.

“Sounds like your mommy is too,” I tell my niece. She lifts her head and places a wet, sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Aw, I love you, too, Lills.”

“Where is everyone else?” Roman asks.

“I’m not sure,” I reply as I bounce Lilly in my arms, making her giggle. The door opens and heavy footsteps fall.

“Aw, man, I wanted to beat you here so that he wouldn’t be a baby hog,” Maddox complains, as he and Lachlan enter the kitchen.

“Hand her over.” Lachlan opens his arms, and I spin to keep Lilly away from him. She laughs, and Lachlan grunts. He follows me, walking in a circle until I relent and hand her over. “Did you tell Forrest I’m your favorite?” he asks my niece, snuggling her close.

“We all know that I’ve got the favorite uncle title in the bag,” Maddox tells him.

“Won’t be long and you’ll have another one to fight over,” Legend says, walking into the room. His words have all of us going quiet. Everyone but his wife, Monroe.

“Legend!” Monroe tries to scold, but she’s laughing. “We were going to wait.”

He shrugs. “They’re family.”

“I know, but it’s still so early,” she says, her voice soft.

I watch as Legend wraps his arms around her and pulls her into his chest. His lips press to her temple. “Everything is going to be just fine,” he says, soothing her.

“So, I guess the cat is out of the bag.” Emerson laughs.

I’m not surprised that Emerson knew. She and Monroe have always been tight. I glance at Roman, and he doesn’t look surprised, which means he probably knew too. I guess that’s his right as the best friend’s husband .

“I guess so.” Monroe sighs.

“We’re pregnant,” Legend says with a smile and much more enthusiasm. He pulls his wife into his arms and places a kiss on the top of her head. He’s smiling so widely that I fear his face might crack. Monroe’s smile matches his, and happy tears shimmer in her eyes.

We rally around them, offering them hugs and congratulations. I’m so damn ecstatic for them. Legend is a great guy, but Legend with Monroe, he’s on another level. The same way Roman is with my little sister. I guess the love of a good woman can change your life. Not that I would know anything about that personally. I’m an outsider looking in, but my friends have never been happier, so there has to be something to it.

One day, I’ll have what they have.

I hope.

“We need three more,” Maddox speaks up.

“Three more of what?” Roman asks.

“Babies. One for each of us.” He points to where Lachlan is holding Lilly. “The competition is fierce around here.”

The room erupts in laughter. He’s not wrong. Technically, by blood, I am Lilly’s only uncle, but you don’t have to share blood to be a family. Everyone is in this room. They’re my family. I would do anything for any of them, and yeah, I happen to agree. We need more babies around here. I love seeing my best friends fall in love and start families. Call me sentimental, but it makes me happy to see them finding their forevers.

None of us have been keen on relationships. Me, because I was too worried about raising my little sister because our parents were… are deadbeats. Being ten years older, I did everything I could, including buying this house to give Emerson the stability that our parents failed to provide for her.

Now, here she is, married to my best friend, and a mother. She has a great job, which was a struggle at first. It was hard for me to convince her to let me pay for her schooling, but she eventually relented. The shop does really well, and I wanted to do that for her. I wanted to give her a shot at a real future outside of that rundown trailer we grew up in .

This house was for her, but now, it’s just me living here all alone, and in moments like these, when it’s filled with love and laughter, my heart is content. However, at night, it’s silent and lonely. I can only hope that I find her. That I find the woman who will make me change the way I look at life, the way Emerson and Monroe have for Legend and Roman.

I know that when I find her, I’m going to fight like hell to keep her.

My mind goes back to the conversation we had before I found out about Roman and Emerson and was put on the spot, asking what my ideal woman would be. It’s a short list, and it all comes down to being genuine. I want something real. Something that will last and stand the test of time.

“Let’s eat!” Maddox says, grabbing a bowl from the counter and pouring out his chili. Within ten minutes, we’re all settled around the table. Roman has Lilly in his arms, giving her small bites of his.

“I can’t believe she’s turning one already,” Monroe says, watching Lilly eat bites of her dad’s peanut butter sandwich.

“Time for another one,” Roman replies.

“Maybe let’s get her out of diapers.” Emerson laughs.

“Lills, Daddy needs you to learn to use the potty so we can make you a big sister.” Roman kisses her cheek, and she offers him a huge grin in return. Damn, this girl is too cute.

“Don’t worry, she’ll have a baby cousin in about seven months,” Legend says proudly.

Monroe smiles up at him, and something a lot like envy courses through my veins.

