Baby Daddies: Puck Buddies Series

by Tara Brown

  I barely know.

  Limos are waiting outside and I climb in with my son, Cap, Carson, Brady, Rich, and Josh.

  “Where’s Lori?” I ask, getting Eli settled in the seat.

  “At Winnetu already. He’s making sure everything’s perfect,” Josh says with a laugh. “Man, she is gonna kill me later.”

  “How did you guys plan this?”

  “It was all Sami. That girl has got some skills.” Josh shrugs.

  “You don’t have to tell me,” I grumble, not sure how she hid it from me. It’s a sign I have to pay attention more.

  We arrive at Winnetu Oceanside Resort and walk to the exact spot Nat and Brady got married. The arch is the same.

  “Sami figured since Jenny missed it, she should get to see the wedding here.” Josh points at the beach as we walk to where a bunch of people are standing. The men are wearing suits that match ours and the women are all in unmatched pale pink dresses. Josh waves at them, expecting them. As is Lori who is walking across the grounds to us with a smug grin.

  “How mad is she?” Lori asks Josh.

  “Eleven. The evening will end in fire.”

  “Perfect,” Lori says, sounding like the bad guy in a movie. “So, you guys cool to be my groomsmen?” He lifts an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, but if Red decides to shoot dicks with paintball guns, I want no part of this.” Brady points his finger at the altar.

  “Duly noted,” Lori replies with a laugh as he walks over to the people waiting near the altar. I find his mom, dad, sister, and grandfather right away. I assume by Josh’s reaction, Jenny’s parents are the ones I don’t recognize.

  Lori’s family waves at me. I wave back but focus on the wedding and my son. There will be time to speak after the wedding.

  There are no seats so I stand, holding Eli who is drinking from his water cup and staring at the sea. With my luck, he’ll hit his stride and go bananas mid wedding.

  But he’s not the only kid this time.

  Bev and Sukii, in pale pink dresses, are each pushing one of those old-fashioned strollers, a pale pink and cream pram with an indigo roll top. I assume the twins are in them when I see Nat, wearing a matching dress to the others, also has a matching pram. I guess it has Kara in it. There must have been a team at the house, waiting to beautify these girls. They look just as they did the last time we were at this beach, and I know the effort that went into that.

  Finally, Sami comes walking over the crest of the hill and smiles at me, offering a wink as she takes her place. The same lady who married Brady and Nat is standing at the arch again.

  Sami is so crazy.

  This is a pristine effort. And of course she managed to pull it off the week she finds out she’s pregnant. My respect and admiration of her swell a little more, which should be impossible since it’s already so high.

  We stand in a half circle around the arch, all of us dressed in silvery gray suits and pale pink dresses. We have white flowers on our lapels and the girls are done up perfectly, each holding large white bouquets. The sun is close to setting. The sky is clear and the wind is warm.

  Five musicians carrying instruments—a guitar, two violins, a flute, and a cello—walk to five white chairs. They sit and start playing a song and it reminds me of something but I can’t think what.

  Nat snorts but she’s the only one to get it.

  A second later Brady smiles wide. He glances at me and mouths, “Assassin’s Creed.”

  I can’t help but chuckle. Of course that is the song Lori would choose for Jenny. She is an assassin.

  The music is haunting and beautiful, riding the wind to us.

  And then we see her.

  She is a gorgeous bride, of course. Her red hair flows in the breeze over her right shoulder. The dress is a creamy color and reminds me of a fairytale or a fantasy movie. She is a princess.

  “Look at the princess,” I whisper to Eli and point.

  “Princess!” he shouts and everyone laughs. He squiggles to get down and I let him, ready to run after him. But he waddles over to Jenny just as she gets near. She reaches down and takes his little hand. He walks her down the aisle, making me smile and Sami swoon. Geoff is catching it all, as is his job.

  Lori is beaming and struggling to breathe as he watches her walk to him. When she gets there, he takes one of her hands and lets Eli keep the other. The three of them face the lady minister.

