by J B Heller
I cut her off, “I get the picture.”
She smiled coyly and went on, “So are you still bleeding?”
I sighed dramatically, talking to Ivy often gave me a flair for the dramatic. “Yes. And I’m pretty sore. I’m still using those condom icepack things to soothe it.”
She nodded in understanding. “I see.”
Glancing down at Annabelle, I sighed again, only this time, less dramatic. “But it’s okay, I mean, look what I get to snuggle anytime I want,” I said my eyes glassing up. My damn hormones still hadn’t gotten back to normal, and I was still an emotional wreck.
“Don’t you go getting emotional on me. You know if you start crying, I will too,” Ivy scolded.
Smiling, I blinked the tears away. “I’m just sayin’ I can wait a little longer to get in his pants, is all. But I know what you’re saying about the coming out of the bathroom naked. I mean, can he not take in a fresh set of clothes with him when he goes in there?”
Ivy and I burst out laughing and spent the rest of the morning chatting and fawning over my precious baby girl. The twins had turns nursing her on the couch, and I practically had to tackle Ivy to get her to hand my baby over. I swear she’d steal her if I turned my back. And after everything I’d been though to bring her into this world, nobody, not even my best friend, was taking her away from me.
CHAPTER TWENTYONE
Instead of working on the caseload Gabe had handed me when I’d arrived at work this morning, I’d been preoccupied with thoughts of my girls. I couldn’t focus on anything else. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.
“Can’t think straight?” Gabe asked from across the room where he was sorting through his own pile of new cases.
“Yeah,” I muttered.
“You ask her yet?”
I lifted my head and threw the papers onto my desk, giving up on even trying to concentrate on work. “No, I’m waiting for the right moment, but it never seems to come.”
“So make the moment. You know, like I did with Ivy,” he said.
The cogs in my brain started to turn over this new information and process it. It wasn’t a bad idea. Ivy had loved the flowers and romantic shit Gabe had done for her the night he proposed. An idea started to form in my mind. I would make the moment.
“Do we have any urgent cases that need our immediate attention?” I asked Gabe.
A knowing grin spread across his face. “Nope.”
I picked up my phone and called Axel. He answered, and I told him to meet us at the office. Twenty minutes later, Axel walked in with a bag full of take-out. “Hungry, bitches?”
He knew us well. We dug in while formulating the perfect proposal.
THE NEXT DAY...
Ivy was taking Mia on her first outing without me to help with Belle. They were going shopping or some other equally girly activity. I didn’t care what exactly they were doing as long as Mia was out of the house.
I waited for Ivy to text me that she’d picked up my girls and the coast was clear before I went back home. The unit was a mess, so I started cleaning it up. I threw on a load of washing, stacked the dishwasher, and vacuumed and mopped the floors. Then circled back and put the washing from the machine into the dryer and threw in a new load of dirties.
By lunchtime, the house was pristine, and Axel was due to arrive with the flowers any minute. I cranked up the air con so the flowers wouldn’t wilt in the incessant heat. Gabe texted to say everything was sorted out on his end and ready to go. The front door opened, and Axel came in carrying a vase full of peach coloured roses.
“These smell really good,” he commented as he placed them on the coffee table.
“Good, I want everything to be perfect.” I slapped him on the shoulder, and we headed to his car to get the rest of the flowers.
Two hours later, the unit was transformed. Vases of flowers covered the coffee table, the side table, the kitchen bench, and the top shelf of the bookcase. Axel and I had strung fairy lights up along the top of the walls casting a warm glow around the room instead of blinding light from the ceiling lights.
The caterers arrived right on time and set up outside in our little courtyard. Not long after, Gabe showed up with Stella, Bray, Sloan, and Dex. Everyone was here, except for my girls and Ivy. My palms began to sweat as I realise this may not have been the best idea after all. What if Mia said no?
Axel, the little prick, chose to draw everyone’s attention to my sudden revelation. “Check it out. Mr Confidence is sweating bullets. You think she’s secretly in love with me, don’t you?” he mocked. “Shit, the secret’s out. Pack it up everyone. Show’s over,” he announced.
Before I realised what I was doing, I punched him right in the jaw. He burst out laughing and rubbed his jaw with his good hand. “I got your mind off your nerves though, didn’t I?”
“Fucker,” I muttered but pulled him into a man hug to thank him for helping me pull my head out of my own arse.
My phone pinged with a text from Ivy saying they were just pulling into our gated community. I passed the info on, and everyone moved to the kitchen and dining area. I waited in the lounge room alone.
Two minutes passed in complete silence, except for the clicking sound from me nervously opening and closing the ring box. Then I heard the sound of Mia’s sweet voice through the door and jumped to open it before she got there. I swung it wide taking her by surprise. “Oh my god! What are you doing home already?” she asked breathless.
I smiled at the sight of her. “I couldn’t wait to see you, so I came home early.” It was partially true.
Her answering smile obliterated my earlier nerves. “Come inside, baby. I’ve got something for you.” She dropped the nappy bag she had on her shoulder when she noticed the flowers on the coffee table. Her confused gaze moved from the flowers to me and back again as she adjusted Belle in her arms. “Do you like them?”
