by C. A. Harms
She looked back up at me, and I lowered myself to the floor so we could talk without worrying about waking the kids up.
“I just mean that none of this is your responsibility. You don’t owe us anything,” I tried to explain. “You’re young, beautiful, and have nothing tying you down. Why would you willingly choose to spend your time here with us?”
I watched her throat bob as she swallowed hard. Her eyes filled with tears, and fuck me if it didn’t have the same effect on me as when Zoey did it.
“I’m here because there is nowhere else I would rather be. You’ve always pushed away any chance of me getting to know you, and I understand that. I do. But the day I walked in here and met the three of them, God, Jude.” She took in a shuddering breath, and I felt my own eyes burn. “I fell in love with each one of them. They’re amazing, and now I can’t imagine ever walking away from them. I’ll take what I can get. And if that is a sleepover you were blindsided with thirty minutes before I showed up, then I’ll take it. Because to me it means I get a little time with them. And that makes up for all the vibes I get from you that I’m not welcome.”
I lowered my lips to hers, and she stilled against me. But I didn’t let her resistance and surprise stop me. There was nothing sexual about the kiss I gave her. When I felt her return it, I too relaxed. I pulled back and rested my forehead against hers. “You are always welcome here, and I’m so sorry I ever made you feel otherwise.”
Silence set in as we both took a moment to just breathe. The peaceful aura that surrounded us was something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a very long time.
“Do you mind if I join the three of you?” I asked as I pulled back just enough to see her face. “My bedroom will feel extremely lonely when the four people I care most about are all asleep out here.”
She looked at me in surprise as she nodded. I couldn’t blame her for that reaction; I was surprising myself.
I pulled the extra blanket from the couch, curled up next to Matthew, and wrapped my arm around his waist. My fingers skimmed over Callie’s hand, and I immediately stilled, unable to pull back. I wanted to feel her and know she was there as I closed my eyes and began to fade away.
***
I woke up around 5:00 a.m. to Katelynn groaning in her sleep. Careful not to disturb anyone, I stood up and walked over to her bed. “Kate, are you okay?”
Her eyes opened, and she looked up at me. “Just a headache.”
“Let me get you something.”
I hurried off toward the kitchen, where I grabbed the Tylenol from the cabinet above the refrigerator. It was the place we kept all her medication so the kids couldn’t reach it. Once I had the pills and a glass of water, I quietly walked back to her bedside. After she took the meds, her eyes fluttered shut and she was out once more.
The kids and Callie hadn’t moved an inch. They were snuggly cuddled together beneath every single spare blanket we had in the place. All you could see of Zoey was her dark curls peeking out from under the blankets. Matthew was completely hidden except for one foot that stuck out from the bottom, and Callie had her hand tucked under her cheek and was turned toward Matthew.
Since I was already up, there was really no reason for me to go back to bed. I knew the kids would be awake in a couple hours because they were early risers. Instead, I decided it was the perfect time to take a quick shower and get something ready for breakfast.
When the hot water sprayed over my body, I let my head fall back and took another step closer as it sprayed over my face. My mind kept going back to the fact that I kissed Callie. I took that step, not her. Yes, I knew Callie had feelings for me, but I’d hidden mine for her. Working side by side at Jett’s restaurant and having the same group of friends meant it was hard to avoid being near her. I may have put on a good show when it came to keeping my distance and hiding my desire for her, but it was only getting harder.
Callie was now intertwined in my life, and the longer she was around, the more I let myself imagine her being there forever.
Chapter Eleven
Callie
A smack to the side of my face startled me awake. I lifted my hand to shield myself from any further attack and peeked through my fingers. Matthew’s hand was just inches from my face. Scanning down his arm, I saw that it disappeared beneath the covers. I rolled back just enough to peer over my shoulder and found that Zoey was still asleep as well.
I began wiggling upward as I carefully removed myself from the tiny-people sandwich. They had both remained so close to me all night, I was surprised I had room to breathe. After finding the spot where Jude had fallen asleep empty, I looked around for him, but he was nowhere in sight. As I tiptoed down the hallway toward the bathroom, I noticed his bedroom door was closed. I guess the floor wasn’t as comfy as he had hoped.
Inside the bathroom, I quickly took care of my business and tried my best to get some type of control of my hair. It was a mess. After I did my best to wad it up in a bun, I grabbed the mouthwash on the back of the sink and decided I was in need of a quick slosh. Then, taking one last look in the mirror, I rolled my eyes and reached for the door handle. I was letting one simple kiss from Jude make me a nervous wreck. I flipped the light switch off and stepped from the bathroom only to come to a complete stop.
Jude was coming from his room, wearing nothing but a pair of sweats that hung very low on his waist. I tried not to stare, or drool for that matter, but not showing my excitement was torture.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice still husky from sleep. He grinned at me, and I shifted my gaze from him to focus on a picture on the wall just over his left shoulder. When he took a step toward me, my heart began to race. Yet the moment he touched the side of my face, I wanted to launch myself at him.
