We must be later than I thought because everyone is already here when we arrive. Melissa’s minivan is parked half on the grass and her back doors are wide open. Those two have so many kids that it’s no wonder they forget to close their doors every time we go somewhere. They had their second set of twins, boys this time, last year—Camden and Colton. I have no idea how Melissa is still standing, smiling, and full of energy with five children. Cohen is about to turn eleven and the twins, Lyn and Lila, are going to be seven soon.
Beck and Dee’s car is behind theirs, her ‘prince on board’ sticker still hanging in the back window. They had their son, Liam, a few months before Maddisyn. They’ve been best friends ever since. They’ve tried for a while to have a second child, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for them.
Asher’s Jeep, which he refuses to get rid of even if Chelcie says the wheels are going to fall off any day now, is covered in mud. I bet Axel had a shit fit when he pulled up. They had their second child, Jaxon, four years ago. They didn’t want to wait after Zac was born, choosing to keep their children close in age. They’re almost the exact age difference that Asher and Coop were. Zac, sweet little Zac, is so much like his father was. He’s so full of life—never wanting to sit out of the fun when he can be the center of it.
“Sway and Davey aren’t coming?” I ask Maddox when we climb out of his truck.
“I thought they were, but I know they had Stella down at the lake this weekend, so they might have just stayed another day.”
“How is Sway dealing with his daughter starting school this year?”
“He’s stopped coming into the office to see Davey, so I guess better.”
“That’s good. I know he was having issues with their princess growing up,” I laugh.
That would be a vast understatement. When Sway realized that the summer was almost over and Stella would be starting kindergarten in a few weeks, he called out of work for a week. When Davey finally got him to go back to work, he brought Stella with him. She was like a glitter-throwing fairy for hours. I went in to get my hair done and left with so much of it falling off my head that I think I’m still finding flecks in my car.
Sway and Davey had their commitment ceremony almost four years ago, and after years of fighting for adopting their own child, they found Stella. The paperwork was finalized six months ago, and I swear I’ve never seen him happier.
I never did go back to work at Corps Security. Maddox and I both agreed that we wanted our children to grow up with one of us home. He started working shorter hours at the office, and when we bought our house, he set up his home office so that he could be able to do most of his work there.
Walking up the path to their home, we can hear all the children yelling over each other before we even open the door. I look up at my husband’s carefree, smiling face. He gives me a wink, opens the door, and runs through when he sees Maddisyn laughing at him from the hallway. Her squeals and loud giggles trail behind her.
I watch his retreating form running at full speed after our daughter and smile. We’ve come so far. He was ready to run five years ago and we haven’t stopped since.
(MADDOX)
“I don’t like the way your son is looking at my daughter,” Axel grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest and looking over at where Cohen and Dani are laughing by the docks.
“Seriously, Ax! He’s ten. I think it’s time for you to stop acting like a damn ape when your daughter is around anyone with a penis.” Izzy slaps his arm and gives Greg a wink. “Plus, I think it’s cute.”
“Watch it, Izzy. It isn’t cute. That’s my baby girl you’re talking about there.”
“What are you going to do when she starts dating?” I ask, taking a deep pull from my beer.
“Like hell. She isn’t fucking dating. Ever.”
I laugh at him, taking another deep swallow.
“Laugh now. If she starts dating, I’m sure your girls won’t be far behind her.” He laughs when I spit my beer out.
Turning to meet his laughter, I frown and give him a hard glare. “Not fucking happening.”
“Famous last words, brother,” he says before raising his beer in toast. “To making sure that no dicks come near our daughters and that we never run out of ammo.”
“Idiots,” Izzy grumbles and walks towards their backyard, where all the kids are running around through the sprinklers they have set up. “Go get the grill started, Ax!” she calls over her shoulder and bends to grab a wobbling Colt, giving him a loud, wet raspberry against his stomach.
“Hard to believe how much life has changed since we got to Georgia,” Beck says to my left.
“You aren’t lying,” Greg laughs, his eyes scanning the yard for his wife.
I follow his eyes to where our wives are all standing in a circle and laughing. Kids are randomly running into their circle for hugs and then back out just as quickly. When my eyes meet Emmy’s from across the yard, she gives me a warm smile, which I return with one of my own.
God, I’m one lucky son of a bitch. I have a life so full of blessings that I don’t even remember the dark days when, before, I never thought this was possible.
FIFTEEN (PLUS A FEW) YEARS LATER
“Daddy!”
“Maddisyn,” I call back, laughing when she comes running into my office so fast that she overshoots the door and runs into the wall. “Good God, girl. What has you running like the bats of hell are chasing you?”
She bends over, her long, black hair pulled high in a ponytail, and gasps for her breath.
“Daddy!” I hear being called farther through the house and roll my eyes. I should have known that Emberlyn wouldn’t be far behind her sister if it’s something they deem this important.
“Yup, Ember. Just follow your sister’s loud-ass breathing or maybe look for the hole her head left in the wall.”
“Not funny, Daddy,” Maddi scolds.
“Hilarious, daughter.”
“Whatevs.” She plops down on the couch and crosses one of her long, bare legs over the other. I frown when I see how short her shorts are, something she doesn’t miss. “Don’t even start with me. I’m twenty years old, Daddy. It’s time you stopped acting like a crazy person when you don’t like what I wear.”
