Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Briar

“Where are we?” River asks from her brand-new car seat in the back of Forrest’s truck. It’s the first week of September and we’re headed to the county fair. Forrest picked us up, and the girls were thrilled to see they had their own seats in his truck. He got bonus points because there was a pink seat and a purple one. He knows my girly girls pretty well. I turn and smile at my girls, and my sister, who is sitting in the middle of the back seat between them. I offered to sit there, but she insisted she was fine.

“This is where I work, Razzle.”

“You work here?” Rayne asks from her matching seat that’s sitting right behind Forrest.

“I sure do.”

“This is where you draw?” River asks.

“Something like that.” Forrest laughs.

“Are we going to draw?” Rayne asks.

“Not today, Dazzle. Remember when I told you we were going to go to the county fair?”

“Oh, yeah.” Rayne nods. “What are we gonna do there, Forty? ”

“We’re gonna ride some rides, play some games, and eat some junk food.”

“Why are we going to eat junk?” River asks. I don’t have to turn to look at her to know she’s scrunching up her nose in distaste.

“Junk food is a way of saying food that’s not super healthy,” I explain to my daughters.

“Like elephant ears and deep-fried Oreos,” Forrest adds.

“I like Oreos, but I don’t think I’ve ever had any elephant. Have I, Mommy?” River asks.

It takes extreme effort to hide my laugh. “No, baby. But it’s not an elephant ear for real. It’s just called that.”

“Sissy, junk food is weird,” Rayne whispers.

“We’re going with a bunch of people. Everyone I work with and their families,” Forrest says.

“Are we your family, Forrest?” River asks, her voice small.

Forrest pulls his keys from the ignition, unbuckles his seat belt, and turns to face the girls. “You are my family.”

“Where you been?” Rayne asks.

“I didn’t know you until this year, but now that I do, we’re family,” Forrest explains. He looks at me, and I nod.

It’s hard to make their four-year-old little minds understand, but they’ll get it one day. I’ve been in therapy now for going on three months. I should have done it years ago. Brogan and I both have been making great progress, and for the first time in my adult life, I’m ready to move beyond my tragedy. I know I have Forrest to thank for that. He’s… well, he’s everything. My girls love him, and I love him.

No, I haven’t told him yet. It’s scary as hell to put yourself out there.

I know I have nothing to worry about with Forrest. He’s proven himself over and over again. He’s in this with me and my girls. I’m pretty sure he loves me. In fact, I’m certain of it, but he’s never pushed me. He’s given me the time I need to grow and process all these feelings.

I don’t know how I managed to do so, but I met an incredible man who has captured all three of our hearts, and in turn, we’ve given him ours .

Brogan hops out of the truck, and she and Maggie ride with Maddox and Lachlan, while Roman, Emerson, and Lilly ride with Legend and Monroe. Then there is Lyra, Drake, and his girlfriend, Lisa, who also works at Everlasting Ink; they’re all riding together. In a convoy, we pull out of the lot and make our way toward the county fair.

A family outing, as Emerson called it. I finally understand what she means. Family isn’t blood, and this family—some blood related, most not—have chosen one another, and me, my girls, and my sister are lucky enough to be included in that label.

For the first time since our father passed, we have a family.

Our Everlasting Ink family.

“Which one do you want?” Forrest asks the girls.

“I want the pink one!” River says.

“I want purple!” Rayne calls out her request.

“Girls, don’t get your hopes up. Forrest is going to try to win, but these games are hard. He might not be able to.”

Maddox cracks up, laughing. “Briar, keep him in line.”

“What? No, I mean, I’m sure you’re great,” I tell Forrest, grimacing at the fact that I pretty much just told the girls that he wouldn’t win. “But these things are hard to win, right?”

“Your girl’s doubting you, bro. You going to let that go?” Lachlan asks.

“Don’t worry, girls,” Legend says. “If Forrest can’t win them for you, Uncle Legend will.”

“Are you my uncle?” River asks.

“Yep. We’re all your uncles,” Legend tells her.

River looks at Rayne with wide eyes. “Sissy, we gots lots of uncles.”

“And aunts,” Emerson speaks up.

“You have Brogan, but you have me, Monroe, and Maggie, too,” Emerson explains.

“This is the best day ever. Forty is family, and now we gots lots of aunts and uncles too!” Rayne exclaims, making everyone laugh .

“And what about me and Lisa?” Lyra asks.

“Oops.” Emerson giggles. “Aunt Lyra and Aunt Lisa, too, and Uncle Drake.”

“That’s lots,” River says.

“Don’t worry, kiddo,” Roman says. “We’re not going anywhere. You have lots of time to remember our names. All you need to remember is that we’re your family, and if you ever need us, you can come to any of us.”

The girls nod, but it’s Rayne who speaks. “We need those pink and purple bears.” Everyone cracks up laughing as Forrest hands over his money to the game attendant.

“How do you win, Forty?” River asks.

“All I have to do is hit three balloons and make them pop.”

“Oh, well, pop them all, will you?” she asks.

Forrest chuckles. “That’s the plan, Razzle.” He winks at her as he accepts his five darts.