“Did you sleep okay?” he asked, and I nodded. “Callie,” he whispered. I looked up at him, and that crazy tightness in my stomach returned. “Why are you doing your best not to look at me?”
“I don’t know,” I said, and he touched my chin with his thumb before rubbing it along my lower lip.
“I think you know.” He wouldn’t allow me to look away from him as he waited for me to respond.
“You just make me nervous,” I confessed, only to feel foolish for even speaking those words.
Jude gripped my hip and turned me so my back was facing the wall just outside the bathroom. Taking a step toward me, he pressed me against the wall and caged me in. “I don’t want to make you nervous,” he said as he leaned in closer before skimming my lips with his. “I just want to make your heart race the way you do mine.”
Oh my God, was he serious right now? My damn heart was racing so fast I was fearful I would pass out at any moment.
“I always knew you were amazing, Callie. I was just too stubborn and pigheaded to let you in.” He placed a gentle kiss at the corner of my mouth. “I’m ready to let you in, sweetheart, if you still have room in your heart for me.”
I was floored. I had never once expected any of this from Jude. He wasn’t that kind of guy, or at least I didn’t think he was until now.
His mouth hovered over mine as he stared into my eyes. Without speaking a word, I rose up on the tips of my toes and brought my mouth to his. This only caused him to press tighter against me and take command. What started as a simple kiss to let him know I wanted him too, turned quickly into something more. I moaned, and he grinned against my mouth just before he swiped his tongue across my lower lip, and my knees grew weak. The sweats he was wearing couldn’t shield his excitement. His hardness pressed against my stomach told me he wanted me too.
“Damn,” he groaned as he thrust his hips and rocked against me.
“Eww.”
Zoey’s voice made us jump apart like we were on fire. Jude of course immediately spun around to hide his erection, and I giggled at the sight.
“Yeah, real funny.” Jude narrowed his eyes at me.
“I thought you didn’t like Callie?” Zoey asked.
I suddenly fe
lt stupid as I remembered how harsh Jude was to me in the beginning and looked away from him. But before I could let myself think about it, Jude’s hand was around my waist and tucking me against his side.
“I never disliked Callie, sweetheart,” he said before he kissed my forehead. “In fact, I always did like her.” He paused, and I looked up at him. “A lot,” he added and placed his lips against mine briefly. He then looked back down at Zoey, and I followed his stare. “What would you think about Callie and me dating? It means you and Matthew would have to share her with me.”
I had never felt this happy and surprised at once. I’d had feelings for Jude for years, but he would never allow me in—or anyone else, for that matter. But here we stood in his hallway as he basically announced that he was ready to change everything. And I couldn’t have been happier.
“I think we can share her,” Zoey said with a very serious expression. “But you can’t be a hog, Uncle Jude. You don’t share very well.”
I giggled, and Jude pulled me tighter against him. “I’ll share, promise. But when it’s my time with Callie, we need to set boundaries.”
“What kind of boundaries?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Oh my God, they were so damn cute it was sickening. Zoey was such a little diva, and Jude treated her like she was grown-up, yet still a child.
“It means that I allow her time with you and Matt. No interruptions, no interference. You guys have her fully.” Zoey nodded, accepting that part. “Then when I get my time, I expect the same. No complaining that it isn’t fair or ‘Uncle Jude, I need this and that.’”
I turned in his arms and looked up at him. “What?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “If they need something, it shouldn’t be placed on hold.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea how brainwashed they have you.” He shook his head and grinned. “These two look like angels on the outside. They seem so innocent and pure. But let me just tell you, they know how to play a good game. You’ll learn.”
I narrowed my eyes at Jude before looking back and forth between him and Zoey.
“I have no idea what he’s talking about,” Zoey said with pure innocence.
Jude pointed toward her. “See what I mean?” Zoey smiled brightly and I shrugged. “Oh, baby, I have a lot to teach you about the tricks of these two.”
When the endearment fell from his lips, my stomach tightened in excitement.
He reached out toward Zoey. “Do we have a deal?” He waited for her to shake on it, and I was a little amazed they were still bidding on time with me. The entire situation was crazy but so damn adorable.
“Fine,” she said as she placed her tiny hand in his. “But like I said before, don’t be a hog.”
She pushed past us and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
“What just happened?” I asked.
“Well, sweetheart, I just claimed you as mine with only one stipulation.” He spun me around again and began backing me against the wall.
“Oh yeah,” I whispered breathlessly. “And what would that be?”
“I have to share you with my family, but in no way am I willing to share you with anyone else.” Chills covered my arms and neck. “You okay with that?” I nodded, because I would be insane to do anything other than agree. “Good, because I’ve been an idiot for too damn long.”
His mouth covered mine, and once again we became lost in a kiss.
“So gross,” Zoey whined in disgust. “Does this mean there will be a lot of kissing involved now?”
I buried my head against Jude’s chest and laughed as quietly as possible. My body shook from the effort, and so did his as he tried to hide his own laughter.
“Lots of kissing, Z, so you better get used to it,” Jude taunted as he reached out and tickled her stomach.
