It’s hard to believe that we’ve lived in this house a month today. Between Wilson’s sentencing, buying all the furniture we need to fill this place, and the guys buying out Stone Records, this month has been hectic. Not to mention that baby Warren arrived two weeks ago. He’s so precious. Andrew Michael Warren stole my heart the minute I met him. They decided on Andrew, with Andrews being Logan’s maiden name. It’s fitting with all the name play those two have done in their relationship.
I’ve spent a lot of time over there, watching him while they nap. It’s not exactly a hardship to hold that little guy. Logan says I spoil him, but that’s my job as Aunt Stacy.
Today, we’re having a house warming of sorts. We’re finally settled not only in the house, but in our lives. Wilson is behind bars. Turns out, his confession wasn’t just about what he did to me or planned to do; he also confessed to laundering money and a slew of other criminal offenses. He won’t be seeing freedom for years to come.
The guys finally decided on a name—Soul Records. They wanted to incorporate who they are into this label. Having put their heart and souls into music, I thought it was fitting. Logan and I both tried to convince them to just call it Soul Serenade, but they shot it down. The compromise was Soul Records, and I have to admit I’m digging it.
“Your dad just called, they’re on the way,” Cole says as he comes in from lighting the grill.
“Why didn’t he call me?”
He smirks.
Dad and Cole hit it off immediately; apparently, they now have a budding bro-mance. I act like it’s weird, but in all honesty it’s comforting to know they get along so well. They are the two most important men in my life. Mom loves him too; he pulled out all the Hampton charm and she was immediately under his spell. Again, can’t blame her.
My phone rings, and I quickly dry my hands from washing the fresh vegetables.
“Hey, Chloe,” I say in greeting.
Cole shakes his head. He’s not the only one who’s formed relationships with family. Chloe and I hit it off right away, and of course Miss Mia and I are tight as well.
“No, I think we’re good. Just make sure you bring your swimsuits,” I remind her. “Great, see you soon.” I end the call.
Cole startles me when his hands land on my hips. He picks me up and sets me on the counter, and I immediately wrap my legs around him.
“I love you. I love this. These moments.” He kisses me softly.
“Hey now, enough of that,” Tristan says, joining us.
“Why did you insist on giving them the code?” Cole asks.
I laugh. “They’re family.” I throw his words from weeks ago back at him.
“Yeah, we’re family,” Gavin goads him as he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Hands off my woman.” Cole elbows him out of the way.
“Baby, sit down, I got it.”
“EEEP!” I jump off the counter and push Cole to the side. He chuckles, knowing exactly where I’m headed. Baby Drew is my weakness. “Aunt Stacy needs her fix,” I say, holding my arms out as Kacen pulls Drew from his seat. He immediately hands him over, but not before kissing his little head. Kacen is such a softie for his son.
I settle on the couch beside Logan as we coo over the little man. “You need any help?” Logan asks.
“Nope, we got it under control. You just sit back and relax.”
Cole joins us and squeezes in beside me on the couch. “Your husband is checking out my industrial icemaker. He wants one,” he tells Logan.
“Yes, he told me about that. I want to see it.” She stands. “You okay with him for a minute?”
I look over my shoulder at Cole. “He’s big and scary, but I can handle him,” I joke.
She laughs. “Good to know, but I meant Drew.”
“I got this.” I wave her on.
Cole leans in and kisses my neck. “He’s pretty cute,” he comments.
“Yeah,” I say, watching him sleep.
“You want one?” he asks.
Holy shit. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I told you that before this even started.” I know I sound defensive, but letting me fall in love with him and then telling me he doesn’t want kids is a dick move.
“Hey,” he says soothingly. His hands stroke gently up and down my arms. “I wasn’t saying I didn’t. I was going to suggest throwing away your birth control pills. We’ve already stopped using condoms,” he says matter-of-factly.
I stop breathing.
He wants kids.
With me.
Now.
Am I dreaming?
“Is that what you want?” I manage to ask.
“Yeah,” he replies, his voice soft.
“Now, we’re not married or even engaged. It hasn’t even been a year.”
“It was a year ago today that I first laid eyes on you in the club.”
“You remember that?”
“I do. Every moment, every word, every kiss, every touch with you is engrained in my memory. I knew the minute I laid eyes on you that you were different. I didn’t know at the time that you were going to rock my world.”
“You’re the rock star,” I say stupidly. He’s kind of thrown me for a loop here.
He chuckles. “That I am. I’m also the man who is madly in love with you.”
“You need one of those,” my dad says as he and Mom join us in the living room.
Oh. My. God.
“That’s exactly what I was just telling her,” Cole agrees.
