Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER

THREE

Forrest

I didn’t know it was possible to witness such longing on a child’s face, but that’s what I saw just seconds ago with River and Rayne. They watched Roman with Lilly as if their little lives depended on it, and their faces…. Damn, they both looked so sad that I had to do something about it.

I should have checked with their mom, but all I could think about was making them smile again, so I dropped down to their level and offered them a ride. Once I explained, the light in their eyes was vibrant once again, and the four tiny hands that were gripping my heart loosened.

I don’t know if their dad is in the picture, and it’s not my business, but something tells me he’s not, and seeing Roman with Lilly was breaking their hearts. I couldn’t stand another second of watching it play out like a movie script.

When we make it to the kitchen, I take the girls to the island where the food is set out. Roman still holds Lilly, so I don’t want to put them down. Luckily, Monroe saves me.

“Girls, let’s get you in a chair and I’ll make you a plate.” Monroe smiles at them as if she’s known them all their lives .

“We want to sit with hims,” the girl on my left says, wrapping her arms around my neck.

Damn, she’s cute as hell. I really need to learn which one is which.

“Are you sure?” Monroe asks them.

They nod their little heads, and my chest swells.

“It’s fine,” I tell her. “You ladies can sit with me.” I carry the girls into the dining room. The table seats ten, so luckily, my plan for them will work with the number of people here today. “How about here?” I place them both on their feet and pull out three chairs. “I can sit between you.”

“Mommy can sit there,” the twin I now know as Rayne says. I also note that her hair is a little lighter than her sister’s. I keep that information at the forefront of my mind so that I can tell them apart.

“That sounds like a plan.” Monroe gets them set up at the table, and I peek back into the living room, letting Briar know we’re all set up.

“Mommy, sit here,” River tells Briar as soon as she enters the room.

“You sit here,” Rayne says, pointing to the chair they deemed as mine already.

“Why don’t we let Forrest sit where he wants, and Mommy can sit with you?” Briar suggests.

In an instant, two little lips jut out in a pout, and I’m toast. “This seat is perfect if it’s okay with your momma?” I glance at Briar and give her what I hope is a warm smile. I don’t want to step on her toes, but these two little angels got me in my feels and no way do I want to be the cause of their pout.

Nope. Not me. Not today. Not ever.

Briar bites down on her bottom lip. It looks pillowy soft, and I’d love to test that theory, but I push the yearning deep and wait for her answer. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” I pull out a chair and help River sit, then do the same for Rayne. “You ladies, sit right here, and we’ll be back with some food. ”

“Cake?” Rayne asks.

“Not yet. You have to eat all of your lunch first.” Rayne nods and wiggles in her seat.

Placing my hand on the small of Briar’s back, I lead her back to the kitchen. “What can I help you do?” I ask her.

“Oh, I can do it. I’ll make them both a plate and then make mine.”

“Nah, you make one and tell me what to put on the other, and we can do ours at the same time.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

I lean in close and whisper in her ear, “I want to.” Goose bumps break out across her skin, and I have to fight my grin. Good. I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this—whatever it is. Reluctantly, I drop my hand from the small of her back, already missing the warmth of the connection between us, and grab two paper plates, handing them to her and snatching two more.

“All right, who do I have?” I ask, grabbing a hamburger and making myself a sandwich. Everyone is gathered around the kitchen, but I ignore them as I help Briar.

“Rayne, a hot dog, but I’ll cut it up for her, and some mac and cheese will be good. Just a little, though. I don’t want them to waste it.”

“We have plenty,” Emerson says from across the island.

“Hot dog and mac and cheese. Anything for the hot dog?”

“Ketchup.”

“Got it.” I make Rayne a plate, then make mine and head to the dining room.

“Rayne, this is yours. River, your momma is bringing your plate.” I don’t know why I feel the need to explain. I guess so River doesn’t feel left out.

“Okay.” River climbs to her knees and looks toward the kitchen, waiting for her mom.

