Chapter 25

Lauren

We got to the hospital, and the guys were like The Three Stooges fumbling around to get Sammie inside. I had Jackson's hand in one of mine and Jillian's in the other. I stood back with Lance's mom and laughed so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. Sammie turned her head and looked back at us.

“A little help would be nice,” she shouted. “Get these big lugs off of me. Don't be laughing back there, Lauren. Your time will come, and I'll be laughing my ass off.”

I couldn't stop laughing. James had her in his arms, and both Lances were at her sides. She was squirming to get free, but James let her know she needed to cut her shit. There was no way that was ever happening to me, I thought. James wouldn't worry about me like Lance worried about his sister. Big Lance was her dad. It was totally different. That wasn't something that was coming anytime soon anyway. We weren't having kids for a long time, if ever. We had Jackson, and we'd just gotten engaged. Nope, that was all hers.

“You know we love you,” I shouted back at her.

When her arm flew out with her middle finger up, Lance's mom laughed so hard that she had tears sliding down her cheeks.

They were all crazy. James' parents and grandma were on their way. Of course their grandma requested that she keep her legs closed until they got there, to which Lance replied that if she could keep her legs closed, they wouldn't have been there in the first place.

I couldn't help but laugh each time a nurse came into the room. They'd look between James and Lance's dad. Then they'd finally find their words and do what they needed to do. Of course, everyone but me was oblivious to the fact that they'd seen every nurse on the floor and that Sammie was getting way more attention than all the other pregnant women. There was no way to miss the nurses each picking their jaws up off the floor each time their eyes went between the men. I totally sympathized with them. When I'd met Lance's dad and James, I felt the same way. I'd even had to face that I'd made fun of one of them. I couldn't wait to see their faces when Scott walked in.

So much had changed since I'd first met Lance. I looked around the room at each of them. They were my family. I was going to be one of them. I'd never felt like I belonged anywhere before them. They took me in as one of their own the first time I'd seen them, in the very same hospital. I'd never felt so loved in all my life. I hadn't noticed a tear had fallen from the corner of my eye until Lance's mom reached over and wiped it away.

“You okay?” she asked.

I nodded.

“What's wrong?” she asked, pulling her attention away from the rest of the bunch.

“Every time I see you all together, it amazes me,” I said.

“I know we can be a bit much,” she said, and I quickly shook my head.

“No,” I said. “You're all perfect.”

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tighter than my mom had ever hugged me in my life.

“You're one of us,” she said. “So is Jackson. I know how you're feeling. I felt the same way when I was brought into the group with Carrie and her family. Then Lance came along, and no matter how hard I tried to push his ass away, he just held on tighter. I didn't think I deserved love, but they all taught me that I was wrong. We all deserve love, Lauren. We can't change our past, but we can build an awesome future. I'm so happy Lance found you. When he talked about you in the beginning, after that first meeting, I saw his dad and me and the way we started. He might irritate the shit out of you, but he will love you like no other ever could. Just remember that when you want to kick his ass.”

“Do you still want to kick his dad's ass?” I asked.

“Every single day,” she said, as she laughed and hugged me tighter. “I wouldn't have it any other way though. These men love hard, Lauren. They're bossy and demanding, but they'll do anything and everything to protect us. I hope you're ready for that. I'll kick my boy's ass if he does anything to hurt you or Jackson, you just let me know.”

Lance walked over to us just as his mom had finished her sentence.

“What are you doing to my girl?” he asked in a rough tone.

“I was just telling her to come to me if you step out of line,” his mom said. “She's one of ours.”

“You'd take her side over mine?” he asked with surprise in his tone. “I'm your baby.”

“I love my Smith men,” his mom answered. “I also know the Smith women need to stick together.”

He shook his head and looked down at me with one of his I'm in control looks that instantly soaked my panties. I knew damn well that he saw me move in my seat when a grin tugged at the corners of his lips.

“I wouldn't take advice from her,” he said, as he looked right into my eyes. “I've seen her over his shoulder many times. Us Smith men take care of everything, including our women.”

