Page 115 of Laila Manning
Kade crumbled in bewilderment, trying to process it all before he scowled and looked at me. “You said you weren’t going to say anything until you knew for sure. You know for sure?”
“I do.” I pulled the other folded paper from my pocket and opened it up, pointing to the DNA results I ordered, using samples taken from Kade’s check-up with the doctor Ryker hired to treat him after his kidnapping. “There’s the proof, though it would be impossible to ignore our similarities now that I know.”
“You have the same eyes.” Laila smiled.
“And the same stubborn pigheadedness.” I added.
Kade smiled gently, warming up to the idea. “And good looks.”
Laila let out a relieved chuckle, “And we can’t forget the dry humor.”
Kade and I both let out a scoff and then laughed before I pushed on. “You may be my brother, Kade, but if you don’t object, I’d like to be more than that to you.”
“What do you mean?” he asked cautiously.
“We’d like to adopt you.” Laila added, walking around the island to stand between us, holding my hand in hers and taking his. “We’d like to give you a forever home with us. Legally.”
“Forever.” He whispered and then let out an enormous sigh. “Are you sure? I’m kind of a pain in the ass.”
Laila pulled him into a massive hug, and I stood up, wrapping them both up in my arms with a chuckle. “Really? We hadn’t noticed.”
Epilogue – Laila
“Oh my God, no he didn’t!” Ellie roared, tipping her head back and cackling as Carly shared more of her night away with Jed last week. They went to their property in the hills for a spicy night of fun and, apparently, things got interesting.
“His entire dick!” Carly gasped, holding her sides, “He thought it was going to be some sexy s’mores dessert for me to lick up, but the fluff was so fucking sticky, everything in the wilderness ended up stuck to his dick. Pine needles, grass, bugs—you name it! It was hilarious!”
“I’m guessing he didn’t think so.” I snorted, sipping my lemonade as I rocked on Carly’s front porch. Two years ago, I moved onto the property, scared of everything, even life. And now I was thriving, surrounded by people I didn’t deserve and love I’d never be worthy of. Tuesday night porch dates were our norm, and I was finally able to enjoy life without worrying about the fallout.
Besides, there was no time to think about the endless things that could go wrong in life when the estate was crawling with new life. Our hands and our hearts were full.
“No, he most definitely didn’t!” Carly chuckled. “Let’s just say his dick wasn’t coming anywhere near me until we broke out the Dawn dish soap to break down the marshmallow.”
“Child present,” A voice called out from the edge of the porch, and I looked over as Kade held his hands over his ears as he walked around the railing from the backyard. He was shirtless and covered in so much dirt and grime, I could hardly see his skin. But what I could see was his beaming full smile as he joked with Carly.
“You can’t claim child status anymore.” Ellie deadpanned when Kade leaned up against the porch railing on the bottom step, “You’re like eight feet tall.”
Kade’s smile got even brighter, and I rolled my eyes as he puffed his chest out with pride. “Don’t even get me started.” I sighed, sipping down the last of my drink. “Between his latest growth spurt and the work he’s been doing with Jed, I can’t keep good jeans on that boy.”
“I’m not complaining,” Carly shrugged, “He’s a workhorse and has been here every day, sun up until sun down helping Jed with the addition. God knows we’re going to need the space.” She chuckled, rubbing a hand over her still nonexistent baby bump.
Considering she was already two months along with a four-month-old inside sleeping, who knew how many kids they’d end up with before Jed was done building their family and healing his own childhood trauma.
As if on cue, my brother walked around the house, guzzling a bottle of water, shirtless and covered in grime, wearing a tool belt and jeans. “Here you go.”
He held a hand out to Kade, and they did some weird boy handshake where I never quite saw what was passed between them, but I figured it wasn’t drugs or hookers, so I was fine with it.
“Thanks.” Kade nodded to him and put his loot in his pocket. “Tomorrow again?”
“Nah,” Jed shook his head, “It’s Sunday and I’m sleeping in.”
Carly snorted, “Like hell. You’re on baby duty, and I’m sleeping in.” As if on cue, the monitor next to her echoed out the call of her daughter Annie, from her crib where she was taking her afternoon nap inside. “And you can start right now.” She smiled sweetly up at Jed, and he scoffed with a roll of his eyes.
“Give me your tits and I’ll go feed her, no problem.” He said, and she groaned, pairing it with a fake pout.
“I have to go, anyway.” Ellie looked at her watch. “Dawson will be back with Gav and Gabriella any time now.” She rose and stretched above her head. I’m sure she was enjoying her own break from her sweet son and newborn daughter, born a week after Annie. “Thanks for therapy.” Ellie winked, and Carly waved at her best friend. “See you next week.”
I chuckled, rising to my feet, “As if you won’t be back over here for some reason by morning.”