  “This is as unconventional a wedding as I’ve been to.” She laughs and we join her. “But let’s begin.”

  She leads them through the ceremony, it’s short and sweet. Jenny follows her through the vows, repeating what she should say and making faces and shaking her head at Lori who can’t fight the wide grin.

  He’s infectious and the rest of us are beaming like fools.

  “And I believe you have written your own vows, Lawrence.” The lady nods.

  “I have. I’ll forgive you, Jenny, this once for not writing your own.”

  She gets crazy eyes but he ignores her.

  “Jenny, when we first met I couldn’t believe you were real. An assassin, a gold medalist, a fellow Canadian, a drummer girl, and such a smokeshow.” He glances at her dad. “Sorry.”

  Her dad waves it off.

  “But then I spent the next few weeks realizing not only were you an actual human, but also completely insane.”

  Jenny laughs, her family joins in.

  “Never before has someone gripped hold of my emotions and led me on such an inspiring journey of soul searching and agony.” He pauses as we again chuckle. “And while everything was a mess, and we were in chaos for months, there was one thing I knew for sure. I was falling more and more in love with you every day.” The jokes are gone and his eyes glisten, wrenching at my guts. “I want a lifetime of worrying you genuinely have paintball guns stashed in the houses. I want to wake up every day to your face as you drool into your pillow. I want the honor of you being my partner in life and love and parenting and finances.” He cracks a grin again, weirdly adding finances to the vows.

  She smiles wide and shakes her head, lowering her gaze. Anyone who knows them is aware that hit was for her.

  “So please, do me the incredible honor of being my wife, because you’re already my best friend and the best baby momma a guy or gal could ask for.”

  “I do,” Jenny says, blushing and desperately trying not to cry.

  “Then if there is no one who can think of a reason these two should not be married,” the minister pauses for effect, “I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  We cheer and clap, even Eli who found his way to Sami and is in her arms.

  “You suck,” Jenny whispers but I’m close enough to hear it.

  “I know,” Lori replies, smug as hell. “Let’s eat!”

  “Photos first, Lori. Don’t even come at me right now!” Sami points at him as Geoff and the team swoop in and start.

  I walk to Sami, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. She smells like warm vanilla and home. “Nice work.”

  “Thanks, Beast.” She tilts her head and offers me her own smug Sami Ford grin. “I got a karaoke machine too!” She waggles her eyebrows.

  “You just have to torment her, don’t you?” I know this is because Jenny can’t sing for shit. We discovered it was her kryptonite at Brady and Nat’s wedding.

  “I have to get my digs in where I can, baby.” She plants her glossy lips on mine, leaving the usual snail slime everywhere. But instead of wiping it away, I press my lips together and make duck face the way she always does.

  “Is it my color?”

  “No.” She laughs and wipes my lips roughly. “You’re way more of a winter. I’m a summer.” She leans in and kisses my cheek this time. The smell of her attacks, making me want to take this snuggle back to the house or, God help me, a limo. But there’s no chance work Sami will mellow out. Not until every single one of our friends is married.

  I glance at Rich and wink. “
Your turn next, buddy.”

  “You know it.” He beams at Carson who shakes his head in tiny twitches.

  “Oh my God, yes! Next summer! What do you say, Lori?”

  He gives a thumbs up and goes back to kissing Jenny as their family surrounds them, both the mothers holding a baby.

  “I love you,” I whisper to Sami.

  “I love you too, Beast.” She snuggles into me as Eli squirms to get down and runs back to the princess.

  It’s a good life.

  The best, actually.

  Epilogue

  Sunday, July 21, 2019

  Lori

  “Happy one-year anniversary,” I whisper, waking Red up. We’re anniversary people. I decided it this morning.

  She groans and writhes in the sheets, making a rustling sound. “No, it’s not morning. Go back to sleep.”

