by Vivian Ward
His question catches me off guard. Sure, I’ve wondered the same thing myself but I don’t care whose it is, I’m just happy that we’re having a baby. “What do you mean? I don’t care whose it is.” I pause, “Do you?”
“I mean, I don’t know. What if something happens later down the line? You know the saying ‘Three’s a crowd’? Well, what if things don’t work out with us—I mean, let’s face it. We’ve been very lucky with the arrangement and how it’s all worked out but nothing lasts forever, you know?”
“Rocco,” I stop him. “Don’t say that! I love both of you and I don’t care whose sperm got to my egg. We’re going to be parents and that’s all that matters.”
“No, that’s not how I meant it. What if the three of us don’t work out and he wants a paternity test? And what if it came back as his baby?”
“So,” I say flatly.
“What if he tried to take it?” he asks.
“No!” I say a little too loudly. “Rocco, we both know that Harley would never try to take my baby away from me. That’s ridiculous.”
“You know how much he loves kids. Look at him and Shay.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean, but everything will work out. You’ll see,” I try to assure him but I can still see looming doubts written all over his face. “Rocco, what’s really going on?” I demand.
“I don’t know,” he pauses, grabbing the TV remote. “It’s just that we tried for so long and nothing happened and then within six months of the three of us sleeping together, you get pregnant.”
I grab his hand and give it a squeeze. “Rocco, baby, I don’t care who fathered the baby, it’s ours. Period. And that’s all that matters.”
He leans over and gives me a kiss. “You’re right. I don’t know what I’m so worried about.”
“I’m going to squirt some of this onto your belly and it’ll feel cold for a minute but I’ll warm it right up,” the ultrasound technician says.
“Okay,” I say, holding Harley and Rocco’s hands as she globs a pile of jelly onto my round belly. “Oh, that is cold!”
“I know, just a minute,” she smiles at me.
I love everyone at my doctor’s office. They’re all so friendly and Brandy, the ultrasound tech, is as sweet as pie. Sometimes she helps the doctor with the Doppler when he wants to listen to the baby’s heartbeat to make sure everything sounds good and he’s overbooked with patients. And not a single one of them have ever questioned me or given me a sideways glance when Rocco and Harley accompany to my appointments. Both of them don’t always come to every appointment but one of them will usually drive me if the other can’t make it.
Working out the whole arrangement of who’s going to drive me or take off work has been quite the headache ever since Harley started working with Rocco. I wish the two of them would take care of it amongst themselves but they always manage to drag me into the middle of it and ask which one I’d like to take me. To nip that right in the butt, I told them I’m happy to drive myself. It seems to have helped but who knows how long that’ll last.
“All right,” she says, slowly moving the probe around. “There’s the baby.” Click. She takes a picture. “Now, let’s do some measurements.”
The three of us watch in awe as she measures the baby’s length, head, and whatever else she’s doing. I can’t believe that a baby’s actually inside of me! I never thought this day would come and now that it has, it’s surreal.
“Is everything okay?” Harley asks. “Is it healthy?”
“Yes,” she smiles as she continues to write down notes. “The baby’s right on track with the due date the doctor set.” She turns and looks at us. “Do you want to know the sex?”
All three of us sound off with a unanimous, “Yes!”
“Okay,” she laughs. “So, here is the baby’s heartbeat—which looks great—you can see it beating, and down here are the genitals.”
The three of us squint our eyes, trying to focus on the image but we’re newbies and none of us know what the hell we’re looking at. “What is it?!” Rocco demands. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a,” she pauses for an eternity. “Girl!”
“Yes!” I say, excited that I might have a mini-me following me around soon enough. The guys are excited too but I think they were secretly hoping for a boy.
“Do you have any names picked out yet?” Brandy asks.
“No,” I look at the guys. “We’ve not really discussed names. We should do that soon, huh?”
They both nod in agreement before Brandy wipes the warm glob of goo off my belly and tells me that she’ll give the images to the doctor. I look like an upside down turtle trying to get back to an upright position so the guys help me up so I can finish wiping off and put myself back together before we go see the doctor.
“Mrs. Davis,” he greets me before saying hello to Rocco and Harley. “Everything looks great. We’ll see you once a month for the next couple of months and then you’ll start coming every two weeks until the baby comes. Do you have any questions for me?”
I look to Rocco and Harley to see if they have anything they want to ask but they both shake their heads no. “Nope, I think we’re all good. Brandy said the baby’s size looks right on target with my due date, is that right?”
He looks over everything once more and says, “Yes, I’d say so. The baby looks very healthy.”
We leave the doctor’s office with tiny images of our baby girl and it’s such a great day, maybe the best day ever. For the first time, we’re finally getting to see a picture of our little miracle baby. Everything finally feels real even though I’ve been gaining weight like a football player and feeling her kick. It’s so amazing.
