Page 114 of From Angel to Rogue

“Hey, boys,” he whispered and just those two words and I melted, my fingers instantly left his ear to thread softly through his hair.

Two kicks ensued his caress, and Lan looked up at me

“Are we talking to the babies, Lawndon?” Luka perked up like it was a fun activity.

“Yes, buddy.” Lan lifted him into his arms and then both my boys pressed their lips to my belly.

“Boys,” Lan said. “Dad here.”

“And older brother here,” Luka added with glee.

Their voices made the minions inside my tummy go crazy. I was used to their flutter of activity, but Luka and Lan still weren’t. Their eyes rounded with wonderment as they caressed my stomach to their complete satisfaction.

And Mom’s always here,always.

LAN

I was calmly sipping on my energy drink after a workout while I watched Luka color dinosaurs on his little sketchbook that Lily gave him, when I stilled.

I blinked to see if I was seeing right.

“Woman,” I shouted. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

The f-word made Luka look up and announce, “You’re getting in trouble with Katiew.” But it was Katy who was getting in deep, deep trouble.

Dressed in a loose cotton nightie that did nothing to hide her very pregnant belly, Katy was maneuvering a huge-ass ladder.

“Why?” Katy frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re almost seven months pregnant. You shouldn’t be doing things like that.” I was already by her side and taking the ladder away from her.

“Really?” Her nose scrunched. “I started Pilates again, and it’s been doing wonders. I’m strong, Lan.”

“And that’s a heavy-ass ladder that I don’t want to accidentally fall on you and put you and the babies at risk.”

“Oh,” she mumbled, stepping away.

And I dragged the ladder far away from her. “What the hell are you doing with this?”

“Luka wanted more star stickers on his ceiling.”

“And you didn’t care to ask me?”

“Why would I ask you?” She frowned. “I can stick stars.”

I didn’t even bother replying as I took the ladder and grabbed the stickers she held in her hand and headed to Luka’s room while a confused Katy followed me.

Right when I stuck the last blue star on the ceiling, my phone vibrated in my back pocket.

Seeing the caller ID, I hesitated. It was Serena. I hadn’t spoken to her in a while. It wasn’t like I was ignoring her but more like avoiding.

Ever since the news spread that Katy and I were adopting Luka, Serena called me, saying how bad of an idea it was to adopt someone. That Katy could never handle such responsibility.

For the first time in my life, I didn’t like her. I hated the way she said what she said, and in a few choice words, I asked her not to call me again.

Not for the lack of trying on her part.

“Lan, your phone is still ringing,” Katy pointed out.

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