  “It’s brunch time, babe. You gotta get up. Everyone else wants to eat.”

  “What?” Her eyes pop open. “What time is it?”

  “Ten thirty. You have like five minutes to shower and be downstairs.”

  “No, my God. Why did you let me sleep so late?” she grumbles and climbs from the bed, pausing in the door to the bathroom. She turns back to me and smiles wide. “Happy one-year anniversary, Lori.”

  I climb off the bed and scoop her up, kissing her. My body reacts the exact same way it did when we met. But there’s no time right now. I kiss her and put her down, adjusting myself and making her laugh.

  “I’ll be fast!” She hurries into the shower, and I drag myself from watching her getting naked and wet.

  When I get downstairs, I hear the commotion. “Dadda!” Adeline calls from Josh’s arms when she sees me. He and Claire are leaned in closer lately. But they’ve spent a lot of time together recently with Josh buying a place in New York to be closer to us.

  “Hello, Princess Addy!” I kiss her cheeks but she doesn’t reach for me. Not when Uncle Joshy is around. “I see Uncle Joshy still has you under his spell.”

  “Kids are like dogs, Lori. They can sense who’s the coolest. I can’t help it if all the chicks in your life like me better.”

  “Jenny totally likes me better,” I scoff at him.

  “There’s no way,” Bev says as she stuffs a sausage into her mouth and bites down.

  “How are you eating already?”

  “Stole it.” She glares and walks into the front room where Geoff is taking pictures of the ocean from the doorway to include the sheer curtains.

  “Where’s Sami?”

  “Right here,” she answers as she comes down the stairs holding Evelynn, their newest addition, with Liz beside her rubbing her swollen belly. Baby number two is coming fast for her and Mike.

  “Where’s Smolinsky?” I ask.

  “He’s coming.” Liz rolls her eyes.

  “Brunch is ready.” I point at the deck doors.

  “Is everyone seated?” Sami asks with an arched eyebrow.

  “Going now!” I start motioning with my arms for them to move it as I make my way, collecting people from the house as we walk. Carson and Rich are already seated, Rich is glowing still. Which makes me happy since Brady and his douchebag brother had words at the wedding last night. William is lucky Brady didn’t give him another beating. I was rooting for it.

  But Nat was satisfied enough that he’d gained weight and was losing his hair and was back to dating Annalisa, one of his old flings from before. She was a notorious cheater as well and apparently they deserve each other.

  My hope was still for a fight.

  “Are the families coming?”

  “No,” Carson answers me too quickly. “There are way too many kids for my parents.”

  “It’s getting pretty aggressive,” Bev adds as she sits.

  “What is?” Jenny is huffing her breath as she sits, sporting a messy bun instead of washed hair.

  “All the children.” Matt carries in Eli who squeals with joy as his dad flies him in the air.

  “Well, I won’t lie, when I met y’all back in the day, this is not how I imagined it would play out. The mansion on the sea, yes. The gay wedding at the mansion on the sea, sure. But the kids and Matty quitting hockey and Jenny marrying Lori. No way.” Bev points at Cap and Sukii strolling in with the lovesick looks on their faces. “I didn’t see that coming either.”

  “What?” Cap asks and we all laugh.

  We sit, all of us. There are kids and chaos as everyone dishes up and babies cry and someone jumps up to grab a soother.

  “I think it’s pretty awesome,” Josh adds, giving us an approving nod. “You have made your own family. And I’m jazzed to be part of it.” He slides his hand over Claire’s thigh and Jenny beams, visibly approving of the relationship that’s forming.

  I lift my glass of mimosa that is mostly orange juice, and ting it with the knife. “To Rich, for loving our boy Carson with your whole heart. And to you, Carson, for letting Sami marry you off in what I think was her best work. I mean, that was a wedding. Well done, Sami. And congratulations, you guys.”

  “Cheers!” everyone shouts.

  We clank our glasses and drink.