“Now, Momma says we need to cut this up.” I get to work cutting up the hot dog into small pieces. I don’t want her to choke, and I don’t know how big of bites a four-year-old needs or can have. It’s been years since Emerson was little, and I was just a teenager who didn’t think about those kinds of things .

Once I’m finished, I grab the ketchup bottle from the center of the table and give her a little pile, hand her a fork and a napkin, and take my seat between the girls, just as Briar sits down and hands River her plate. She has the same thing that Rayne does, and I smile when I see her hot dog cut up just as I did Rayne’s. My pieces might be a little smaller, but the smile is because I didn’t fuck it up.

“Rayne, let Mommy….” Her voice trails off when she looks over the top of her daughter’s head to see her hot dog already cut up. “Thank you, Forrest.” Her voice is soft.

“I got you. Have a seat. Let’s eat.” I wait until Briar is seated and takes her first bite before I take one of my own.

“You wike hot dogs?” River asks me before she takes a bite of hers.

“I do. I also like hamburgers.” I take a bite of mine to prove my point. The girls chatter around the table, stealing the show. They talk about their Barbies, and how they want a Barbie house and a Barbie Jeep for their birthdays that they promise to share, because sharing is nice.

“How old are you going to be?” Legend asks them. Together, they raise their hands and hold up four fingers.

“Dis many,” they say in unison.

“So you’re old ladies, then,” Maddox teases.

“We not old.” They giggle, which makes Lilly giggle, and as I look around the table, every single adult has a smile on their face.

This is what it’s about. Spending time with the people who mean the most to you, being in the presence of the innocence of the next generation.

After lunch, we all help clean up. Briar grabs a pack of wipes from the bag she brought with her and cleans the girls’ hands and faces. I’m standing at the island in the kitchen, wiping the same spot on the counter over and over as I observe them. I’m aware that it’s creepy as fuck, but I can’t make myself look away from them. The three of them are so in sync with one another.

My staring could also be because Briar is a knockout. Her long brown hair and big green eyes are captivating. Her daughters look just like her, and it’s definitely a sight worth taking in .

“Are you ready to watch Lilly open her presents?” Briar asks her daughters. They nod and scramble out of their chairs. I’m expecting them to rush toward the living room, but instead, they rush toward me. Dropping the rag on the counter, I turn toward them just in time. They slam into my legs, each wrapping their arms around me. On instinct, I place my hand on the back of their heads as they lean into me.

“We want a ride,” River tells me. She releases my leg and raises her arms in the air. Rayne watches her sister and does the same.

Damn, these two are just too cute. Bending down, I wrap an arm around each of their waists, and they latch on to me like little monkeys as I stand and carry them to the living room.

“I’m so sorry,” Briar says, trailing behind us.

“Nothing to be sorry for. I’ll give these little ladies a ride any day.” Once we’re in the living room, I bend, placing the girls back on their feet, and resume my position from earlier in front of the love seat. The girls crawl up behind me and pat the cushion next to them.

“Mommy, sit with us,” one of them says.

Briar steps around me and sits on the open seat. Legend is on the couch, with Monroe on his lap, and Maddox and Lachlan are beside them. Roman is in the recliner, sitting on the edge with his cell phone in his hand, ready to take pictures, while Emerson is on the floor with Lilly. Roman’s parents are sitting together in the oversized chair. They, too, have their cameras at the ready.

“Girls, why don’t you come and sit with me, so Forrest doesn’t have to sit on the floor?” Briar suggests. Her tone tells me it’s not really a suggestion.

“Forrest, sit with us,” one of them says. I can’t tell their voices apart just yet to know which.

I turn to look over my shoulder. “I’m fine here.”

“Pwease?” Rayne says. She juts out that little lip of hers and I’m toast. How do parents do this? How do they say no? Does Roman know what’s about to happen to him once Lilly starts talking more? He’s screwed. Fuck. We’re all screwed.

