"Mandatory, huh?" Autumn asked, moving around to press her chest to mine, her arms behind my shoulders.
"She's serious about that too. She will hunt us down. There is no excuse good enough not to show. It looks like people are going to have to go without their cock rings and butt plugs on Sundays from now on."
And so they would.
We never missed a Sunday from that day forward.
After all, I had a lot of catching up to do.
EPILOGUE
Autumn - 1 month
We were having two Christmases.
Of course, we had to go to Charlie and Helen's for the absolutely massive event that Christmas was for them. I had been shown pictures. Gifts flooded the living room; people were everywhere; there was a huge feast after gifts.
It was a big deal.
Luckily, it didn't start until the afternoon since everyone needed to do the Santa thing at home with the kids first.
It worked out too because Peyton and I had our little morning tradition of a huge home-cooked breakfast that we made while belting out horribly off-key carols. Then we ate while watching The Christmas Story. After that, we opened gifts while watching Christmas Vacation. Normally, the afternoon would include some heavy eggnog usage and more movie watching before we popped in a pre-made lasagne we made earlier in the month and froze, and pigging out.
We were happy to give up the latter part of the day, deciding homemade dinner by Helen was leaps and bounds better than reheated lasagne.
But we weren't giving up on our morning traditions.
"I'm coming," I whispered at Peyton who was waiting in my doorway wearing a pair of red and green striped leggings and a red long sleeved tee with a picture of Santa that begged the question Where my hoes at?
I slid out of bed away from Eli who had given me an early Christmas present - actually, three.
It was barely six. Eli wouldn't be up for at least another hour. It gave us time to get things rolling food-wise, and get the presents under the tree.
I grabbed a sweatshirt Peyton had bought me with one red and one green bulb on it, saying simply underneath Balls.
"Flick on the tree," I demanded as we passed it - our pride and joy. We had a tradition since we moved in together that we bought each other a bulb for each year. Every single one on there was dated and had some special meaning. This year, one of my gifts to Eli was his first ornament too.
I had totally teared up when I wrapped it.
Because I was becoming a big old sap lately.
"Okay, I'm on the French toa... wait," Peyton said, stopping mid-stride, then turning back to the colored tree, some of the strands blinking lazily, but most of them solid. "Santa came!" she whisper-shrieked, mouth wide, eyes dancing.
I doubled back, seeing the pile of, well, badly-wrapped presents in bright red and white paper, that only a man - or child made all of thumbs - could have wrapped.
"He must have snuck out while I was sleeping and put them out," I said, smiling at the pile, anticipation a happy, swirling thing in my belly.
"Oh!" Peyton gasped from where she had squatted down in front of them. "Half of these have my name on them! We officially share him now. He's half mine. You get the half that includes nudity. I don't like him that way. But the other half is all mine, damnit. One big poly family."
I laughed at that as she got back up and headed into the kitchen.
Some day, she was going to get a man of her own.
Until then, I was happy to share the non-nude parts of Eli with her. He already loved her as much as any of his sisters-in-law. And while she would never, ever admit it, she needed a man like him in her life. Someone safe, stable, loving, considerate. After our shitty, judgmental father and then her string of shitty partners, I was pretty sure she didn't even know what one of them was like.
He was good for her.
And he was great for me.
Oh, the heart squeeze.
I was getting really used to that.
I was no longer stepping into it; I was drowning in it.
Love.
And I never, ever wanted to surface.
"Alright, I'm hoping one of you guys got me a pair of noise-canceling headphones for next Christmas," Eli greeted us about forty minutes later, just as the potatoes, French toast, eggs, and bacon were finishing.
"Not our fault we weren't blessed with the note-carrying gene," Peyton insisted. "What we lack in skill, we make up for in enthusiasm."
"Sure about that?" he asked, giving her a hair tug as he passed her to grab the coffee. "This looks amazing."
"Can I open my presents?" Peyton asked, slamming down the last platter on the island. "Come on, you can't keep me in suspense like this!"
Eli shot me a look, eyes dancing, lips tipped up.
"One," we said in unison, making us both laugh because it was such a parent moment.
We hadn't exactly discussed that, it still being a somewhat new relationship. But judging by his family, and his determination to win the love of his nieces and nephews, he was going to want some kids of his own.
And we weren't getting any younger.
But those were thoughts for another day.
"No way!" Peyton shrieked, having, of course, chosen the book-sized package. She was holding up a copy of Die Muthafucka. "And it's signed!" she added, eyes huge. "How... I looked for months!"
"Santa must be really well connected," Eli hedged. I actually didn't even know how he pulled that one off.
After that, we all sat to eat in front of the TV, though Peyton was mostly re-reading her book since it had been discontinued in ebook, and she hadn't been able to track down a copy.
We opened the rest of our gifts after, Eli positively beaming at his ornament as he put it on the tree, having heard - and loved - our tradition when we put up the tree on December 1st.
"I'm just saying," Peyton said as we all went off to dress, "it would be much easier for me to eat today if I could just wear these pajamas!"