“Do I like them? Are you crazy? Of course, I like them. They’re gorgeous,” she said.
I took her hand and led her over to the couch and waited for her to sit. When she did, I dropped down on one knee in front of her, and she gasped. Her doe eyes widened. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Proposing.”
A big fat tear leaked from the corner of her eye as she stared at the little red velvet box I held up in between us. “Yes. A million times yes, Kai. Oh god, I love you.”
“I haven’t asked the question yet. I had this whole speech prepared to convince you to marry me.”
“You don’t need one. You are the best man I’ve ever known. I love you with all my heart, and I can’t imagine a life without you in it,” she whispered.
I took the ring out of the box and slid it on her petite finger. “Perfect.” I said when I saw it sitting in place.
“I’ll never take it off,” she promised.
Belle started to squirm in Mia’s lap where she way lying. I scooped her up and held her close to my face as I breathed in her baby scent. “Hey, baby, what do you think? Should mummy and daddy get married and have a bunch more babies?” She squirmed some more, and I pulled her away slightly so I could kiss her teeny, tiny little nose.
I cradled Belle in my arms and looked back to her mumma. “Mia, you are my life, you and Belle, you’re my future. And you’ve become my family, too. And I’m not the only one who feels like that,” I said as our hiding guests took their cue to join us.
Mia watched as the room filled with our extended family. “You should know marrying me means marrying into all this.” I gestured to everyone gathered behind me. “You became a part of us six months ago. And none of us will ever let you go.”
Mia’s brown eyes filled with tears, and as they spilled over her cheeks, she launched herself at me, only slowing just before impact so as not to squish our baby. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and she kissed my face all over. “You have given me everything I ever wanted. You showed me kindness, you taught me love, and you gave me a family.”
EP
ILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER…
“You ready for this, mate?” Gabe asked me.
I frowned at him. “Of course, I am. I’ve been ready for this for six months.”
“I was just checking,” he said.
Axel was chatting up one of Mia’s long-lost cousins we’d managed to track down when we started planning the wedding. We didn’t invite Mia’s mother, but Mia had mentioned remembering an Aunt who would send her cards for her birthday and the holidays, but her mother had never told her anything about her.
It turned out Mia did have a family, quite a big one actually. Her mother came from a well-to-do family but got into drugs when she was young and burned all her bridges as far as her family was concerned. Except for one of her sisters who continually tried to reach out to her, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept any help.
She’d doomed not only herself with her pride but Mia too. The woman was nothing but selfish, and I didn’t want her around my family. But for Mia, I’d looked into her extended family. Mia had been ecstatic when I told her about them, and over the past few months, she had developed a relationship with a few of her cousins.
And right at this moment, Axel was trying to convince one of them to let him in her pants. I stalked over and pulled him back to the gathering of groomsmen by his ear. “Hey, what’d you do that for? I was making progress,” he whined.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “If you fuck it up with her and it affects her relationship with Mia, I’ll kick your arse.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine, no banging the family. Geeze, you guys are no fun.” His eyes travelled around our little group. “Cut me some slack. You all have smokin’ ladies by your sides, and I’m still flying solo.”
Bray raised a brow. “Not our fault you can’t pull.”
Axel’s reaction was priceless. “Yes, it is! Women don’t even see me when I’m with you lot.”
Dex cut in, “And that’s our fault, how?”
Axel flipped him off. “Maybe you’s could take it down a notch in the macho alpha male department. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly a macho man like yourselves.”
“Maybe you should take it up a notch,” Gabe threw in.
Axel crossed his arms over his chest. “Whatever, fucksticks. I’m awesome.”
“Sure you are, and that’s why you’re still single,” I said.
Before he could respond, the music announcing Mia’s arrival started, and we all moved into our places. Gabe stood by my side followed by Axel, then Bray, and Dex. Sloan walked down the aisle towards us first. She looked elegant in a strapless silver dress that flowed softly around her hips and ended at her knees.
Stella was next, wearing the same kind of dress as her twin. Then came Gracie and Tessie in little silver dresses with matching shoes. They walked towards us hand in hand. Next was Ivy holding my beautiful baby Annabelle. She looked more like her mumma every day. Even her eyes had turned the same shade of melty chocolate brown as her mummy’s. Both Ivy and Belle wore gold dresses.
Then I saw Mia walk around the corner and into the garden we were all gathered in. She was stunning. Her hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders and down her back with a small tiara on the crown of her head. The dress she wore was also strapless with sparking beads around the top above and below her breasts. Then it fell loosely around her hips stopping just below her knees.
The most beautiful part of all was her brilliant smile. It lit up her entire face, taking my breath away and filling me with renewed purpose and reinvigorating my love for her.
Nothing in my life had been as right as this moment.
The celebrant rattled off the usual spiel about becoming man and wife, but I didn’t hear any of it. My sole focus was on Mia. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She kicked me in the shin when it was my turn to repeat my vows, and only then did I pay attention to the celebrant, causing Mia to giggle.
