Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(68)

“Hey now, enough of that,” Tristan says, joining us.

“Why did you insist on giving them the code?” Cole asks.

I laugh. “They’re family.” I throw his words from weeks ago back at him.

“Yeah, we’re family,” Gavin goads him as he leans in and kisses my cheek.

“Hands off my woman.” Cole elbows him out of the way.

“Baby, sit down, I got it.”

“EEEP!” I jump off the counter and push Cole to the side. He chuckles, knowing exactly where I’m headed. Baby Drew is my weakness. “Aunt Stacy needs her fix,” I say, holding my arms out as Kacen pulls Drew from his seat. He immediately hands him over, but not before kissing his little head. Kacen is such a softie for his son.

I settle on the couch beside Logan as we coo over the little man. “You need any help?” Logan asks.

“Nope, we got it under control. You just sit back and relax.”

Cole joins us and squeezes in beside me on the couch. “Your husband is checking out my industrial icemaker. He wants one,” he tells Logan.

“Yes, he told me about that. I want to see it.” She stands. “You okay with him for a minute?”

I look over my shoulder at Cole. “He’s big and scary, but I can handle him,” I joke.

She laughs. “Good to know, but I meant Drew.”

“I got this.” I wave her on.

Cole leans in and kisses my neck. “He’s pretty cute,” he comments.

“Yeah,” I say, watching him sleep.

“You want one?” he asks.

Holy shit. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I told you that before this even started.” I know I sound defensive, but letting me fall in love with him and then telling me he doesn’t want kids is a dick move.

“Hey,” he says soothingly. His hands stroke gently up and down my arms. “I wasn’t saying I didn’t. I was going to suggest throwing away your birth control pills. We’ve already stopped using condoms,” he says matter-of-factly.

I stop breathing.

He wants kids.

With me.

Now.

Am I dreaming?

“Is that what you want?” I manage to ask.

“Yeah,” he replies, his voice soft.

“Now, we’re not married or even engaged. It hasn’t even been a year.”

“It was a year ago today that I first laid eyes on you in the club.”

“You remember that?”

“I do. Every moment, every word, every kiss, every touch with you is engrained in my memory. I knew the minute I laid eyes on you that you were different. I didn’t know at the time that you were going to rock my world.”

“You’re the rock star,” I say stupidly. He’s kind of thrown me for a loop here.

He chuckles. “That I am. I’m also the man who is madly in love with you.”

“You need one of those,” my dad says as he and Mom join us in the living room.

Oh. My. God.

“That’s exactly what I was just telling her,” Cole agrees.

I elbow him, which causes him to laugh. He kisses my shoulder then stands to shake Dad’s hand. They leave to find the other guys. Mom is still laughing at what I can only assume is my horrified expression at my father and Cole discussing me being pregnant.

“Drew, what are we going to do with these crazies?” I ask the sleeping baby.



“Unca Cowe!” Mia screams as she walks through the door.

“In the kitchen,” Cole yells.

I hear the pitter-patter of her little feet and she runs toward his voice. “We habing a pwty,” she says as she launches herself at Cole. Luckily, he was hunched down and ready for her.

“We are, are you hungry?” Cole asks.

“Yep. What’s that?” She points to the potato salad I’m making.

“Aunt Stacy is making potato salad,” he tells her.

I stop immediately and just look at him. It’s the first time he’s ever referred to me as “Aunt” to Mia.

“What?” he asks when he sees me staring at him.

“You called her Aunt Stacy,” Chloe happily explains, wearing a huge-ass grin.

Cole shrugs. “Just missing a piece of paper, no point in denying it.”

Holy shit. Is this my life? Have I really landed in this fairy tale with this band and this man, the love of my life? My sweet Cole?

“Aunt Stacy, is that stuff good?” Mia asks. She’s oblivious to the emotions that are coursing through me.

“Yes, sweetheart, do you want to try it?” I ask, my voice cracking. I need to get it together. This is my life now. I’m not dreaming. I never knew happiness would be this . . . amazing.

Mia shakes her head at a rapid pace, making us all laugh. Grabbing a fork from the drawer, I gather a small bite and offer it to her.

Mia opens her mouth and takes the bite I offer. “Yummy!” She licks her lips. “She yo wife?” she asks Cole.

A smile like no other lights up his face. “She will be, Princess Mia. She will be.” He gives me a wink, kisses her on the cheek and then sets her down.

“I go see the baby,” she announces and the pitter-patter of her little feet trail off as she enters the living room.