Page 69 of Dominate
Sophia giggles at the insane look on Tanner’s bearded face.
“Tanner!” I glance up to see Vi hustling over to us, but she’s gazing down at Sophia. “Sweetie, don’t laugh at him. It only encourages him. Just think of him as a naughty puppy that won’t stop licking himself.”
Sophia giggles again and replies, “Okay.”
“Also,” Vi says, kneeling down with Rocky in her arms, who has food mushed all over her adorable face. “Little Minnow, I’d like you to meet Rocky. She’s very excited to play with you when we’re not hurrying off to the hospital, okay?”
Vi looks up at me with a big smile as Hayden comes over and shoots Sophia a wink. The three of them load up into their minivan as Sophia jerks my arm and asks, “Why do they keep calling me Little Minnow, Mum?”
Before I can answer, Belle appears in front of us next. “Because Gareth says you have great footy skills and you’re a stellar little minnow out on the pitch. Hiya, Minnow. I’m Belle and that redhead in the glasses is Indie. We’re married to those crazy brothers who bothered you a moment ago, but don’t be scared. We’ll keep a tight lead on them from now on. We have to run to the hospital now, so we’ll talk more later, okay?”
Sophia smiles shyly and tucks behind me a bit as Belle jogs up to the car where Indie is sitting in the backseat.
“I want to go with them, Mum,” Sophia states, pointing to the cars as they pull away.
Finally, Gareth comes out of the house with his phone attached to his ear. His eyes find mine and a look of genuine surprise flits across his face. “I was just trying to call you.”
“We’re here,” I reply helplessly as the madness begins to settle. Our timing does not seem ideal.
“We’re on our way to the hospital,” Gareth states, then moves in to ruffle Sophia’s hair. “Hiya, Minnow.”
“Hiya,” Sophia chirps with a pleased smile on her face. I think it’s safe to say she likes her new nickname.
I gesture back toward the gate and say, “Should I have that car you sent take us back to the train station, or do you need it?”
Gareth’s face furrows in confusion. “Why would you go back to the train station? Did you forget something?”
“No. This just seems like a family thing,” I reply, eyeing Vaughn as he walks out of the house and turns to lock the door.
“Sloan”—he moves in close to drop a kiss on my cheek—“you and Minnow are my family. Come on, let’s go see my baby brother have a baby.”
The butterflies in my belly are unrelenting as Gareth picks Sophia up to carry her back to the car. She squeals with delight and wraps her hands around his neck.
“Minnow!” Vaughn’s voice shouts from behind us, and Sophia looks over Gareth’s shoulder in response. With a smile, Vaughn says, “Welcome to Harris Sunday dinners!”
She smiles back. Then, like a crazy natural disaster, we follow the loads of people on their way to welcoming another Harris into the world.
“It’s bloody twins!” Booker croaks as he bursts through the double doors of the waiting room.
“What?” everyone replies in unison, jumping out of their seats.
Booker runs a hand through his hair, his eyes wide and disbelieving. “I don’t know what happened, but somehow the second baby didn’t show up on the scans. Now I have two sons!”
“Oh my God!” Vi exclaims, grabbing onto Hayden’s arm with an excited death grip. “How is that even possible?”
Everyone’s eyes swerve to Belle and Indie—the two doctors in the group—for an answer, but Booker replies, “The doctor said it’s more common than people think. It’s quite fitting because we were rowing over names and now we get to use both. Oliver and Teddy are amazing. I can’t wait for you guys to meet them. Poppy needs a few minutes because she is beside herself.”
“I’m sure she is,” Vaughn replies with a shake of his head, then pulls Booker into a big hug.
“Oh, and we’re engaged,” Booker adds as he pulls away with an adorably sheepish expression on his face.
Vi looks like she’s going to faint.
“Are you bloody joking?” Camden exclaims, grabbing his brother around the shoulder and mock punching him in the gut.
Booker’s face turns red as he replies, “No. I asked her to marry me when she was holding our babies. I had the ring and planned to do it tonight at home, outside our playhouse in the woods, but we never made it there. So I figured, what the hell. A hospital is as good of a place as any.”
“Yes, it is!” Vi squeals and jumps into Booker’s arms for a hug. “Congratulations! Oliver and Teddy have the best parents!”