Hearing Mia promise herself to me in front of all those gathered made my heart soar. As soon as the words ‘You may now kiss the bride’ left the celebrant’s mouth, I wrapped my arms around her and seared her lips with mine, only freeing her from my possessive kiss when wolf whistles erupted from the small crowd.
Mia didn’t seem to mind, though. She grinned up at me and whispered, “Later.” She then shot me a stealthy little wink before our friends and family invaded our space and began wishing us well and congratulating us.
What more could I ask for? When I thought the best life had to offer me was my best friend and his family, Mia had come along and taken my world by storm. She was my everything. Now and forever.
I was ecstatic for Kai and Mia. They had both lived shit lives until they found each other. I looked around at my unconventional family, we were all a little fucked up in our own special ways, but they had all found that one person that made getting out of bed in the morning worth the effort.
It wasn’t that I was jealous or anything, alright maybe I was a little jealous. But as time passed and I watched my friends find their piece of happy, I was beginning to feel like I never would.
I was tired of being alone. I was sick of being the third wheel. I wanted my own piece of happy too. I just had no idea where to find it.
THE END
A Novel
By JB Heller
Copyright © 2016 by JB Heller
All rights reserved.
Keep up to date with new releases by joining JBs mailing list- http://www.subscribepage.com/jbtheindie
CHAPTER ONE
This third wheel shit had been eating at me for months now. As happy as I was for my boys, and goddamn I love those babies, there’s only so much a man can take. I was sick of being the odd man out.
Running my hand through my hair, a frustrated growl left my lips, drawing Gabe’s attention. “Sup, Pretty Boy?”
I rolled my eyes at the nickname. But then again, it did suit me. I was the prettiest out of these fuckers that surround me. “Nothin’ bro. Just tired.”
He waggled his brows, “Been out on the prowl again have we?”
“Nope. It’s just me and my hand these days. Just haven’t been sleepin’ well.” I explained, and it was somewhat true. I hadn’t hooked up in weeks. It was some kind of record for me.
Kai chimed in then, “You and your hand? Whatever, you’re the biggest slut I know. And I watched this fucker—” motioning to Gabe with his chin, “whore himself out for years.”
“Ha-ha.” Sarcasm dripped from my tone and Gabe said nothing to defend his past behaviour, just shrugged his shoulder. At this point, I was more than ready to change the subject before Bray and Dex got a few digs in at my expense too.
However, Dex chose that exact moment to interject, “You’re not lookin’ to settle are you?” His brows raised in what I assume was either shock or jest. It was hard to tell, until a massive shit-eating grin covered his face.
“You can all fuck off now. I got shit to do you know, cases to solve, cheating wankers to catch in the act, that sort of thing. So if you’ll excuse me—” I let my sentence hang as I slid off my bar stool and took a step backwards, but Bray stopped me in my tracks.
“You are, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question, but a very clear statement.
I shrugged, and tried to play it off, “You bastards took all the good ones, and none of them have sisters, so it looks like I’m shit out of luck.” I smirked and this time I left.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, I turned over the engine and cranked the A/C. My head hit the headrest and I closed my eyes. Where the hell am I supposed to meet a decent chick? I’m sure as hell not a church going man, so that’s out. All the chicks I know are happily settled down with the fuckers I call my friends. And the party scene isn’t exactly the place to find the kind of girl who wants more than a quickie, so I’m shit outta luck there.
I briefly considered online dating, but if the guys found out, I’d be as good as dead for all the shit they’d give me. I couldn’t see a way fo
rward, and it was pissing me off.
“No Liz, for the last damn time, I DO NOT WANT TO BE SET UP!” I raised my voice, and I really didn’t like raising my voice. But damn it, Liz wouldn’t let up.
My overtly sexual best friend pouted at me, “But Ashy, I promise he’s super-hot. You’ll love him, or at least you’ll love what he can do with his tongue.” She grinned wickedly at me and I pretended to dry heave.
I closed my eyes and shuddered, “First of all, what makes you think I want his tongue doing anything to me when I already know what it’s done to you? And secondly, he’s not my type.” I shrugged and continued re-shelving books.
“Ugh, you are so square. I don’t know how we even became friends.” She moaned as I carried on with my task, it was her go-to line when I shut down her skanky plans for me.
I ignored her, pushing my glasses back up my nose and checking the reference code on the spine of the next book in my cart. She was still standing there pouting as I walked away from her, my cart in tow. Eventually she snapped out of it and came after me. “You’re such a buzz kill, you know that?”
Rolling my eyes and making a space for the book between the others on the shelf in front of me, I sighed, “Yes Liz, you remind me of it constantly, so how could I possibly forget?”
Liz stomped her booted foot at me, “Damn it Ash, you need to get on with your life. When are you going to stop letting your past control your future?”
I halted at her words, bile rose in my throat as a wave of nausea rolled through me. Squeezing my eyes closed, I clenched my teeth and began counting in my head, trying desperately to gain some control of my thoughts. When that didn’t work, I started counting out loud, and jolted when I felt a hand wrap around my wrist.