  It’s chaotic as food is passed and people eat and talk over one another. We’re loud and funny, harassing each other for every tiny mistake but also supporting during every crash.

  We’re a family.

  Not blood.

  Not heritage.

  But choice.

  And at this table, filled with my family, there is more love than any I have ever sat at.

  We eat and visit until we’re stuffed and everyone needs a nap, splitting off to their varying bedrooms. I find Jenny and both kids in our room when I get there. She’s just putting the kids down for a nap in the beds I got them for the beach house.

  I creep into the room and lie on the bed, watching her.

  My phone vibrates and I see a message from Sean. It’s a video. I get up and walk into the bathroom, turning the volume down and tapping it to start.

  “Heyyy, little bro. Me and Callie were just chilling here at Mom and Dad’s, and we realized it’s your wedding anniversary. So congrats!” Sean’s teeth are new, caps to cover the old ones. His skin is rejuvenated with diet and health but the wrinkles remain from the hard life he lived.

  Callie slides her face into the camera view and grins. She’s been staying at Mom and Dad’s place with the kids since she left Martin. Thankfully. “We hope you guys have a fun day on Martha’s. Go out for dinner or something. You need some adult time!”

  I laugh. She’s right. Jenny and I do need some adult time.

  “Love you, Bro!” Sean says and the video ends. Freezing the frame of him smiling. There’s a sparkle in his eyes again. I haven’t seen it since we were kids. It wasn’t there when I went for my visit with him at the clinic, and he told me he didn’t need to see me; I wasn’t a trigger, but he wanted to apologize.

  I click the phone off and walk to the bed again.

  Jenny climbs on and kisses me, quietly whispering, “What was that?”

  “Video from Sean and Callie saying happy anniversary.”

  “How did he look?” It’s the thing she asks every time.

  “Like himself,” I say, surprising us both because it’s never been my answer before. “I’ve got my brother back.”

  “Best anniversary gift ever.” She curls into me and snuggles, the way our kids still do when they sleep. “And here is mine. I know I made fun of you, but I’m glad you own this inn,” Jenny admits. “It’s still weird, but it’s also super epic.”

  “And it holds everyone important to us.” I lean in, kissing the side of her face and drowning myself in the scent of cherries.

  “Mmhmm.” She closes her eyes, and within seconds she’s taken by the hangover and food coma.

  Her breathing slows and her hand on my arm relaxes.

  Eventually, she’s sleeping.

  I watch her for a few minutes before I too close my eyes and drift.

  My m
ind wanders back to the day I bought the mansion. I stood on the beach and looked up at the house and imagined all the epic parties I could have here. The decision was made out of a hope for fun and carefree summers.

  A slip of a smile crosses my lips as I think about the toddlers and diaper bags and clothes and gear that has gone into this week here.

  And yet, I wouldn’t change a single thing.

  Except more.

  I would like to have more of all of this.

  And I have a feeling that’s exactly how this life is going to play out.

  The end

  The End

  Thank you so much for loving these characters.

  If you liked this series, give the Serendipity Standalone Series a try.

  Buy at Amazon

  ALSO BY

  ROMANCE

  by Tara Brown

  The Serendipity Series

  Fling Club

  He Loves You Not

  The Royals Series

  A Royal Pain

  A Royal Affair

  A Royal Wedding

  The Puck Buddies Series

  Puck Buddies

  Roommates

  Bed Buddies

  Girl Next Door

  Baby Daddies

  Standalone novels

  My Side

  The Long Way Home

  For Love or Money

  THRILLER/SUSPENSE

  by Tara Brown

  Blood and Bone

  Blood and Bone

  Sin and Swoon

  Soul and Blade

  The Single Lady Spy Series

  The End of Me

  The End of Games

  The End of Tomorrow

  The End of Lies

  The Lonely Duet

  The Lonely

  LOST BOY

  Standalone novels

  Ophelia

  Castaways

  Lucid