“Oh please,” his mom said with a smirk. “We let you men think you're in control. We're the ones really in charge.”

“I hear you over there, Firecracker,” his dad barked out. “Not one more word or I'll find the nearest closet and show your ass who's in control.”

“Dad,” Sammie snapped out. “If you're going to talk like that, at least go out in the hall. I don't want to hear that crap.”

“Oh really,” their dad said sternly. “Do you think I want to be standing here thinking about how it was that you got in this mess in the first place?”

“Hotshot,” Lance's mom snapped from next to me. Then she looked over at me with a smile on her face. “Don't even think about running now. You had your chance when we were here the last time. It's too late, you're one of us now. We'll find you.”

I shook my head and burst into laughter. They were crazy, but they were mine.

I looked over at Jackson and noticed how tired he was. Then I saw Jillian looking sleepy as well.

“It looks like she has a long way to go,” I said, as I looked up at Lance. “These two look beat.”

“I agree,” he said, as he looked at the kids and then over at Sammie. “We'll take them home.”

“I'll go,” I said. “You stay here with Sammie.”

“No,” he said. “You don't need to be driving this late.”

“I'll be fine,” I said. “I've driven in the dark a million times, Lance.”

“That was before you were mine,” he said.

His mom leaned over.

“I told you,” she whispered.

“Mom,” he said through gritted teeth.

She looked up at him and smiled.

“Yes, baby,” she said.

“Ugh,” was his only response.

“I'll be fine,” I said. “I know you're worried about your sister.”

“Fine,” he said. “I'll walk you out. Text me when you get home.”

Home, I thought. It really was my home. I'd always thought of it as his apartment, but so much had changed. I had a real home again. It was even better than before. Not one person there made me feel unloved. I honestly felt that every single one of them would be there if I needed them.

I picked Jackson up, and Lance's dad was there in seconds. He took Jackson from me and lifted him up. Jackson put his head down on Lance's dad's shoulder and wrapped his little arms around his big neck.

“Give me my boy,” Lance demanded.

“Nope,” his dad said. “Grab your niece.”

Lance picked Jillian up and they walked out of the room ahead of me. I said goodbye to Sammie, James, and Lucy.

“Better get used to it,” Sammie said. “These men don't know how to listen.”

“We do,” James said. “We hear what you're saying, but we know what's best for our women.”

I shook my head and walked out into the hallway to see both men with kids in their arms. It was the sweetest sight how they turned to mush for their little ones.

When I got them home, I sent Lance a text, got the kids dressed for bed, popped popcorn, and we all crawled in under the covers in our bed. We'd decided on the way that we were having a movie night. It didn't take long before they were both asleep, one on each side of me. I turned off the movie, scooted down, and fell asleep.

I woke up when I heard the ding of my phone.

Lance: It's a boy. James Jr. of course. I'll be home soon.

I put the phone back down and closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, I saw Lance looking down at me.

“What's this?” he asked.

“A movie party,” I said with a smirk.

“In our bed,” he said.

“I wanted to be the cool aunt,” I said.

“And mom?” he asked.

“Of course,” I answered.

He shook his head, turned off the lights, and crawled in next to Jackson.

“This is the only night,” he said. “Don't get used to them being in here. I need my woman next to me.”

Then he lowered his voice to a light whisper.

“Don't think I didn't notice at the hospital, your panties were wet for me.”

“You should have taken me to the nearest closet,” I whispered back with a chuckle, knowing it was too dark for him to see my face.

“Don't think I didn't think about it,” he said.

I shook my head.

“Is the baby cute?” I asked.

“Of course he is,” he answered. “He's a Smith.”

It was quiet for a moment.

“Not as cute as ours will be though,” he said.

I couldn't believe he'd said it, and it was so damn dark in there. Was he serious, or did he have a smile on his face? We hadn't talked about having kids at all yet.

“Lance,” I whispered.

“You heard me, baby,” he said. “Get some sleep.”

Sleep, I thought. How was I supposed to fall asleep after that?