Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“You’re one of us,” Reid says.
I nod. “I know. Thank you for making me a part of this family, even with me being stubborn.”
“We all have our moments. But at the end of the day, we are a family,” Knox says. “You have the right to hold whatever you want tightly to your chest, but just know, nothing you say can make us kick you out of the circle.”
“The circle?” I laugh.
Knox points at Landry, who’s still cuddling his nephew, Alexander. “This one claims we’re a circle,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“The circle of trust. Come on, you’ve seen that movie, right? The funny one.”
“We’ve seen it,” Baker says.
“That’s us. Our family. We might not be blood, but we’re bonded, and we have that trust. Our circle is getting bigger, but we’re the core five,” he says.
I take a minute to let his words sink in, and the others apparently do, as well, because we’re all silent. “You know, Reynolds, you can be pretty insightful when you want to be.”
“Shh,” Landry shushes me. “I don’t need that shit getting out.”
“Hey, little ears,” Knox scolds.
“He’s four months old. He’s not going to be repeating anything for a while.”
“Tell that to your sister. If my son’s first word is a curse word, I’m sending her and her rage to your house,” Knox tells him.
Landry chuckles. “But for real, my past is shitty, losing my parents, just having Corie, and now look at us. We have all of you, and that hits here.” He taps his hand over his chest.
We all nod because nothing else needs to be said. These four guys, they’re my brothers by choice, and that will never change.
“Okay, well, I don’t know about you, but it’s time we see what the ladies are up to,” Reid says, standing and heading toward our small group.
“Ladies,” Reid says, nodding to everyone and making a beeline for Bellamy. She automatically stands and then perches on his lap.
Knox takes the open seat next to Corie because she steals their son back from him, while Knox digs a bottle out of the diaper bag at her feet. They work together in sync, and it’s obvious they’re a great team.
Landry scoops Rowan up gently into his arms, placing her on his lap, and wrapping his arms around her waist, while his hands rest over her belly. They’re both grinning with love and excitement about this new chapter of their lives, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
Reid smiles happily with his wife, and his daughter, Coral, in his arms. She’s resting her head on his shoulder, and her eyes are drooping. The kids have had a big day playing together, and she looks like she could crash at any second. Bellamy reaches over and rubs her hand soothingly down Coral’s back, and her eyes shutter closed.
“Mommy, no nap,” Camden says, snuggling into Sloane’s chest. He tucks his arms into his chest, and you can see from the flutter of his lashes that he’s fighting sleep, even without his verbal refusal.
Baker kneels in front of them and brushes Camden’s hair out of his eyes. “You don’t have to nap. Daddy’s going to hold you both,” he tells his son. This is obviously something they do often because Camden nods, and Sloane stands. Baker takes her seat, and she settles onto his lap with Camden, and the three of them snuggle in one little Sinclair family embrace.
“You plan on sharing that chair, baby?” I ask Eden.
She smiles up at me. “Only if I don’t have to put her down,” she says, staring at the baby in her arms.
“I can take her,” Amanda says, nodding to her sleeping daughter that Eden’s holding.
“Not a chance, Momma. Just relax. You’re raising her all on your own. I can’t imagine breaks coming often with a newborn. Let me help.”
“Okay.” Amanda nods.
Eden stands, lets me sit, and then settles onto my lap with baby Mia in her arms. “We need one of these,” I whisper to her.
“More than one,” she says, and my cock twitches, thinking it’s time to start trying. Eden wiggles, and I slide my arms around her to keep her still. There are kids present, and as much as I adore this woman, they don’t need to see my body’s reaction to her. That’s a behind-closed-doors, or at least just the two of us, kind of event.
“It’s been hard,” Amanda says, drawing all our attention. “The divorce, starting a family all on my own… But at the same time, she’s saving me. I love her so much,” she says, wiping tears from her eyes. “I might not have given birth to her, but I love her as if I did.”
“Yeah,” Sloane agrees. “I might know a little something about that.” She kisses Camden’s cheek. I can’t see it, but I know Baker is holding on to her a little tighter.