A Perfect Momen(4)

“Vi!” Leslie shouts from across the room and lets go of Marisa’s hand to run over to me. Her auburn hair accents her yellow jumpsuit perfectly—a look only an artist like Leslie could pull off. Dating brothers has really brought us closer, and I’m chuffed at the idea of calling her my sister. “You look gorgeous! You’re practically glowing!”

“Thanks, you too!” My eyes drop when I see Theo and Marisa walking slowly over to us. I instantly crouch down as Marisa comes clumsily running into my arms. She’s a little over one now. Leslie and Theo had her before they got married. She was the most beautiful little focal point in Leslie’s arms during the entire ceremony. I hug her to my chest, wondering if Hayden and I will be welcoming a baby before our wedding, too.

She begins babbling something in my ear, so I pull back to look into her gorgeous green eyes.

“You want to see Uncle Hay?” I ask and her smile grows.

“Right behind you, Squirt.” I look up from my crouched position with her to see Hayden smiling down at us. The crinkles in his eyes are utter perfection as he scoops Marisa up off the floor and begins buzzing her cheeks with his lips to her gleeful delight.

He looks every bit the image of hot daddy perfection. Smart, grey suit, perfectly styled blonde locks, and grey eyes that exude complete love and adoration. Hayden and Marisa’s relationship has always been special. After all, Marisa is named after the sibling of Theo and Hayden, who passed away many years ago. Hayden was living with Theo and Leslie when baby Marisa was born, and she had such horrible colic, Hayden was often the only one who knew how to soothe her. Watching him hold her now, my hands develop a mind of their own and I find myself clutching my small belly. There’s not even physical evidence of the pregnancy yet, but I feel it. I feel this baby inside of me. And I feel it when I watch him. It’s an amazing sensation to have something bigger than me happening right here.

Hayden’s smile falls as he looks at me. “Bunny, what is it? What’s the matter?”

It’s only then that I realise tears are falling down my face. “Nothing. I’m fine. I’m just…I’m just…”

Hayden passes Marisa over to Theo and cups my face in his hands. “What’s going on? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. All four of your brothers are looking at me like they want to hug me or kill me…which isn’t that unusual. But on a night like tonight, it seems off-putting.”

I feel everyone’s eyes on me when I look to Hayden with a wobbly smile. “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” He strokes his fingers down my cheeks and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

I glance over at the clock. “Not yet. It’s too early. I’ll tell you soon, though. I promise.”

“Bunny,” he mock scolds.

I lick my lips and grab his lapels, yanking him down to my mouth and kissing him with all the goodness I feel inside of me as an act of reassurance. He responds in earnest, his hands letting go of my face as he wraps his arms around me and crushes me against his body.

“If this is what you have to tell me, perhaps we should go to the roof,” he murmurs against my lips. “I’d be all yours up there.”

“Meet me up there at eleven,” I rasp, my voice betraying my level of control. “No matter who you’re talking to, break away and meet me up there.”

He smiles. “Anything for you, Bunny.”

The rest of the night is a blur of engagement congratulations, happy hugs, bubbling cocktails, and one hilarious ginger entertaining us all.

“All right you footie boys, listen up.” I have to cover my mouth as Leslie’s former flatmate, Frank, stands in front of my four brothers and addresses them with all the flourishes that make Frank, Frank.

“My name is Frank McElroy. Not Frankenstein, not Carrot Top, not Cock Block, and most definitely not Frank and Beans.” Frank pauses to shoot Leslie and her friend Finley a menacing glower. “You boys are beautiful and so are Finny and Lezzie, so it’s not your fault you listened to them. You were likely thinking with the wrong heads.” He pauses to point down at their groins and they all shift uncomfortably. “So, I’ll let it pass this time. But if you fuck with me again, I’ll have to show you how a real man scores a goal.”

My brothers burst out laughing and Tanner throws his arm around Frank’s narrow shoulders. “You’re bloody fantastic, Frank. You have to go clubbing with us sometime.”

Frank’s brow arches. “Would you consider a gay club?”

Tanner strokes his beard and nods. “If it means more laughs with you, I’d give it a go.”