An hour later, we were dragging huge black bags full of gifts into the house, arriving twenty minutes earlier than the scheduled time along with all the other men to arrange all the gifts into sections to make unwrapping easier.
The full Santa experience, I realized as I stepped back into the kitchen since there was almost no floorspace in the living room once everyone was done.
"Totally, I can come be a taste-tester anytime," Peyton yelled back at Helen as she moved toward me with mashed potatoes on her spoon. At my raised brow, she shrugged. "What? I told her it needed more garlic. Geez. Holy shit," she said as she looked at the room. "And I bet there isn't one box full of fake, crawling spiders. What a waste."
Eli - 2 months
"You're overreacting," Autumn said, keeping her voice calm as I paced the living room.
"How the fuck am I overreacting about this?" I asked, turning to give her my full attention.
We hadn't had anything even resembling a fight yet, but I was seeing red over this, and she was calm as could be. Like there was anything even remotely normal about this situation.
"It's been going on for years and--"
"Years?" I cut her off, feeling my blood start to boil. "How the fuck have you put up with this for years?"
"If you would let me speak," she said in that ultra calm voice still. I wasn't sure if she was just always so calm in heated moments, or this was in response to my getting angry, worried I might lose it.
That was always a possibility, though I had started the boxing. Between that and the sex, yeah, my ass was staying practically zen-like most of the time.
This was as angry as I had been in months.
And neither of them were even worried about it.
No, they had been just... accepting it?
Fuck no.
Not on my watch.
"I'm listening," I said through a clenched jaw.
"She doesn't mind, Eli. Believe me, I've had a round or two with her about this."
"Why are you e
ven leaving it up to her, though? Why aren't, I don't know, the cops involved?"
"Ease up there, Hottie Mc Death Row," Peyton said, coming out of the bathroom in a robe.
"Peyton, the fucking asshole was standing outside the window watching you take a bath," I objected.
I had been walking Coop, and just so happened around that side of the building. And I knew Peyton was in the tub because she had it running when I left and was murmuring something about 'sizzle you hot bitches' at, I imagined, her bath bombs.
Luckily, Coop had barked and spooked the guy before I could break out of the dazed shock I had been in momentarily.
I might have killed the guy, making Peyton's nickname for me come true.
"I know. He tends to do that. If I were paranoid about it, I would shut the curtains."
"You shouldn't fucking have to because he shouldn't be looking in them. Peeping Toms are committing crimes, Peyton. And, fine, maybe you don't mind--" Though I sure as shit did. "But what about the other women in this building who may be spied on, who might not even know they are being watched?"
"The only other apartments on our level are men and a little old lady. I doubt he's peeping there."
"Jesus Christ. There's no talking to you about this, huh?"
"It's not--" Autumn started.
"A big deal," I finished for her. "I get it."
"Where are you going?"
"To the gym," I answered, not feeling the need to tell her I was making a stop at Ryan's office first.
"What's this?" Autumn asked a couple of weeks later when it was official.
"The deed to this apartment building."
"What!"
So, she wasn't happy about it. To be perfectly honest, I expected that, and it didn't matter. Since I had no proof that Randy was a Peeping Tom - and it could take weeks to get some - and Peyton likely wouldn't testify, and the owner didn't give a shit if the super was a creep so long as the rent checks came on time, I was left with little other option.
"I get you're pissed," I said, rocking back on my heels. "But it was the only way to get Randy out of here. He's packing as we speak."
"You can't just... just buy everything to fix problems," she objected. "I mean, what, if I struggle to cover the rent at the store, are you going to buy that too?"
"Stop," Peyton said, smirking, "you're giving him ideas now."
"You can't own my apartment building."
My.
See, that was another part of the surprise that day.
"That's the thing. I was wondering if you would think about moving in with me in my old apartment."
She had been there several times with me, helping me get my new shit in there, you know, the stuff I was keeping from the duplex, which was very little. She even spent the night a few times. She loved the decor there, the building itself, the common rooms, the land around it. I actually caught her lovingly stroking the countertops while she sipped her coffee.
There was a heavy silence following that.
I knew what I was asking.
I knew that the dynamic with Autumn and Peyton and me was important to them, to me as well. I loved having Peyton around. But we couldn't all be roomies forever. Some day, she was going to find herself a man too, and then there would be a rush for everyone to figure out living situations.
"I'm not saying full-time," I qualified. "You can keep your room here, and we can spend as much time here as you want. Oh, and the rent here is dropping. That asshole was gouging all of you to fund a gambling habit."
"Okay, wait," Autumn said, shaking her head. "One thing at a time. You bought this building."
"Yes."
"How?"
"I sold the tutoring place to a friend of my father's which gave me enough. It's a smart business move - income properties. That's why Shane has one."
"Ah, okay," she said, eyes a little unfocused like she wasn't getting it. "So... this was your solution to the thing that we told you wasn't a problem?"