“Here, let me get your door,” Harley says as we approach the car.
Once I wiggle my way into the seat, he shuts my door and we begin our way home. “So, I guess you’ll be shopping for girl clothes tomorrow, huh?” Rocco asks.
“Yep, looks that way! I’m so glad that I decided to buy the cute bunny stuff for the nursery. Even though it was gender neutral, it’ll be really cute for a little girl.”
Harley leans forward, tapping me on the shoulder. “Here,” he hands me his credit card. “I’ve gotten all of my credit cards completely paid off. Take this and buy whatever you want for the baby. I want to make sure our little girl has the very best.”
“Thank you! I’ll definitely need this,” I laugh.
“You know,” Rocco says. “I think Harley and I should also go shopping so each of her daddies can buy her an outfit.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea! Wouldn’t it be funny if you both bought her the same thing?”
We all get a good laugh out of it before I go home and take my afternoon nap. I don’t know how but this baby is already kicking my butt and she’s not even here yet.
Chapter 22
Jules
“Where is my damn doctor?!” I shout at Harley and Rocco. I swear this baby is going to pop out if he doesn’t get here soon to deliver it.
“Relax, babe, he’s on his way. The nurse just told you that before she left,” Rocco says.
I glare at him and say, “Relax? Tell me how you’d relax if you had a human being trying to exit your nether region!”
“Okay, okay,” Harley intervenes. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. Try to have some ice chips. Is your mouth dry?”
I couldn’t care less about some damn ice chips! I just want this labor pain to stop before it kills me and I don’t want the baby to shoot out across the room before anyone’s there to catch her.
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m fine.”
A few minutes later, Dr. Baldwin enters the room, smiling as though we’re about to have a picnic. “I see you’re almost ready to deliver,” he says.
“Yeah, I think she’s going to slip right out. All I want to do is push but I’ve been waiting on you!” I say as beads of sweat break out on my forehead.
“Let’s have a look,” he puts on a pai
r of gloves. Leaning down, he checks me and says, “Oh yeah, you’re definitely ready. I’m going to call the nurses in and then we’ll start pushing, okay?”
“Okay,” I nod. “Hurry!”
Rocco begins to coach me on my breathing. Now I wish I’d have never taken them to lamaze class with me. I just want to shove my fist right down his stupid bulging cheeks with every breath he takes. “Hee, hee, hee,” he blows. “Come on, Jules, do it with me.”
“Fuck off!” I yell. “I know how to breathe!”
The nurses enter the room with all of their supplies and the doctor gets into position. “Mrs. Davis, this really will be easier if you try to practice your breathing techniques.”
“Whatever,” I growl. I just want this baby out!
“We’re going to need your legs back a bit more. Would you guys like to each grab one of her legs to help her out?” They do as they’re told and now the baby really feels like it’s going to shoot out. “On the count of three, I want you to start pushing, okay?” I nod as I try to breathe and wait for my turn to push. “Here we go. One, two, three, push!”
This goes on for an eternity (really, it’s like twelve minutes, but who’s counting) before Dr. Baldwin announces, “Okay, she’s crowing. Just a couple of more pushes and she’ll be out.”
I give it my all and then, suddenly, he says she’s here and then we hear her start to cry. It’s the most beautiful sound in the whole world. I open my eyes and look down. She’s gorgeous, even if she is covered in blood and white slime.
When I hold her up to my chest she feels perfect in my arms. Her tiny face is red and scrunched up but she’s all ours. “Can I hold her?” Rocco asks after a few minutes.
“You can, but only for a moment. We’re going to take her down to the nursery for observation and to run some testing but you can have her back in a few hours. In the meantime, mom,” she looks at me. “You get some rest because you’re going to need it.”
I nod, “Okay,” I say, kissing the top of her head before I hand her off to both of her daddies.
“Mrs. Davis?” the nurse asks as she’s charting things. “Are you going to breast or bottle feed?”
“Breast feed,” I reply.
“Ok, great. I’ll make sure the other nurses know and get it written down. We’ll bring her back as soon as she’s ready so you can begin feeding her.”
Once everyone clears the room, Rocco and Harley are quick to shower me with hugs and kisses. “Do you want anything to eat?” Harley asks.
My eyes grow wide at the sound of food. “Yes! I didn’t realize it until you just said it but I’m so hungry!”
“Okay,” he laughs. “We’ll let you get some rest for a while and we’ll bring something back for you to eat. Is there anything you’re craving?”
I think about it for a minute. “Yeah, bring me some Taco Bell! And don’t forget the extra sauce, please.”