“I want up.” River holds her arms up for Maddox, and he scoops her up in his arms.

“Me too, me too.” Rayne does the same to Lachlan, and he doesn’t hesitate to place her on his hip.

“Go, Forty!” the girls cheer.

The smile on his face matches theirs. His first five dollars is a win as he points to the pink bear and hands it to River.

“Now I’ll get yours,” he tells Rayne. She wiggles around in excitement. I’m surprised Maddox and Lachlan can keep a hold of them with how much they're wiggling around.

It takes two rounds, but Forrest gets to hand Rayne her purple bear. “Lilly needs a bear too,” Rayne says.

“My turn.” Roman hands Lilly to Forrest as he steps up and passes over his five dollars for his five darts.

“Rome, you have big shoes to fill,” Forrest goads him.

“Go, Rome!” the girls holler.

“Even your girls know I’ve got this, Huntley,” Roman fires back.

“Prove it,” Forrest taunts .

It takes Roman three tries, but he finally hands Lilly a green teddy bear. She snuggles it close to her where she’s resting against Forrest’s chest. Lachlan and Maddox declare it’s Tilt-O-Whirl time. With my daughters on their hips, they head off to the rides, and we all follow along behind them. I don’t know what I expected, but we’re truly taking in this fair as a huge group. It’s nice to be surrounded by good people.

I watch as my sister and Maggie laugh and cut up with everyone, and it’s nice to see her happy. As if she’s reading my thoughts, she winks at me and nods. She’s thinking the same thing.

I move to stand next to Emerson and Monroe as we watch all the guys and my daughters climb onto the ride. Maggie snags Lilly from Forrest, and he joins them. “Thank you,” I say, not looking at either of the ladies standing next to me.

“For what?” Monroe asks.

“Inviting us to girls' night.” I finally turn to look at them. “You changed my life. All our lives. I will forever be grateful for that.”

“You and the girls have brought him to life. He was struggling after I moved in with Roman. It all happened quickly, at least in Forrest's eyes. We were together a while before he knew. He was lonely, but he’s not anymore. I should be thanking you,” Emerson tells me.

“Let me tell you a story. I’ll give you the condensed version.” Brogan hears me and comes over to stand next to me. She takes my hand in hers. Maggie joins us, and I tell my story, which is also kind of my sister's story. The only other person I’ve told is Forrest and my therapist. By the time I’m done, I’m crying. Thankfully, the girls convince the guys to go another round on the ride, and they rush back to get into line.

“We’ve been talking to someone. A therapist the last couple of months,” Brogan adds. “It’s helping. We’re healing.”

“We are. However, I don’t know that I would have taken that first step had it not been for Forrest.”

“And me. When Briar told me what she was going to do, I knew that I needed to as well. We were young and didn’t deal with any of it well. Then Dad passed, and we just kept pushing forward as best as we could. ”

Emerson looks at me with tears in her eyes. She doesn’t say a word as she hugs me, then my sister. Monroe and Maggie do the same.

“Thank you for listening,” I tell them.

“That’s what friends are for. I can’t even imagine what you went through, but we’re here.”

“All of us,” Maggie adds.

“Thank you.”

“Forrest knows,” I tell Emerson, and she nods. “The others… can you all tell them? I don’t want to hide anymore, but I don’t know if I can face four gorgeous guys and tell them our story.” I turn to look at Brogan. “Are you okay with that?”

She nods. “Yeah, we’re living for the future.” She hugs me tight, just as River and Rayne come barreling toward us.

“Mommy, that was so fun!” they say excitedly.

“It looked like you were having a great time.” I smile down at them.

Forrest walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I don’t hesitate to lean into his embrace, trusting that he’s there for all the right reasons. He kisses the top of my head, and it feels right. This moment feels right.

“Girls, what about that one?” Lachlan points to the scrambler.

“Yeah!” they cheer. Rayne goes to Lachlan, and River to Maddox, and they rush off to ride the next ride.

I don’t panic that my daughters are with them. I don’t worry that they won’t be safe. I’ve found my trust, and like my therapist likes to tell me: I’m not broken. I might be a little bent, but life is a trip of twists and turns, and it’s how we handle them that matters.

I am stronger than my past. I am a mother to two incredible little girls. I’m a sister to the best person I know. I’m the girlfriend of an amazing man and a friend of an amazing group of people.

I’m not broken.

I am enough.

“Night, Razzle.” Forrest leans in to kiss River on her cheek before he moves to Rayne’s bed. “Night, Dazzle.”

“Night, Forty. Love you,” they chorus.

“I love you too.” His voice is rich and husky as he passes by me. He leans in and kisses my cheek before stepping out into the hall and allowing me my time to say goodnight to the girls.

“Forty reads stories good,” Rayne says with a yawn.

“He does,” I agree. I kiss her good night, and make sure she’s tucked in before moving to River’s bed and doing the same.

“Mommy, can Forrest be our daddy?” River asks.

My heart stalls, and quickly starts again as it hammers in my chest.

“We don’t have one, and he’s real nice,” Rayne adds.