"Look, sweetheart, if you're moving in with me - and, yes, I know that is still an if - but if you do, Peyton will be here alone most of the time. I know he's seemed relatively harmless up until now, but do you want to take that chance? I don't."
"Aw, Autumn, he loves me. He wants to protect my quote-unquote honor."
"Something like that," I agreed. "And since we're taking Coop, you're getting a dog of your own."
"I get my own apartment and a puppy? Dude, you're moving in with him. It's not even a choice. Buh-bye. I will pack your shit while you finish your little snit."
"It's not a snit!" Autumn called after her as she disappeared into Autumn's room.
"It's totally a snit," I objected, moving to sit beside her on the couch. "You're pissed at me. You can admit it."
"You can't just go behind my back and do things, Eli," she said, exhaling hard.
"I did try to talk about it with you."
"And you didn't get your way, so you pretended to let it go, and plotted behind my back."
Alright.
Put that way, it did sound shitty.
"No more buying buildings that I live in - or work in," she was quick to clarify, "without speaking to me first."
"That's fair," I agreed, resting my arm across the back of the couch.
She barely even hesitated before she curled in.
"I like that you want to look out for Peyton when we move out."
"When?"
"Yes, when."
Eli - 1.5 years
Sometimes you did it backward.
Sometimes it wasn't the rock, the ring, the wedding, the baby.
I had given Autumn a rock six months after we started dating.
But before we could get to the ring part, there was a missed period, a trip to the drug store, and a stick that went blue.
And it didn't matter what order the world expected us to do it in, we were fucking thrilled.
I had been away for so long, had resigned myself to a future that had no softness in it. So I hadn't planned on kids.
But after spending so much time with my nieces and nephews, I realized the pull was still there.
So learning that was what we were working toward, yeah, I was a happy man.
We painted a nursery. We went to doctor visits. We bought clothes and diapers and blankets.
Then it happened.
Autumn got sick.
Not the kind of sick that meant she had to maybe take it easy, be on bedrest.
No.
It was the kind of sick that had us calling the doctor at night because she was way beyond morning sickness and suddenly couldn't stop vomiting and was too dizzy to walk on her own. It was the kind of sick that had him telling us to get to the emergency room immediately, that he would meet us there.
When a doctor tells you that he would meet you at the emergency room in twenty minutes when it was three o'clock in the morning, you knew it wasn't good.
Her blood pressure was one-ninety over one-fifteen.
A hypertensive emergency.
They had hours to get it down before she risked organ failure, seizures, stroke, or the death of her and the baby.
I'd had a somewhat crazy life. I had seen things and done things that would scare most people half to death.
But I could say with one-hundred percent certainty that nothing was anywhere near as terrifying as that night beside that hospital bed with her.
Until, of course, the night of the delivery.
C-section, because it was the only option.
They had to get him out.
For both their sakes.
Even though it was four weeks early still.
We can't wait anymore, the doctor had told us when her blood pressure refused to get and stay low, no matter the medication they tried. We are taking an unnecessary risk. We have the best neonatal unit in the state here. The baby will be fine.
So, with little choice, Autumn was wheeled down and prepped.
I was scrubbed and dressed.
/> I stayed up by her head, holding her hand, every inch of me more tense than I had ever been before.
"I love you," I told her as her eyes went a little glassy."
"I love you too," she said back with a smile as we heard a faint, then louder cry.
The smile on her face was something that was burned in my memory.
Especially because three minutes later, she started seizing.
And I was sure.
I was so fucking sure.
This was it.
This was the ultimate 'fuck you' from the universe to me.
I knew I had never deserved her, had never done anything to earn the right to call her mine.
So I got her for too short a time.
And she was going to be taken from me.
"What do you mean they won't let you in?" Peyton shrieked, slamming her fists into my chest until my arms went around her, squeezing too tight for her to keep pounding.
Then it happened.
Peyton broke.
Fucking shattered.
And I was right goddamn there with her.
"What's the update?" my mother asked, barreling down the hall in her four-inch boots, looking like hell on heels, ready to take on the world.
"We haven't gotten one," Peyton said, scrubbing her cheeks.
"Oh, fuck that," Ma said, turning on her heel, and stomping back to the nurse's station, looking every bit the mama bear she was.
It was barely two minutes until her doctor came out, looking tired, looking strained.
I was sure it was the talk.
The "we did everything we could" announcement I had been dreading for forty minutes.
"She's stopped seizing," he said instead and my fucking legs gave out. I slammed back against the wall on an exhale of breath I had been holding for so long it hurt. "Her blood pressure is stabling out. But this is still serious. Now that the baby is out, her body should slowly start to regulate itself. But it can take months for her blood pressure to go back to normal. Right now, we're not as worried about that as we are keeping her stable through the night. If we can manage that, she will be out of the woods."
"And the baby?" my mother asked, making me feel like the biggest shit in the world for forgetting to ask. But he had been crying. No one had been rushing to his side.
Eli (Mallick Brothers Book 4) Page 21