“What are you all doing next Saturday night?” Roman asks.

“Nothing.” I shrug. My life is quite literally boring as shit these days. Work and repeat. “What’s up?”

“These two”—he nods toward Emerson and then to Monroe—“are having a girls’ night. I’ll have Lilly with me at the house. Thought we could all hang out.”

“I’m in,” I tell him.

“Me too,” Legend agrees .

“Yeah, been a while since it’s just been us guys,” Lachlan says. “Count me in.”

“Lilly will be there,” Maddox reminds him, “and I’ll bring the pizza.”

“She’s a baby. She doesn’t count. She’s not going to ride our asses about belching and cursing too much,” Lachlan explains.

“Belching can slide, but she’s picking up everything, so you’ll need to watch your mouth,” Roman tells him.

Lachlan waves him off. “I would regardless, but you know what I mean. Just the guys.”

“Are we cramping your style, Lachlan?” Emerson teases.

“No.” He’s quick to shake his head as well. “Please don’t be offended,” he rushes to say. “It’s just our family is growing, and it used to be just the five of us, and it’s been a while since it’s been that way. That’s all that I’m saying.”

Emerson smiles. “I know. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

“We should be thanking you for planning a girls’ night,” Maddox chimes in with a wink to help lighten the heaviness of the conversation.

“Just the two of you?” I ask them. “Do you need a ride?” I know that my sister is an adult and married with a baby, but I’ll never stop taking care of her. It’s who I am.

“No, but thank you. We’re all set. Besides, preggers over there”—she points to Monroe—“can drive me if it comes to that.”

“We’ve invited a couple of girls we work with,” Monroe adds.

“Are they hot?” Maddox asks.

“Very.” Monroe nods. “Although, I’ve never met Maggie.” Monroe looks to Emerson.

“She’s very pretty,” Emerson announces.

“So—we’re crashing girls’ night?” Maddox asks hopefully.

We all laugh at him. “What happened to glad it was just the guys?” I ask him.

“That was all this guy.” He points to Lachlan.

“I mean, pretty girls….” Lachlan shrugs. “Plans are made to be broken. ”

“Stop.” Emerson shakes her head. “You are not crashing girls’ night. We’re hoping to make this a tradition. If you all want to plan a guys’ night, go for it.”

“We’re having one,” Legend reminds her.

“I mean, when you won’t have Lilly. You can curse and belch until your little hearts are content,” she teases.

“Maybe.” Roman doesn’t sound convinced. I’m not surprised. Lately, if my little sister or their daughter aren’t involved, it doesn’t hold his interest.

“Can we talk about Lilly’s birthday party?” Lachlan asks.

“We can.” Emerson nods. “What’s up? You’re going to be there, right?”

“Oh, I’ll be there. I just want to make sure no one else bought what I did.”

“I’m sure whatever you bought is perfect,” Emerson assures him. “You don’t need to buy her a gift. Just being with us to celebrate is enough.”

Lachlan looks appalled. “Not buy her a gift? What kind of Sam Hell nonsense is that?” He points to his chest. “Favorite uncle title to maintain.”

“I bet my gift is better than yours,” Maddox chimes in.

“Doubt it.” Lachlan crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. He thinks he’s got this in the bag.

“Yeah? Well, I bought her—nope. You know what? I’m not going to tell you so that you can top my gift. We’ll reveal them at the party.”

Legend reaches over and takes Lilly from Roman. “Little lady, you might be the most spoiled little girl on the planet.” He kisses her cheek, and she giggles.

“Come here, sweet girl. Listen,” Monroe says, once Lilly is in her arms. “These men, they’re big teddy bears. Your mommy and me, we know how to work them. Take notes, kiddo. Use this to your advantage.”

Emerson snickers with laughter, while the rest of us are smiling. She’s not wrong. There isn’t anything we won’t give or do for that little girl, and as soon as Legend and Monroe have their baby, it will be the same way.

Our Everlasting Ink family is tight. We’re closer than blood, and our bond is strong. I have no doubt that all of our current and future children in the group will be spoiled rotten, but more than that. They will be loved beyond measure.

That’s just what we do.

After we finish eating, we move to the living room. I’m sitting in the recliner with Lilly sleeping soundly on my chest, and take it all in. Roman and Legend are wearing permanent smiles that never seem to leave their faces, and Maddox and Lachlan are giving them shit over it. The girls laugh it all off, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect day. Well, maybe I could. I could have the love of my life here with me, and maybe, just maybe, it would be my own baby girl I was holding while she slept.

One day.