With Us (The Amato Series Book 1)

by Layla Frost

  Someone else beat me to it.

  “Dada!” she screamed, racing across the room to him.

  Theo’s eyes widened, but so did his dimpled grin. He opened his arms, catching her before burying his head in her tumble of wavy brown hair to make raspberry noises.

  Squealing with delight, she wiggled, though it was unclear if it was to get away or closer.

  “What’re my girls doing here?” he asked, settling Adelaide on his lap.

  She pounded her pudgy toddler fists on the keyboard. “I goin’ Na-Pa’s.”

  “Is that so?” Theo asked, eyeing me from across the room. And even from a distance, there was no missing the heat in his gaze.

  Na-Pa’s, Adelaide’s version of Nana and Papa’s, usually meant Mama and Dada were getting a little alone time. Time that was spent having loud sex before sleeping in until noon, both rare luxuries with a three-year-old in the house.

  That wasn’t the case this time.

  Adelaide nodded at Theo, her green eyes filled with love and wonder. To her, Theo was better than ice cream for dinner, a superhero, and a trip to the toy store.

  She was a smart girl.

  She also had a big mouth. “Mama’s havin’ baby.”

  It took Theo a moment before his attention shot to me. “What?”

  “Mama made big mess.” She patted his chest. “No time out, she cleaned it.”

  “Did you drive?” Theo asked, standing and setting Adelaide on his chair before coming over to me. He searched my face ascertaining I was fine before laying into me. “Why didn’t you call? Are you out of your mind? We’ve gotta get you to the hospital!”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not reckless, so no I didn’t drive. Niall is downstairs in the SUV. I didn’t call because I knew you’d react like this, and at least now I’m here for you to see that I’m fine.” I held my arms out and spun slowly. “Yes, I am out of my mind. I’m also hugely pregnant, starving, and, after seeing those damn mirrors, horny. So, I suggest you watch what you say.”

  Theo smiled. “Noted.”

  “Your mom and dad were in the city, so they should be here to get Adelaide any minute. The doctor said to wait until the contractions were more regular, which they aren’t.”

  “You said that with Adelaide, and then she was almost born at Faust.”

  “How was I to know it’d happen so fast?”

  In all my baby books, it said the movies and TV were wrong, and my water wouldn’t break until I was already having contractions. Even then, it was more likely the doctors would have to break it.

  That was my first clue that the baby books were as full of shit as everyone else.

  I hadn’t been having contractions at all. An off feeling, sure. But no contractions. I’d only gotten halfway through my deliciously cheesy appetizer before thinking I’d peed myself a little. I’d gone to bathroom, stood to get back to my food, and the liquid continued to leak. Getting a pad from the little machine, I’d put it in place before returning to my dinner.

  Waiting until dessert to say anything may have been a mistake.

  “We’re much closer to the hospital,” I said. “We’d have had to come this way, so all I did was save time. You’re welcome.”

  Theo pulled me as close as my belly would allow, tucking my hair behind my ear. “You sure you’re okay? We can leave Adelaide with Rosa.” He turned his head. “Rosa, cancel my next six weeks! Reschedule with Luc if it’s an emergency.”

  I settled my hand on his chest. “Calm down, I’m fine.”

  Rosa wheeled her office chair into the doorway with a notebook in her lap and four different colored pens in her hand. “What’s up?”

  “Mama’s having baby!” Adelaide said, clapping her chubby hands. She must have picked up on our excitement because her original response had been to shrug.

  “Oh! Oh, man, what’re you doing here?” Rosa stood and began pacing. “Want me to call an ambulance? Boil some water and rip some sheets? I’m so excited, in a terrified way.”

  “I’m fine,” I assured her, once again holding my arms out. Only this time, a contraction hit. I clutched my stomach, gasping to get back the breath that had been knocked out of me.

  “Cazzo, gattina. Sit.”

  “I’m okay,” I said, inhaling deeply as it passed. I shifted a little, rubbing a tight spot on the side of my belly.

  Just as Lou and Rachelle rushed in, surprisingly followed by Julie, Tina, and Luc, another contraction hit.

  “Holy fuck, it’s the Faust thing all over,” Luc said, looking panicked.

  “Language,” I gasped, “Uncle Luca!”

  Chaos exploded around us, my concerned family meaning well as they fussed over me.

  It was everything I’d ever wanted, and everything I’d never dared to dream of.

  “Enough!” my husband shouted over everyone. “Dahlia, I don’t care if they aren’t regular. We’re going.”

  “Fine, but you owe me. I’m thinking Faust sounds good. Will he do takeout?”

  “For you?” Luc asked. “He’d set himself up in the hospital kitchen to cook. Sneak me some.”

  “No.” I carefully bent in front of Adelaide, pulling her into my arms.

  Big, pale green eyes looked at me. “I big sister?”

  “Soon, baby. I love you so much. You’re going to be the best big sister in the world.”

