Keeping Their Love (Griffin Brothers #7) Page 7

“Since my brother’s been smiling since yesterday, I’m guessing you’re happy about the new job.”

  “I am. It really is my dream come true.”

  “That’s my plan. To make all your dreams come true.”

  “You do.”

  “How times change,” my dad says as he walks up. “I can remember when your mother used to worry that none of her boys would settle down. And now all of you have.”

  “We had to find the right women,” I tell him. “And we did.”

  “Yes. I couldn’t ask for better daughter-in-laws.”

  He smiles as he walks back over to join our mom, who’s talking to Jane and Jessica Corrigan. Jessica and my good friend, John, were getting pretty cozy last night. I watch as he walks in and puts an arm around her waist as he kisses her cheek.

  “Your dad and Jessica, huh?” I ask Chloe.

  “They’ll be good for each other,” she says in reply.

  I open my mouth to say more when another group enters the courtyard. Owen, Candi, and Hope are here, along with Tegan, Faith, Gavin, Isabelle, Audrey, and Reina. They all spread out, with my brother and his family making their way over to our table.

  * * *

  Owen

  “Whatcha doin’?” Hope asks my niece and nephew when we walk over to their table.

  “I’m sharing with Daddy,” Erin tells her.

  “And I’m sharing with Mommy,” Dave says.

  “I’ll share with my Mommy and my Daddy,” Hope replies.

  God love my little girl. I smirk at my brothers, letting them know I’ve won. Hope doesn’t have a favorite with me and Candi. She wants us both. All the time.

  “I’ll get our food, ladies. Please have a seat.”

  Candi rolls her eyes at me while Hope giggles. My brothers make gagging noises. Jealousy looks great on both of them. I whistle as I walk away to grab the plates.

  “You two seem like you had a nice couple of nights,” Scott tells me with a smirk when I get back with the food.

  Hope answers before I can. “Mommy and Daddy are designing a new baby brother or sister for me. So I have to be a big girl and stay in my own room. Except for Sunday. Sunday is cuddle night.”

  “Wow. You two are good,” Chloe tells us with a look of awe on her face.

  Candi shrugs. “She asked for a baby. Who are we to deny our beautiful daughter?”

  “Nice. Real nice, bro,” Ryan tells me, bumping fists with me across the table.

  “Can we have a baby, too, Mommy?” Dave asks Yasmin.

  “Umm…maybe when you’re a little bigger, like Hope.”

  “Yep. ‘cuz you can’t be too scared to sleep alone while your mommy and daddy design it. But if you do get scared, it’s okay. You just need to knock first before you interrupt the designing.”

  “You two need to write a parenting book, or at least a blog. This is just gold right here, “Yas tells us.

  I just smile and kiss both of my girls. I know how lucky I am. I don’t need anyone else to tell me. The happy couple walks into the courtyard before I can respond further. I’m grossed out because she’s my niece, but I totally understand them showing up late for their own party.

  * * *

  Miles

  We’re almost the last to arrive at breakfast. I had to have my wife one last time in that suite. It definitely lived up to all the hype I associated with it. And Alex could never disappoint me.

  Honestly, I begged Alex to skip the breakfast she planned, but I always knew I’d give in. As much as I want to be alone with her, I also want to keep celebrating our marriage with family and friends. Speaking of friends, Zane and Quinn just walked in with Landon.

  “Hey guys,” I tell them.

  “Hi Miles,” Quinn says as she comes over and hugs me.

  She’s one of my best friends, and Alex’s too. In fact, she designed and made my wife’s wedding dress. She didn’t have time to make all of the bridesmaid dresses on the short notice everyone else had, which is what Stella took care of—she got several of every size and then helped adjust them as needed.

  We owe so much to them, and all the other women from the Foundation. They’ve been so good to Alex, and to me, once they knew I loved her. Before that, I slept with a few of them. But it meant nothing to any of us. They’re now some of my biggest fans and best allies.

  “How many times did you ride Alex’s ride, Miles?” Landon asks me. When we came here before, he refused to go on It’s a Small World with us, saying it was annoying. I told him I’d go on my girl’s favorite ride with her as many times as she wanted me to.

  “Just once, Land. But I got to kiss her enough for her usual ten rides.”

  “What is it with grown-ups and kissing? It’s just gross.”

