Page 275 of Cross the Line
Admitting it is almost as suffocating as the notion of not having someone with me all the time.
“Do you need to rest?” Summer asks, giving my hand a light pat as she gets up and bounces Persephone on her chest. “We can come backlater with Christina. I can bring dinner and snacks, and we can watch the game together.”
“No,” I shake my head, internally begging that she doesn’t leave, “don’t go. We still haven’t talked about the High Tea Society, and?—”
“Nope, no business talk today!” Summer turns Percy in her arms so that she’s fluttering her eyes at me as her mommy goes on, “It’s the weekend… and besides, you still haven’t given me the answer I want.”
Because becoming her business partner is a lot to consider. I didn’t go to design school like her, and I know that we can carry on as we are now, but… I want to be proficient like her so that she’s not doing all the work all the time while I pick up the pieces she inevitably drops with how stacked her workload is.
“I know you have reservations about qualifications and what happens if you have to move because the guys change teams, and…” With a sigh, Summer bounces closer to my side. “You are great with people. Just look at the way you blew the High Tea Society away! You did most, if not all the work for that presentation, not me. Which brings me to the fact that you have a great eye for design and you’re naturally artistic, so I’d say you are more than qualified. You’re…”
“Passionate and hardworking,” I say the two things she keeps beating into my head since she made me the offer, with Parker enthusiastically backing her.
After Persephone’s early arrival, there’s nothing he wants more than for his wife to be able to take it easy…er.
“Yes, and you bring a whole different product to the business with the murals. So it’s not like I’mhandingyou half of the company. You’ve earned it, Fin.” Good God, the woman knows how to lay it on thick with her puppy dog eyes and nose scrunching smile. “And just think, you can have all the cuddles you’re dying for every day. Whenever you want...”
“Oh my God, you’re no fair!” I sputter another laugh in between choked breaths while sneaking a gentle stroke of Persephone’s tiny hand.
“Ehhh,” Summer shrugs with a devious grin that says she’s not going to let up until I give her the answer she wants. “Anyway, it’s the weekend, and there’s no work talk on?—”
She pauses when the door to the room opens and Jayden peers in, beaming with all the cocky attitude he exudes. You’d think I’m used to it by now, but no. At this point, I don’t think I ever will be. Especially when he bursts out with a giggle right before he rushes inside with Eli following behind him.
“Swear to fucking Christ,” JJ grumbles as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “He’s lucky I love him, too.”
“Don’t make her laugh. It hurts,” Eli tells him as his hand finds mine on the bed, and with a firm squeeze, he lowers himself to nudge the tip of his nose along mine before he finds that same spot next to the scar on my forehead where Jayden kissed me moments ago. “Feeling better?”
“And ready to go home.”
“Soon.” He smiles at my breathless whisper when Jayden’s coos fill the room.
“Seriously, though, how are you not afraid to break her?” We both glance up to find Jayden cuddling Persephone in one arm while he wriggles the fingers of his other hand over her face. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re smiling at me, Trouble.”
Good Lord, my insides are scrambling together while Eli and I watch him coo over the baby curled in his forearm. I don’t think he could look any more of a giant right now, and still, Jayden is the embodiment of gentleness.
“Do you think he’s going to give her back willingly?” Eli chuckles, settling down next to me on the bed.
As always, he’s super careful about not jostling me. Even though it will do me no harm, because the antibiotics have worked. Yesterday morning, my chest drain was empty, which means I’ll be going home any day now. I just wishany daywas today.
I miss our bed and the scent of his and JJ’s body wash warming the air when they get ready in the mornings. Not to mention watching them dress while they talk about what they want to get out of training or what muscles they need to loosen up.
I miss cuddling between them while they review tapes and I read. The way their fingers mindlessly comb through my hair and caress my skin.
It’s not the same here. Even if they spend all their free time next to me. This room isn’t our home.
“There’s not a single chance JJ’s handing that baby back to her momma,” I tell Eli when Summer reaches for Persephone and Jayden starts dancing around in slow circles. I’m not saying he’s purposefully evading Summer’s attempts, however… “Parker had to pry Persephone from him yesterday.”
“Can’t really blame him. She’s too damn cute.”
“She totally is.” And the more time I spend with Percy and Summer, the deeper the yearning to have a family of our own sets in.
Sometimes I can’t tell if the ache is in my lungs or if it’s the suffocating longing of giving my men something no one else can. A part of us, made by us, and the endless love we share.
“Come on, Trouble,” JJ croons playfully, his free hand now rubbing light circles over Percy’s tummy as her little legs kick and tuck harder with her quiet whines. “Don’t be shy. Just let it out.”
As though she understands what he’s telling her, Persephone lets out a mighty fart that should not come out of something so small. When she sighs with relief, he carefully hands her back to Summer.
“All yours now, momma bear,” he says gingerly before he lowers the guard rail on my other side and shuffles as carefully as Eli did into place next to me.