“Will do,” Rocco says. “Get some rest babe.”
A couple of hours later, I wake up to the guys talking as they reenter my room. I spot the bag of food and it smells like heaven. “Oh, thank God,” I sigh. “I’m really hungry!”
After they hand me the food, they also present me with two dozen roses—one from each of them—for giving birth. They’re so beautiful and I don’t know if it’s the hormones or what, but I can’t stop myself from crying.
Knock, knock.
The nurse opens the door pushing the baby’s cart into the room. “I hope it’s not too early, but if you’re ready you can have her.”
“Oh, yes,” Rocco says as he moves things out of the nurse’s way.
“Okay, one of us will be back in a while to check on you and see if you need anything but if you need us before then, just press the button.”
The three of us stare at her while I eat, talking about how beautiful she is as she sleeps in her bassinet. “What are we going to name her?” Harley asks. “Did we ever decide?” Rocco looks to me for an answer.
“Well, we had it narrowed down to Hannah or Lily but after seeing her, I think she looks like a Lily.”
The guys stare at her, turning their heads in every direction to get a good look at her before they finally say, “Yeah, Lily fits her best, I think.”
“I’d agree.”
“Then Lily it is,” I say.
Epilogue
“Daddy, daddy!” Lily shouts, running through the backyard. “Watch me!”
Harley and Rocco both turn their heads to watch the center of their universe. She’s the apple of their eye and has both of them wrapped around her tiny finger.
“Look!” She says, jumping through the sprinkler. “I’m a ballerina!”
“Good job, honey,” Rocco says to her. “You look like a real ballerina!”
“Yeah, she does,” Harley agrees.
Lily proudly smiles, giving a curtsey before the guys applaud her.
“Okay, my little ballerina, it’s time to come in so you can get washed up for dinner,” I say to her.
“Aw, mom, do I have to? I’m not done practicing my dance yet.”
“Yes,” I nod. “You have to. Come on now and you can help me set the table after you wash your hands and put on some dry clothes.”
“Fine,” she pouts, marching herself inside.
Once she’s out of earshot, the guys and me laugh. “She’s so damn cute,” Rocco says, watching her through the sliding glass door as she stomps through the house.
“Oh, yeah, real cute—if you like cute monsters,” I tease.
“Don’t you talk about our baby girl like that,” Harley smacks my ass. “Or mommy will be in serious trouble with her daddies tonight.”
“Hmm,” I tease, placing my finger on the corner of my lip. “How bad does mommy have to be to get punished?”
“Serve us a cold dinner and find out,” Rocco slaps the other side of my ass.
“Aye!” I jump. “I’m going, I’m going!”
The last three years have been the best years of my life. I have a new home, my men, my baby, and we’re talking about having another one in the near future. Talking is the key word, though. Lily keeps me so busy that I don’t know if I could handle two of them.
“Mommy,” she says, showing me her tiny hands. “Are they clean enough?”
“Yes, baby, they’re perfect.”
“Okay, can I help put the silverware on the table now?”
“Yes, you can do the forks and I’ll take care of the knives.”
“Okay, mommy,” she says, eager for me to hand them to her.
As she sets the table, I sit back and watch her. She’s so gorgeous and we’re the luckiest parents alive. It’s hard to say who she looks like, though. I’ve thought a lot about whether she’s Rocco’s or Harley’s but it doesn’t matter because in the end, she’s both of theirs.
And, one day, if or when she ever asks why she has two daddies, I’m going to tell her because they both love and adore her so much that she couldn’t have just one.
“Are you going to help me, mommy?” She asks as she’s walking around the table.
“Yeah, baby, I’m on my way.”
When dinner’s ready, she runs outside to tell her doting daddies, “Mom said come and eat!” Before she slams the screen door.
“Just like her mom,” I hear Rocco say as they make their way inside the house.
“Yeah, she is,” Harley replies as he closes the door behind him. “But I wouldn’t want her any other way.”
Vivian Ward Newsletter
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Start Risky Gamble!
The complete series is now available and can also be found on audio.
He must have her—all o
f her.
And she must write a story that will blow her career wide open.
Colton tries to keep his sadistic needs to himself but the young, beautiful journalist is far too tempting. He doesn't know she's collecting information to publish his dirty laundry. She doesn't know how dirty things are about to get.
Will they both get what they want? Or is it too much of a risky gamble?
Copyright © 2018 by Vivian Ward
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is dedicated to all the people who aren’t afraid to go after what they want. Go after your dreams, even if they’re fucked up.
Vivian Ward Newsletter
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Chapter 1
Colton
Sitting behind my sleek mahogany desk, I lean against the high leather back of my executive chair as I stare out at the snow-covered rooftops from my office suite.