“All right,” I agree, because… pouting little lips .

I move to the love seat and smile at the twins, then their mom. Damn, she’s gorgeous. I wonder what the deal is? Where is their dad? How could any man walk away from the three of them?

“Present time!” Roman cheers and claps his hands. Lilly squeals and claps her hands just like her daddy.

Emerson places a present in front of her and helps her tear it open. It’s a new doll from Roman’s parents, from the looks of how his mom is gushing over how she had to buy it because the doll resembles Lilly. However, Lilly is more interested in the wrapping paper than the doll.

“Never fails.” Briar chuckles softly.

“What’s that?” I ask her.

She nods toward Lilly. “They always like the paper or the box that the gifts come in at that age better than the gift. These two were the same way.” She smiles fondly at her daughters.

“We wike gifts, Mommy,” River tells her.

“You do now,” Briar agrees. “When you were one like Lilly is today, you liked the wrapping paper and the bows better. I have pictures to prove it,” she says, bopping each of the girls on the nose with her index finger, making them giggle.

I have to tear my eyes away from them and focus on my niece. That’s why I’m here to celebrate her first full year of life. Not to drool over my sisters new friend.

The girls start to get restless, as does Lilly. “Why don’t we skip to cake, and Lilly can open the rest later?” Roman’s mom, Sarah, suggests.

I can see the indecision on Emerson’s face. “We get it, Em, don’t sweat it. The little tyke is worn out, and we kind of went overboard.” Everyone laughs but nods their agreement because I’m not wrong. We all spoil her rotten, and sure, no one-year-old needs this much stuff, but we can afford to do it, and I know for me, Emerson and I didn’t have this growing up, and I wanted to make sure that my niece does. Sure, Emerson and Roman, and his parents, will make sure of it, but as her uncle, her blood uncle, I felt like it was my job too.

As for the rest of the guys, well, they claim uncle status as well. They should. We’re family, regardless of blood, and Lilly is the first baby in the family. Apparently, we’re going to be spoiling all the kids born into the Everlasting Ink family. I smile at the thought. I wouldn’t want it any other way, and I know the guys feel the same.

“Are you ladies ready for some cake?” I’m asking the girls, but I love that Briar is included in that statement as well.

“Cake!” the twins cheer.

“We better go grab some before Maddox and Lachlan eat it all,” I tell them. They gasp as if that’s the worst thing they’ve ever heard in their lives, and my smile widens. “Let’s go.” I stand and offer them my hands. They quickly climb off the couch and don’t hesitate to slide their little palms in mine. “You coming, Momma?” I ask Briar.

She swallows hard. “Yes.” She nods as if she also needs to show me her answer before standing and following along behind us to the kitchen.

When we make it to the kitchen, Lilly is already in her high chair, and her small little smash cake, which is what Emerson called it, is in front of her. We sing “Happy Birthday,” and Lilly smiles and claps. Before the song is over, she’s already dipping her index finger into the icing and shoving it into her mouth.

All the adults have their phones out, taking pictures, and Lilly hams it up for the camera. She’s the perfect mix of her parents. I can see both Roman and Emerson in her mannerisms.

“Who wants cake?” Roman calls out as he starts to slice pieces of the large birthday cake.

I stand back and watch as Monroe and Briar grab a piece of cake and some ice cream for the twins and set them up at the little picnic table I bought Lilly for her birthday. It's just one of the many gifts because I’m going for the “favorite uncle” status, after all. She might be a little too young for it now, but I thought it would be perfect for our summer outside cookouts. In fact, I need to order one for my place so she also has one there when she comes to visit.

Once everyone has a piece of cake, we sit at the dining room table. Briar sits on the edge of her seat and constantly checks on the twins, who are chatting away with each other enjoying their cake and ice cream in the corner of the dining room .

“So, Briar, you work with Mo?” Maddox asks.