I elbow him, which causes him to laugh. He kisses my shoulder then stands to shake Dad’s hand. They leave to find the other guys. Mom is still laughing at what I can only assume is my horrified expression at my father and Cole discussing me being pregnant.
“Drew, what are we going to do with these crazies?” I ask the sleeping baby.
“Unca Cowe!” Mia screams as she walks through the door.
“In the kitchen,” Cole yells.
I hear the pitter-patter of her little feet and she runs toward his voice. “We habing a pwty,” she says as she launches herself at Cole. Luckily, he was hunched down and ready for her.
“We are, are you hungry?” Cole asks.
“Yep. What’s that?” She points to the potato salad I’m making.
“Aunt Stacy is making potato salad,” he tells her.
I stop immediately and just look at him. It’s the first time he’s ever referred to me as “Aunt” to Mia.
“What?” he asks when he sees me staring at him.
“You called her Aunt Stacy,” Chloe happily explains, wearing a huge-ass grin.
Cole shrugs. “Just missing a piece of paper, no point in denying it.”
Holy shit. Is this my life? Have I really landed in this fairy tale with this band and this man, the love of my life? My sweet Cole?
“Aunt Stacy, is that stuff good?” Mia asks. She’s oblivious to the emotions that are coursing through me.
“Yes, sweetheart, do you want to try it?” I ask, my voice cracking. I need to get it together. This is my life now. I’m not dreaming. I never knew happiness would be this . . . amazing.
Mia shakes her head at a rapid pace, making us all laugh. Grabbing a fork from the drawer, I gather a small bite and offer it to her.
Mia opens her mouth and takes the bite I offer. “Yummy!” She licks her lips. “She yo wife?” she asks Cole.
A smile like no other lights up his face. “She will be, Princess Mia. She will be.” He gives me a wink, kisses her on the cheek and then sets her down.
“I go see the baby,” she announces and the pitter-patter of her little feet trail off as she enters the living room.
In one long stride, Cole is next to me. His index finger lifts my chin so he can see my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“All right, love birds, when can we eat? I’m starving,” Tristan asks.
“Here,” I laugh at him, “make yourself useful and carry this out to the deck. I’m right behind you. Once Gavin says the meat is done, we are good to go.”
Tristan takes the two bowls and heads out the door. “You, G. . . .” His voice trails off as the door closes behind him.
“I’ll go gather the rest of the troops.” Cole smacks my ass and strolls out of the kitchen.
Dinner was amazing and the house is full of our families. My parents and Cole’s are chatting on the deck. Tristan, Gavin and Kyle are talking sports. Logan and Chloe are discussing babies and pregnancies. Chloe is due with baby number two in a couple of months. I’m sitting with Mia as we play with the bubbles I bought for her.
“Aunt Stacy!” she shrieks when I blow a string of bubbles in her direction. She laughs and takes off running.
Cole appears at my side. “Hey, sweets.” He kisses my cheek.
I smirk at him as I dip the wand back into the bubbles, catching him off guard when I blow them in his face.
“You little—” I drop the container and take off running. Why, I don’t know, since his legs are longer than mine. He catches me easily, swinging me around by my waist. We both fall to the ground in laughter, trying to catch our breath.
“Unca Cowe!” Mia runs into his arms. She’s grinning like crazy. “You wuv her?” she asks.
Breathing heavy, wearing a blinding smile, he tells Mia, “Yeah, I love her.”
“I know, I was telling you,” she replies.
“Oh, yeah, and how do you know?”
“You can’t bweave,” she says, like we should know where she’s going with this.
“I was running,” he says, winded.
“No, Unca Cowe. You tode me you get mawied when you can’t bweave without her. That’s why you running. You needed to bweave. You wuv Aunt Stacy.”
Cole hugs her to him. “You’re absolutely right, Princess Mia. I can’t breathe without her,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.
“Yay!” she runs off, chasing a butterfly.
“That’s what I told her. That you get married and have babies when you find the one person you can’t breathe without. I didn’t want to blacken her reception of happily ever after at the time.”
I don’t say anything, unable to look away from the intensity in his eyes. “Even she can see how much you mean to me. You think ours will be as perceptive?”
Ours.
Our kids.
“Probably,” I say, because they will be his. He’s the most assured person I’ve ever met.
“Positive. I’ll make sure they see it every day. What it means to need someone to breathe. Hell, all they’ll have to do is see me look at you. At least, that’s what my mom tells me.”
Mia falls into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and giggling. “Piggy back, Unca Cowe.” She laughs.
Not one to disappoint, he stands and carries her around the yard.
I watch them play as my heart fills with love.
This is my dream.
This is now my future.