  “I know.”

  She has her father’s confidence, that’s for sure.

  With one last hug, I let her go. Standing, Theo practically dragged me from the room onto the elevator.

  I tried to look innocent as I tilted my head and batted my lashes. “Hey, do you think we have time—”

  “No.” He shook his head, muttering, “You really are out of your mind.”

  “What? I was going to ask if we had time for me to grab a drink. I’m thirsty.”

  He arched an eyebrow.

  I smirked and shrugged. “It was worth a try.”

  Wrapping his arm around me, he kissed my forehead. “I love you, my gattina. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me until after you hear what I call you during labor. But I love you, too, my Theo.” Letting my husband hold me, I enjoyed the last few moments of quiet I’d likely be experiencing for a while.

  Niall was more on edge than any of us, worried and fretting as he rushed us to the hospital. When we got there, he jumped from the SUV and opened the back door. He hovered as I climbed down.

  “I’m okay,” I assured him. When I started to turn toward the hospital entrance, I found myself in a gentle hug.

  “Good luck,” Niall whispered before releasing me just as quickly.

  “Thanks,” I whispered back before once again being rushed by my husband.

  However, as another contraction hit, I was grateful for his lack of patience.

  The next few hours flew by in a rush. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it when I heard the tiny high-pitched cry.

  Theo looked up the bed at me, his eyes shiny. “It’s a boy. My gattina, you gave me a boy.” The doctor gave him the okay to pick up our baby and set him right on my chest for skin-to-skin.

  I was sweaty, sore, and so fucking happy I thought I may explode. I did burst into tears as I looked between my tiny son and my husband. “He’s so beautiful.”

  After a few minutes, the nurses took the baby to clean him and do their stuff.

  “Do we have a name, Mom and Dad?” a nurse asked, holding the name card.

  I glanced at Theo before nodding. “Yes. Lucian. Lucian Marcus Amato.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, writing it down.

  “And so are you,” Theo whispered to me, kissing my forehead. “I’m going to go get Adelaide from the waiting room.”

  A moment later, he came back carrying her just as the nurse was handing a screaming Lucian to me.

  I scooched over and patted the bed next to me.

  Setting her down in the spot, Theo grabbed my camera before sitting near my knees.

&nb
sp; “This my baby?” Adelaide asked, her eyes big and bright.

  “Yeah, sweetie. This is your little brother, Lucian.”

  “Hi Luushhhhen,” she sing-songed. At the sound of her voice, her brother stopped crying. She gave him a dimpled grin. “I gots a shirt, it says I big sister. Mama got you lil’ brudder shirt wear, too.” I tensed as she lifted her hand, but so gently, she touched his hand. “I love you, brudder.”

  Passing Lucian over to his dada, I took the camera and snapped away. I wasn’t sure where I’d put more picture frames, but I was going to find a spot.

  We sat like that for a while, just our family in our own world.

  God, my husband is sexy.

  I need to apologize for what I said while I was pushing.

  Hopefully he knows I’d never break it in his sleep.

  I love it too much.

  After a bit, we gave the okay for the rest of the family to come in. They descended in a burst of flowers, balloons, presents, and noise.

  All of which, Lucian slept through.

  “He’s already going to do well in this family,” Lou said, looking down and beaming like a proud Papa. “I told you so. Bambini belli!”

  My mind didn’t wander into the past often. Yet, in that moment surrounded by family, I couldn’t help but think about the life I’d had before Theo.

  I’d existed rather than lived.

  Stuck in a cage.

  Alone.

  Without hope.

  But Theo had changed that. He’d given me freedom, hope, a family, and more love than I thought possible.

  He’d replaced all my bad memories with good ones.

  As I snuggled my excited daughter and looked over at my newborn son, I thought about the life they’d have. One filled with laughter and fun, surrounded by a family who loved them.

  They’d always know they were wanted.

  And they’d always be happy and safe.

  Because no one fucks with us.

  The End

  …or is it?

  Just fucking with you, it totally is.

  Other Books by Layla Frost

  The Hyde Series

  Hyde and Seek

  Best Kase Scenario

  About the Author

  Layla Frost has always been a rebel. A true badass.

  Growing up, Layla used to hide under her blanket with a flashlight to read the Sweet Valley High books she pilfered from her older sister. It wasn’t long before she was reading hidden Harlequins during class at school. This snowballed into pulling all-nighters after the promise of “just one more chapter”.

  Her love of reading, especially the romance genre, took root early and has grown immeasurably.

  In between reading and writing, Layla spends her free time rocking out (at concerts, on the couch, in the car… Anywhere is a stage if you get into it enough), watching TV (the nerdier the better!), and being a foodie. Though she lives in NY (the state, not the city), she’s an avid Red Sox fan.

  Connect with Layla Frost

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  Email: laylafrostwrites@gmail.com