"Unhand her," Matty growls and stabs his little plastic sword into Liam's leg.
"But she's mine, pirate," Liam teases back to our little boy who is in his full pirate get-up. Again. Matty's pirate obsession has grown like crazy over the last seven months and Liam has only fed into it. To celebrate me and Matty officially moving into his place, Liam had gotten a pirate boat playset custom built in his backyard. But the obsession went off the deep end after we took Matty to the San Diego Comic Con for his birthday and dressed him as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Now it's pirate everything twenty-four-seven.
The Comic Con also brought back Liam’s love for the event. We were able to make it our own and not let Landon spoil something that did ultimately bring us together. Just Thor has been retired and I finally got my hot Loki.
"Mine." Matty charges again and Liam unwraps his arms from around me to go after him. Matty yelps and heads for the living room as Liam makes his attack, but Liam grabs Matty before he can jump on the sofa. Liam swings our little boy upside down, and his hat goes flying to the large gray plush area rug that I added to the room.
When I moved in with Liam, he let me put my special touches on his place to make sure I felt like it was mine too. I painted his white walls a light gray and put my little touches with my furniture and pictures on the walls. Surprisingly, I feel more at home here than I have anywhere else. And it has nothing to do with the design.
As for my interior design business, it has taken off like I never expected. After I finished designing Liam's building, I took the money I made and invested it in a small studio downtown. Word of mouth for Jenkins Designs has been amazing. Many referrals came from Liam's employees and executive team after I helped them design rooms in their houses. All the plans I had dreamt for myself are coming together. They weren’t in order, but it doesn’t matter because I started my career, found the perfect guy, got my dream job, the house I always wanted to decorate, and of course my baby boy. There isn’t more I could ask for.
“Mama, save me,” Matty squeals, his face red from laughing.
“She can’t save you now, little one,” Liam says and then tackles him back to the ground.
The doorbell rings as my two boys continue to roughhouse on the floor. I push away from the counter, but not before grabbing one of the cheese puffs on my way to the door.
I swing the door open and River steps in, cradling her one-month-old baby boy, Jacob. Motherhood has really taken a shine to her. She spent most of her pregnancy a nervous wreck, not sure if she would be able to handle a baby, but once she held him, all her fears washed away.
“He’s gotten so big.” I rub my finger down Jacob’s tiny cheek. I haven’t seen the little guy in person since the day after they brought him home and a few times over Skype.
“It’s because he spends all his time eating.” She laughs and flops down on the couch. “He’s like his father. All about food and boobs.”
“I think that’s all men,” I tease and nudge Liam playfully who has joined us with Matty on his back.
“Where is Jaxson?” Liam asks for me, considering I’m too busy making eyes at the newborn baby.
“Getting all the crap.” Jaxson chuckles, walking in the door at that moment with a baby bag over his shoulder, a car seat in one hand, and a portable crib in another. “Had to bring half the house with us.”
“I remember those days.”
Jax lays the car seat down on the ground and goes to close the door behind him.
“Wait, we’re here too,” Sam yells, slamming her hand on the door before it closes. Terry is behind her, carrying a glass tray of brownies. The ones she promised to bring from her mom.
I’ve been craving those like crazy since she told me was bringing them.
“Do you have enough food here, Holly?” Terry laughs as she tries to make enough room for her brownie tray.
“Hush. It’ll get eaten, or you guys can take stuff home, but I’m sure when our dads get here, they’ll eat half of it.”
Our parents met a few months ago and got along amazingly. Our dads found a bond over football and our moms found one talking about us.
"These cheese puffs are amazing, Holls," Terry moans as she pops another one into her mouth.
"Glad you approve." I laugh, knowing the puffs will be gone in minutes.
"I'm digging the long curls, Captain Matty." Jax tugs on one of Matty’s curls and Matty smacks him away.
“Stop it, Jaxxy.”
Liam snorts a laugh, like he does every time our son says his nickname for Jaxson.
"Matty, why don't you come say hi to Jacob.” I place my hand on his back, guiding him over to River who is cradling Jacob in her arms. The baby is now wide awake and alert. “He’s your baby cousin."
"Baby..." Matty points to the baby in River’s arms and then smiles at me proudly. "Daddy says Mommy has a baby." He points to my belly.
Shit.
The little big mouth.
I knew he overheard us.
All eyes are on us and I bite my lip as Liam hooks his arm around my hip.
"Oh, it's true…look how red she is," Terry hoots and I bury my face in Liam's chest.
“We only found out yesterday. We were going to wait a bit longer before we broke the news to everyone.” At least our parents aren’t here yet.
Our friends swarm us