  “It won’t be in a couple of years. You’ll be begging some smart girl to kiss you,” Zack answers him.

  “Smart? The guys at Dad’s shop always tell me to find a hot girl.”

  “Smart girls are the hottest, dude. Trust me on that.”

  “Whatever. It’s still gross.”

  He runs off to grab food, and we all talk for a little while longer. My mom comes over with John. I raise an eyebrow at her, and she smacks me on the arm. “Behave,” she whispers to me.

  “I think I need to say that to you. And John. I want to know his intentions,” I lean down and whisper back.

  She snorts, and then we both laugh. I’m happy for her. And I know she’s happy for me. We’ve come a long way from the pain my father caused us both. It helps that we’re surrounded by all the wonderful people who love and support us. Speaking of love and support, the couple who needed it most have just walked in.

  * * *

  Luke

  I see everyone staring as Ollie and I walk in with Rose, Jade, and Ellie. We didn’t explain anything to them last night because we wanted it to be all about Alex and Miles. We did kiss and cuddle, so they should’ve been able to tell that we’re okay. Better than okay, actually. Especially after we just took care of something important.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Mallory Daniels says as she walks in behind us with her husband Jeff, Helen Wilson, and Cyndi Evans.

  “And here we thought we’d take the ‘last ones to arrive’ title,” I tell them with a smile.

  “Not today, Luke,” Mallory says. She’s Quinn’s mom and one of my mom’s best friends.

  “I’m not going to beat around the bush,” my dad says. “We all want to know what the story is with Olivia and the baby. It looks like everything’s been worked out, but I want details.”

  Ollie and I look at each other and smile. “Let’s sit down,” she says.

  “The baby is mine,” I tell them. “Olivia’s doctor—who we just fired—scared her into not telling me. He tried to convince her to end her pregnancy as well, but she refused. Deep down she knew that I would as well. Which is why she finally let me know.”

  “End the pregnancy? Why? Are you at risk, Olivia?” my mom asks her.

  “No. But testing showed that our baby will more than likely be born with Down Syndrome.”

  No one says anything at first, so I speak again, and I know I sound angry. “Our son will be perfect. He is perfect. No matter what.”

  “Of course he is, Luke. No one will ever convince me that any of my grandchildren aren’t perfect,” my mom tells us, and I see in her eyes that she means it.

  “Have you told your parents yet, Olivia?” my dad asks.

  “No. They terminated a pregnancy because of the same reason. That’s why I knew there was a small chance for my—our—baby. But I could never do what they did. I love my son already. So very much. I know he’ll probably need extra help with some things, but haven’t we all at one time or another?”

  “Yes, we have,” Scott says. “And I’ll help him understand computers. I’ll even work on making one that’s as easy for him to use as possible if he does have it. Ainsley and I have been talking about something like that already. To put into use at Opportunity Village.”
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  “We have, and now we have an extra reason to start doing our research,” Ainsley says.

  “I can teach him how to build things,” Ry tells us. “If he needs something different than what they sell in stores, I can make it myself. I probably should anyway, just like Scott and Ainsley.”

  “I already do art with the kids at OV. I can’t wait to finger paint with your little guy,” Owen tells us.

  “We’ll teach your son to play baseball, won’t we Miles?” Landon asks him.

  “Yeah. Totally.”

  “And I have football covered, of course,” Zack says.

  “Cooking’s covered, too,” Faith tells us as Gavin nods his agreement.

  “We’ll all do everything we can,” Matt says.

  “Yes, we will,” Reina agrees. “The people in this room have so many different talents and so much love to give. Your little boy will have all of it at his disposal, just like his cousins.”

  I don’t even try to hold back the tears, and neither does Ollie. “Thank you so much. All of you. I’m going to take you all up on your offers. But we also want our son to live as normal a life as possible. So we’ll try the traditional things first, and then supplement them with whatever you can do for him. And us.”

  Everyone comes over and hugs us. I realize then that I have the best family ever. I’m including everyone in that title. Our friends are also are family, and we’re all better people because of what they’ve brought into our lives. I can’t wait for my son to meet them.

  About the Author

  Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she did. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events and selling books at conventions when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers series are all International Best Sellers, and she’s thankful to the readers who made that happen!

  Find her here:

  www.crystalperkinsauthor.com

  facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor

  @wondermomlv

  crystal@crystalperkinsauthor.com