“Blah.” She stuck her tongue out at him and faked a shiver. “Nope, I’ll just send you two to your bedroom, because I don’t wanna see it,” she hollered over her shoulder as she walked back toward the living room.
“I’ll have to remember that. If I need you alone, I’ll just kiss you. Then we’ll be sent for a time-out in my room, and that door locks.” He wagged his eyebrows as he stepped back and took my hand before leading me toward the kitchen.
Chapter Twelve
Jude
It had been three days since I let my guard down. Three days with a whole lot of kissing and even more cold showers. It turned out that Zoey decided against her original punishment for me if she caught me kissing Callie and found it worked better if she took Callie to her room to play. Katelynn was loving every minute of it too, and Callie just thought it was the cutest thing. I, however, was still waiting for her to see the evil behind it all.
Jett finally stopped fighting me about coming back to work, and today was my second day. Callie was off, and I was back to my usual cranky self in the kitchen. I found I liked it better when she was here too, even though I would have never admitted that until now.
I was just walking back from my fifteen-minute break when Quinn rounded the corner in a panic and collided with me. I reached out to steady her. “Hey, you okay?”
“No.” She took in a deep breath. “Jett and Easton just left. They took my car to get the tires changed, and I need to get to the hospital.” She pushed past me, and I followed. “Kade called. Avery’s in labor. He said they took her in for an emergency C-section because the baby’s heart rate was dropping. I’m freaking out, and Jett won’t answer his phone. I can’t find his car keys anywhere.”
“You’re not driving like this, Quinn,” I said, and it only earned me one hell of a glare. “I’ll take you. Just let me tell Marco.”
I didn’t give her a chance to argue as I jogged off toward the kitchen and let Marco know what was happening. Tuesdays were slow, so I knew things would be fine without me. They had been fine for weeks anyway, so one more day wouldn’t matter.
Quinn was a nervous wreck, and her hands shook in her lap as we drove to the hospital in silence.
“Hey, everything is gonna be okay,” I assured her.
“I hope so,” she whispered.
After I parked the car, we hurried through the front doors. The numbers on the elevator seemed to tick past in slow motion, and I found myself growing agitated with each second.
When the doors opened, Quinn practically ran toward the waiting area. I jogged behind her and stopped when I saw Kade exit through a set of big blue doors with a gown over his clothes and a mask covering his mouth. His eyes were red, and the tears on his cheeks made my stomach hit the fucking floor.
Quinn covered her mouth with her hand, and a sob escaped her. I stepped up behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders, offering support.
“She’s perfect,” Kade whispered, and a huge wave of relief washed over me.
Quinn walked forward and wrapped herself around Kade. “They’re both okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Kade responded. “Avery was amazing, and our daughter…fuck, Quinn, she looks just like her momma.”
I found myself choking up with the news and started when someone touched my back. I spun around and came face-to-face with Callie. Instantly, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me.
“Are they okay?” she asked, her voice muffled against my chest.
I let go just enough so she could look up at me and smiled at my beautiful girl. “They’re good, baby, both of them,” I told her before I kissed her, not giving a shit about who witnessed it.
“Well, I guess babies bring everyone together,” Jett said as he stepped up behind Callie. “It’s about damn time you realized just how good she is for you,” he leaned in and whispered just so Callie and I could hear before walking past us to join his wife.
In no time at all, the waiting area was full of family and friends. We were allowed to go back in groups of two to congratulate Avery and meet their daughter, Willow. Watching Kade and seeing the love he had for his two girls made me hope more than I eve
r had that someday I could be just as happy as he was today. He lit up as he watched Avery hold their daughter close, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Kade took her into his arms. I could hardly believe that a year ago, he was in a worse place than I was. He never would have allowed himself to be happy. It took Avery to get him to pull his head out of his ass, and now they were amazing together.
Avery’s exhausted state was a sure sign she was in desperate need of rest. So after a few good-byes, I took Callie’s hand and led her toward the elevator, and the rest of the group followed closely behind us, all wearing matching smiles. A tense afternoon had led to a magical evening.
***
“I feel like all we do is hang out at my place. I owe you a night out or something,” I confessed as I stood just outside my front door with my arms wrapped around Callie’s waist, holding her close.
“Being here makes me happy, Jude. I love spending time with Kate and the kids. It’s perfect to me, really,” Callie said as she ran her hand soothingly over my back. She tilted her head back as she looked up at me with a smile on her face. “You all make me so happy.”
“But what if I’m tired of sharing you?” I pouted, and she giggled as she ran her hand around my side, over my abs, and up my chest. “Why are you laughing? I wasn’t joking.”
Every night she’d been at my place, she was so consumed by the kids I barely got time to share a few words with her. God love the two, but Zoey and Matthew were the ones hogging Callie, not me.
“What do you think we should do about that?” she asked. The humor in her voice from only seconds ago had disappeared.
“I say I sneak you in and you spend the night with me tonight,” I said as I slid my hand lower to cup her ass. “We can go in and visit for a while. But after they’re settled and ready for bed, you and I can have our own little sleepover.”
