Page 82 of Protecting Addison
“That’s what we thought,” Maggie sighed.
“You aren’t worried about how tough it’ll be with the four you’ve already got?” Wren asked.
“Oh, I’m worried. Freaking out. But here’s the thing—I raised Ellory on my own. That wasn’t a walk in the park. Not at all. But now that I have Ricky, and you guys, and even Caroline and her crew, I feel as if I’m much more prepared this time around. I know it won’t be easy. Starting over doesn’tcompletelyappeal. But…having Ricky’s child? I can’t stop picturing him holding an infant in his muscular arms. Just thinking about it makes my ovaries want to explode.”
“Giiiiirl. Now I’m thinking the same thing,” Josie whined. “Nate wants kids. No, that’s wrong. He wants twins. Like him and his brother. And since they run in his family, with my luck, I’ll probably have triplets or more.”
“That would be awesome!” Remi breathed.
“That’s because you wouldn’t have to carry them around and squeeze them out your hoo-hah!” Josie countered.
Everyone roared in laughter.
“We want kids too,” Wren said. “But we also both want some time with just us first.”
“Well, you can practice with my baby when it arrives,” Maggie said, rubbing her belly.
“And anytime you want to take Artem, Borysko, and Yana for an afternoon, just let me know,” Addison threw in with a wink.
“Rent-a-baby! We can rotate them through our houses!” Remi exclaimed.
“If you guys would hurry up and get preggo already, our kids can all grow up together and have sleepovers and stuff,” Maggie countered.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Josie mused.
“What’s not a bad idea?” Safe asked as he and Blink approached where the women were sitting on the back porch. They’d been entertaining Artem and Borysko in the yard while the women chatted. Yana and Ellory were inside with the other guys, doing who knows what. Yana was probably watching a Disney movie and there was no telling with Ellory.
“Oh my, look at the time!” Josie exclaimed, looking at her wrist. A wrist that wasn’t wearing a watch. “I forgot about that…thing…we needed to do at home,” she told Blink.
He stared at her for a beat, then nodded as if he knew exactly what Josie was talking about.
“Have fun,” Remi called out, when Josie stood to join Blink.
“Yeah, but not too much!” Wren added.
Josie smiled at everyone, then grabbed Blink’s arm and towed him into the house.
“What the hell was that?” Safe asked.
Wren stood and hooked her arm through his. “Don’t worry about it, hon.”
“They’re cool though?”
“More like red hot, I’d say,” Wren answered with a smirk.
Safe had a confused look on his face, and Addison couldn’t help laughing with the other women. Their men had no idea what they were in for tonight. All the talk about babies had obviously struck a chord, and Addison wasn’t the only one who seemed to be eager for some alone time with her man.
“Addy. Cookies?” Borysko asked. He was sweaty and smelled like a little boy who’d been running around in the warm sun. Addison didn’t hate it. Not at all.
“I think, yeah, we could all use some cookies about now. Run inside and wash your hands.” The little boy turned to run into the house, but Addison stopped him by adding, “And take Artem with you.”
Borysko made a U-turn and ran out into the yard to get his brother. Artem seemed to resist until he heard the word cookie, then he was chasing Borysko into the house, pushing him to try to get in front to beat him to the bathroom and wash up.
The women all went inside and Addison’s gaze swept the room, looking for her loved ones. Yana was sitting on the couch staring down at her iPad, completely engrossed. Ricky was talking to Flash and Smiley. And Ellory…
Addison frowned. Her daughter was sitting in one of the chairs in the living room, her knees drawn up to her chest. She had her cell in her hand, and she was scowling at it even as her fingers flew over the screen.
She was so engrossed in what she was doing, she didn’t notice her mom standing next to her until Addison cleared her throat.