“I do. My sister, Brogan, and I both do. I’m in billing, and work from home most of the time, which is helpful with the girls, and Brogan is a phlebotomist.”

“And you’re twins?” Lachlan asks.

“We are.” Briar offers him a smile.

“And you’re both single?” Lachlan clarifies.

“We are.” Briar nods, and her cheeks take on a soft pink hue.

“And the other one?” Maddox asks.

“Oh, that’s Maggie. She’s a nurse who works with me at the surgery center. And yes, she’s also single.”

Lachlan goes to speak, but I shake my head, and he quickly closes his mouth. “This cake is great. Where did you get it?” I ask my sister. Lachlan gives me a “what the fuck” look, clearly thinking I’ve lost my mind, and I probably have, but I don’t want him grilling Briar. She’s already embarrassed if the pink of her cheeks is any indication.

I ignore him and pretend that my sister telling me about the woman she found in the town over from ours who made the cake is the most riveting conversation I’ve had in weeks.

“So you all work at the same tattoo studio?” Briar asks.

“We do.” Roman nods. “We’re building a new site out on the edge of town. The south side.”

“That’s right. I remember Brogan telling me about that.” Briar glances at Monroe. “She said you told her that’s where I should go to get my ink.”

“Are you thinking about a new tattoo?” I ask her.

She turns to look at me where I’m sitting next to her. “I am. My first. I want something for the girls and my dad all in one.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I’ll do it for free, just to spend more time with her, but my sister opens her mouth before I can.

“All five of them are extremely talented. When you’re ready, you can’t go wrong with any of them. ”

At least she didn’t suggest one of the guys and not me. I’m already thinking about how I can tell Lyra and Drake that if a Briar calls, she’s to be scheduled with me. “She’s right,” I tell Briar. “We can all help you. Do you need help with a design?” I might as well go ahead and toss my name in the hat.

“Maybe.” She bites down on her plump bottom lip. “I have ideas. I just don’t know how to incorporate them all.”

“When you’re ready,” I say softly, keeping this part of the conversation just between us.

“Thank you, Forrest.”

I nod and look up to see my sister watching me. I can’t read the expression on her face, but it’s gone before I can name it, anyway.

As the party dies down, I offer to carry the twins to the car for Briar. They’re both tired and asking Briar to carry them. She’s a tiny thing, so I don’t see how she can. They’re sitting on the love seat, while Briar stands before them.

I kneel so that we’re at eye level. “Would it be all right if I carried you to the car?” I ask them.

“I can help,” Lachlan offers.

“You don’t have to do that. They’re big girls now. They can walk,” Briar says, more for the girls’ benefit than ours.

“We got this.” Lachlan bends down just as I am. “Who wants a ride to the car?”

The girls point at me, and something in my chest swells. I’ve just met them, but damn, these little angels have a hold on me.

“How about we race?” Lachlan asks. “River and me against Rayne and this guy.” He points to me. I don’t think he can tell them apart, but he does know their names.

“Can you go real, real fast?” River asks him.

“The fastest.”

The twins look at each other and have some sort of silent communication before they’re nodding. River crawls over Rayne to get to Lachlan, and lets him take her into his arms, as I scoop Rayne up into my arms as well. We carry them out on the front porch and down the steps .

“Ready?” Lachlan asks.

“Go!” the girls cheer, and we take off toward the car. We get there at the exact same time. “Tie!” they cheer, their melancholy from having to go home nowhere in sight.

“Thank you for that,” Briar says, once we have the girls loaded into the back seat of her car.

“Anytime. You ladies be good for your momma,” I say before closing the door. “When you’re ready for that tattoo, give me, or any of us, a call.” Me. Call me. That’s what I want to say, but I can’t for the life of me understand why it’s so important to me that I be the one to ink her.

“Thank you,” she says again, before climbing into her car and driving away. I watch until I can no longer see her, and hope like hell I’ll get to see her again soon.