“I—we can talk about this later. It’s time to go to sleep.”

“Love you,” they chorus.

“I love you too.”

My legs are shaking as I make my way out of their room. I pull the door but don’t close it all the way. When I turn around, I freeze. Forrest is standing leaning against the wall.

“Yes.”

“What?” I ask, swallowing hard.

“I want to be their dad.” His swallow is audible. “I want that so much, Briar. I know you’re not ready, and that’s okay, but hearing those angels ask you if I could be their daddy, I need you to know where I’m at. They’re your daughters, but I’d give anything for you to share them with me.”

“Forrest.” My heart is going haywire as it gallops in my chest. How can his words melt me on the spot and have burning desire rolling through my veins at the same time? I wish I could find the words. I wish I could tell him what him saying that means to me. However, I can’t seem to find my voice, so instead, I use my body.

Stepping up to him, I place my hands on his shoulders and kiss him. I try to show him how I’m feeling, pouring all my want, desire, and hope into this kiss .

“I need you.” My words are mumbled against his lips.

“I’m yours.”

“Good.” I pull back and step around him, going into my bedroom. I turn on the lamp on the bedside table. “I locked up while you were reading them a story.”

“Look at my girl thinking ahead.” He steps into my bedroom, softly closes the door, and turns the lock.

Tugging at my sweatshirt, I pull it off over my head, letting it fall to the floor. My leggings are next as I tear them down my thighs and kick them to the side. “You better catch up, Huntley.”

“I’m so fucking proud of you, Briar.”

“Stripping is tough, but I think I got it nailed down,” I tease.

“Not that. You’ve come such a long way. Look at you stripping for me, not an ounce of hesitation.”

“I’m safe with you.”

“You’re damn right you are.” He makes quick work of stripping naked. “Now, who’s behind?” he teases as he grips his cock and strokes.

“Maybe, but I’m really enjoying the show,” I tell him.

“Naked and on the bed, baby.”

Doing as he says, I strip out of the rest of my clothes and climb up on the bed. He crawls after me, but instead of lying next to me, he settles between my thighs on his belly. I automatically widen my legs, making room for him. He’s right. I have come a long way, and it’s him… the way he looks at me. The way I feel is not only safe, but cherished every time we’re together, naked or clothed. It doesn’t matter. He makes me feel beautiful.

“Grab the pillow, baby. You might need to hold in your scream.” He winks before he takes his first taste.

“Oh, God,” I say, my hands immediately going to his hair, and holding him in place. He’s done this a handful of times since we’ve been intimate, and every time is better than the last. Who knew that a tongue could make you feel so much desire?

He sucks on my clit, and my legs clamp around his head. He’s probably suffocating, but I can’t help it. My hips lift off the bed, and he moves his hands to cup my ass and sucks harder .

“Forrest,” I call out for him. “I’m close.” He squeezes my ass, letting me know he heard me, but doesn’t stop. Not that I expected him to. I learned that the first time. He wants my orgasm almost as much as he wants his own. Honestly, the way he’s devouring me, I might be inclined to say more.

I feel the now familiar feeling as my release barrels through my body. Reaching for the pillow, I cover my face just in time to muffle my screams. After the last wave subsides, my legs fall open, and Forrest lifts his head. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and why is that so sexy to me?

“This is going to be fast,” Forrest says. He grips his cock and aligns himself at my entrance. “I’m sorry in advance. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Take me. However, you need me.”

He pushes inside, and we both groan. “So damn tight. I’ll never get over the warm, wet heat of your pussy choking my cock, baby.”

His words have heat pooling between my thighs. He smirks when he feels it. “Hold on.”

I do as he says, and he unleashes. He doesn’t start slow; instead, each thrust is hard and fast as he chases his high.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” The veins in his neck bulge, and I know he’s trying to hold off. I don’t want him to. I got mine, and I want him to get his. Tightening my core to help the process, he chuckles. “You keep using your pussy to milk my cock, this will be over.”

“Good. Do it. I dare you.”

“You want me to come, baby?”

“Yes.” I squeeze him again.

“Fuck.” He thrusts again.

Once.

Twice.

Three times, and he’s smashing his lips to mine as he releases inside me. When he pulls away from the kiss, he opens his mouth but quickly closes it. “Let’s get you cleaned up. I’m sure the girls will be up bright and early in the morning. ”

He’s stayed over enough that he’s learned that my daughters don’t know the meaning of sleeping in. Forrest moves off the bed and offers me his hand. “If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d make you shower with me.”

“There would be no making in that act,” I confess.

“You need your back washed, baby, I’m your man.”

“Another time,” I assure him as we get ready for bed.

Once we’re both ready, he turns off the bathroom light and we quickly find our clothes. He waits until I’m settled in bed before unlocking the bedroom door and cracking it open before returning. He turns off the lamp on the nightstand and settles in what I’ve come to determine as his side of the bed, and pulls me into his arms.

“Today was fun,” I tell him.

“Yeah, it was. We’ll do it again next year.”

Next year.

I don’t comment, but I fall asleep in his arms with a smile on my face thinking about the future.