Page 54 of Knuckle's Dispute

“You’re playin’ with fire, Mrs.Coleson,” Micah murmurs in my ear, his breath fanning over my neck causing goosebumps to break out across my skin.

“I don’t know what you mean, Mr.Coleson,” I return, not lifting my head from his chest as his hands move lower on my back.

“Oh, I think you’re very aware of what I mean, Wife.Or is that your plan?You tryin’ to drive me wild right now?”he questions me, his hands massaging my lower back as I finally look up at him.

“I don’t have a plan in mind, Micah.Though, I won’t say no to you taking me home right now and giving me a perfect wedding night.Tease and Victoria are gonna keep Kaden for the night.They’re staying at his house next to us in case anything happens,” I tell him, my voice barely a whisper as Micah stops dancing and leads me from the tent.

Everyone starts shouting, whistling, and clapping as we disappear into the night.After helping me in the truck, Micah races to the driver’s side and climbs in behind the wheel.We make the short trip home in what feels like seconds.From there, everything moves fast.My husband lifts me out of his truck and carries me into our home.We don’t make it anywhere close to our bedroom before we’re tearing our clothes off and dropping them wherever they land.Micah spends the rest of the night giving me the absolute perfect wedding night with us only stopping every now and then for food, a short nap, and to clean up before getting dirty all over again.It’s better than anything I could have imagined on my own.

Epilogue

Knuckles

One year later

MORNINGS LIKE TODAYare the best in the world.It’s peaceful and quiet before the start of the day.I’m relaxing on the porch swing with my sons in my arms as they sleep peacefully while the rest of the world wakes up around us.The sun is just starting to enter the sky and the birds are chirping as they soar in the wind.My attention remains locked on the little boys in my arms and the trust they have in me to keep them safe no matter where we are.Kaden is now just over a year old and has already changed so damn much.He's walking on his own, playing with his favorite bike from Tease and blocks, and following me around every second I’m home.If he could go to the gym with me, he’d be there every single day.When I watch football on TV with Tease, he’s right at my side, cheering when I do.To say my son is a miniature version of me would be an understatement.Janessa laughs every time she walks in the garage or outside to find Kaden right next to me doing whatever.Tease is another one who finds it hysterical even when he pouts that he’s not the favorite.

Janessa gave me a second son three months ago.He came into our lives during one of the worst storms Frostford has ever seen.I honestly didn’t think we’d make it to the hospital in one piece.Fortunately, we arrived before Janessa gave birth and she had the help of Dr.Matthews to bring our boy into the world.He was a lot bigger than Kaden from what I was told and his birth was difficult.They were talking about an emergency cesarean section at one point.Janessa refused vehemently.Just before the hospital lost power for a few minutes, Matthew Raymond was born.He came into the doctor's arms crying louder than any baby I’d ever heard before.I was right there to cut the cord before the nurses took him to be cleaned, weighed, wrapped up, and whatever else they do to newborns.I was torn between remaining at my wife’s side and being with our son.She made me go with Matty instead of being with her.Someone needed to watch over him, according to her.

Tease was over the moon to have another boy in our family.No one knew but the two of us what we were having.Janessa wanted to keep it a secret so we did.Marie, Victoria, and Tease were the worst ones trying to get the information from us.Neither one of us managed to break though.We kept our secret until the day our son was born and surprised everyone.Rooster was entertained daily with the antics of everyone around us.

Usually, Victoria would be outside with us, but this morning she was exhausted after being up all night with Matty.He’s got an ear infection and isn’t sleeping the best.We literally have to be holding him in our arms against our chest if we want him to get any rest.Well, my wife does.Matty is gonna be a mama’s boy for sure.He already loves being in her arms and that’s where he’s his happiest.Especially if he’s not feeling the best.I don’t exist for him then and neither does Tease.Yes, Tease is still at our home every single day and a major part of our children’s lives.I don’t know what we’d do without him honestly.Janessa feels the same way.

“Today’s another new day, boys.The sun is startin’ to shine and we have a lot to do today.Daddy’s gonna go to work for a while and then we’re gonna get ready to head to the cabin for the weekend.Mommy needs a break and to get away from everythin’ for a while.So, Uncle Aaron gave us the keys to the cabin and won’t let anyone else there for the weekend.Tease is goin’ with us and I think Aunty Victoria might show up for a day or two.This weekend there won’t be any phones or anythin’.Just us as a family makin’ memories.

“At work today, I’m gonna finish puttin’ the final details on the presentation for the new program I want to start for youth in Frostford.We’re gonna start a better program that teaches the kids self-defense, kickboxin’, and anythin’ else they wanna learn.It will give them a safe place to go after school and on the weekends and we’ll instill the confidence they deserve to have on a daily basis.Somethin’ I wish I had as a kid.Maybe then I wouldn’t have been out on the streets for a few years until Rooster found me.

“Daddy didn’t have a family when I was little like you.My parents chose to give me up and leave me in a government buildin’.They wanted absolutely nothin’ to do with me for whatever reasons.I was shipped around from one foster home to the next until I finally got tired of bein’ abused and hurt on a daily basis.My breakin’ point was when Rose tried to set me on fire.I was fourteen at the time.That’s when I left her house and lived on the streets.I went through a very dark period in my life and wasn’t sure how long I would honestly survive on my own with no protection or safety measures in place.Though, it’s not like I had any of that in the foster homes.They were horrible places and I really didn’t have a single one where the foster parents cared about the children in their care.

“The only good thing to come from my time in foster care was meetin’ your Aunty Mallory.She’s a little younger than me and I was her protector.We had a really evil foster dad in that house and I saved her every single day.Took one beatin’ after another for her.As long as she was safe and untouched, I’d do anythin’ to get his attention on me and not her.Mallory is one of my favorite people in the world after your mama.She’ll be there for you whenever you need her without hesitation or question.The same as your mom and I will be.Tease and Aunty Victoria will be there too.You boys have so many people in your corner already and don’t even know it.You’re truly the lucky ones.

“Movin’ forward, you boys are gonna have to learn how to defend your mama when you get bigger.She has a habit of findin’ trouble and always needs help out of situations.I blame Tease because he encourages her crazy antics.It’s only gotten worse over the last few weeks since she’s decided she wants to learn how to fight in the ring.That woman is gonna be the death of me.But, I’ll enjoy every single second of the life we have together.And if we ever get lucky enough to have a baby girl of our own, you boys better protect her and keep all the other boys away from her.Our princess won’t ever know what’s it’s like to have her heart broken if I can help it.Though, I know you’ll both protect her with every breath you take,” I tell the boys even though they’re sleeping and can’t understand what I’m saying anyway.

For the next few minutes, I simply sit and enjoy the morning.It won’t be long before I’m joined by one of two people.Our mornings outside don’t last long with just the three of us.Usually Janessa comes out first and joins us.Then Tease will show up with his cup of coffee to get his time in with the boys before heading to work.I don’t mind either one of them joining us because they know the importance of me having the quiet first thing in the morning.Especially if I’ve had a rough night and can’t get out of my head.The nights I have one nightmare after another about my past and eventually give up on trying to sleep.That’s when they understand my need for space even if I don’t want to be alone.Janessa always knows what I need without me having to say a single word to her.

Kaden stirs in my arms and I pull him in closer, making sure the blanket is tucked in tightly around him.His head is resting on my chest right next to Matty’s.The two of them are already close and Kaden watches over his baby brother when he’s awake.We tried to put them in separate rooms when Matty was born and Kaden didn’t like it.He wouldn’t sleep and cried more than ever before.The minute we put him back in the nursery, everything stopped.He’s already got that protectiveness in him and I love it.

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