It’s Always Us (Abandoned Brothers #3)

Chapter 54

LEX

I guzzle ten ounces of water, trying to hydrate and hoping it will help me keep my eyes open a little longer.

I carefully shift onto my side, still getting used to not having the weight of two babies wedged inside. Mark sits next to me, resting against the headboard, both girls on his bare chest with a soft fuzzy pink blanket draped across them.

I’m pretty sure the man hasn’t worn a shirt for the past week. I’m not complaining. His glorious tan skin and that tattoo can be on full display 24/7 for the rest of my life.

The books taught him all about the benefits of skin-to-skin, and since he’s leaving tomorrow to head back to Denver, he’s held these babies in nothing but their diapers against his chest NON-STOP.

I watch him stare at their tiny faces smashed against his pecs. “What are you thinking?”

He presses his lips to each of their bald heads. “That I don’t want to leave tomorrow morning. I don’t want to miss this.”

I snuggle closer. “It won’t be so long,” I say, trying to convince myself. “You’ll be back for Bree’s recital, and not long after that, we’ll close on the house and be there with you.”

We talked to Bree about moving, and she had a lot of questions and was worried about what would happen when her mom was released. We reassured her we’d stay in contact and when Linda is released, she’ll be there. When we got to the part about living close to Shane’s family and all the kids, she was sold, excited they’d all be at the same school .

“Yeah. In the meantime, those jokers will rotate through here, stealing snuggle time with my girls. Just the thought of it makes me want to punch each one of them.”

Mark detests the idea of the guys volunteering to take Bree to school and help with the babies in the evenings. I know these guys. The minute I get close to handing one of them over, they’ll panic and ditch me with some lame excuse. I could tell Mark to relieve his clear and obvious misery, but his rare display of jealousy makes me giddy inside.

“You might want to enjoy your time. It’s going to be you and a houseful of girls.”

His face turns toward mine, a sly smile sliding across his mouth. “I’m exceptional with the ladies.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“I branded your young, ripe heart, didn’t I?”

I laugh, unable to argue with him. “Does it ever get tiring being so full of yourself?”

“Nah. I’m confident in what’s mine and always will be.” The intense heat in his eyes as he stakes his claim stirs a herd of wild horses in my belly.

“Just wait until they’re all teenagers,” I whisper, leaning into him to peek at their soft, sweet faces.

His head falls back toward the ceiling, hitting the headboard like I just sucked all the joy out of life. “Don’t. Don’t even. Bree, Ellie, and Peyton aren’t going anywhere with any guy unless I have a full background check, personal protection, and a very long conversation about what will not be happening.”

I laugh. “What are you, the president?”

“I will be Mr. President to anyone taking out my girls.”

I smile at him and all his protectiveness. The sight takes my breath away. It’s hard for me to believe that this is real. That this is actually my life. Just a few weeks, and this will be every day and every night.

I lean over and kiss his shoulder. “I can’t wait to see you play. I used to watch every game and wonder what you did when it was over. Who was waiting for you and wishing it was me.”

His lips press against my forehead. “I never allowed anyone in the family and friends space except Shane and Sean. I couldn’t stand to have anyone there that wasn’t you. ”

I raise my chin to look at him, searching his eyes. “Really?”

One side of his mouth tugs up. “Yes. Really. Now, it’ll be all of my girls, and I’m going to be skipping into that room no matter how the game turns out.”

He slides his arms under the girls and stands to place them in their portable crib that’s wedged in between the wall and our bed. He leans over, keeping them tucked into his chest as he lowers them. He wraps each tightly like two little burritos in the sleep sacks that I’ve learned really are as fantastic as they’re described.

Once he kisses and lingers over them a few moments longer, he stretches his shoulder and climbs in bed, not taking a second before eliminating any space between us. His face is so close to mine that our noses touch.

“I don’t want to sleep alone tomorrow night. I don’t like it when I can’t feel you near.”

I slide my arms around him, holding him close, already missing him. He pushes the hair out of my face, letting it fall between his fingers and keeping my face close. His lips brush against mine.

If my incision were healed, I’d throw one leg over him, but I can’t yet.

“You know that night I came back here and found you in the garage?” His voice is so soft it’s almost a whisper.

“You mean after Grandpa called you?”

He pulls away just a little. “He told you?”

“Uh, yeah. After the car accident. I didn’t know you’d been calling.”

“I didn’t want you to know. I just needed to know you were . . . ok . . . happy.”

“I came home that night, pulled on your shirt, and cried, missing you so much.” The admission is freeing, like it’s releasing those years of suffering and sadness to make room for all the joy and happiness since and yet to come.

“Shit, Lex,” he breathes out, his forehead pressing against mine. “I drove around, then sat outside the shop until you left and followed you home.”

I pull away. “You did?”

“I had to know if you came home or . . . ” He brings my hand to his chest. “I slept in my car until the morning when I had to catch my flight. If I’d known, I would have climbed in this window and stolen you away from here. I would’ve done that over and over and over again.”

I sniff because, apparently, birthing babies doesn’t rid you of all the hormones. You just become more of a mushball.

“I wouldn’t have gone with you.” A tear rolls down my cheek, soaked up by my pillow. “I couldn’t believe that you’d come back and that you really meant everything you said. I couldn’t believe you still loved me after . . . ”

His warm hand slides in the back of my T-shirt and up my spine. “I needed you. I wanted to know that you’d be mine forever.”

I stare at his perfect face. It’s my turn to push the strands of hair off his forehead. “I was,” I whisper. “Even then. I’ve always been yours. There was just a sliver of time where we couldn’t be together.”

“It was like trying to live without my lungs. I hated every single tortuous second of it.”

I smile. “We don’t have to do that anymore. Me in your old T-shirt and hating each day. It’s over. It’s us now.”

“Damn straight it is. It’s always been. And we made Ellie and Peyton.” His devilish smirk presses into my cheek. “Baby, we did that.”

“We?” My grin finds his. “How about we finally find out what it’s like to actually be together?”

He’s careful as he slides his leg between mine. “I think it’s about damn time.”