Chapter 12

At 6:15 PM I received a text message. We were all back home eating the pizza we picked up on our way from Sylvi’s. Those young guys came in handy. The took the toolbox and just started putting everything together. The girls and I moved the furniture around the nursery setting it up. I don’t know if we could have done it without them. I opened my message from Sylvi, and it was a picture of her holding Mason in the nursery. Another picture came in, this one of Luke holding him in their living room where I had set the pack and pay covered in Tonka trucks with a huge smile on Luke’s face.        

          “Well I think they loved their surprise.” I said showing the pictures around the table to everyone that put in the hard work. “Do not forget girls, training tomorrow at 6:00 AM.” They groaned, Kilian joined them, and it caused me to giggle. “Come on you guys, Lex wants to go with 5:00, maybe I should just let him have his way…” I trailed off as they all began to yell different things. “6 is great”, I heard, “Won’t be late!” came from someone else.

          After I was finished cleaning the kitchen, I grabbed the bottle of tequila that was on the counter and Kilian’s hand and headed out to the porch swing with him. I knew the booze was a dead giveaway, I only ever went for tequila at weddings or when delivering bad news.

          “Better toss me that bottle before you get started.” Kilian said while sitting down and putting his arm behind me on the swing.

          “Not before I get the first swig,” I teased back.

          “Astrid,” he took his turn and held the bottle up for a second. After swallowing he handed the bottle back to me and put his hand on my face. “We both know it is over, I am not angry. I can’t let you do this.”

          “You know that last night was…” I paused looking for the word in the bottom of the tequila bottle.

          “Magical.” He finished for me. “Last night was the closure that both of us needed. No woman will ever compare to you, and we will always have our memories. We both need to move forward. Just know that my forward is also with you and our daughters.” He finished the sentence and I realized he did all the hard work for me.

          I had begun my day thinking about everything and I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people willing to take part of the responsibility and even the bad conversations off my plate.

          “You really are amazing you know.” I said leaning into his shoulder handing him the bottle back. We passed it back and forth for a few rounds before I jumped up fast and almost went tumbling back down. Kilian’s arm shot up and helped me catch my balance. He let out a loud laugh and it caused me to do the same. Lex came out the door shaking his head at the two of us.

          “I swear every time I leave her alone with you, I regret not keeping a babysitter on you both.” He chuckled to himself as he scooped me up in his arms. “I take it you guys are finished?” Lex was looking at Kilian asking the question.

          “Yes sir, she is all yours now and forever.” Kilian slurred the word forever at the end.

          “You know you will always have a piece of her,” he said truthfully, “you going to be okay to make it in man?” He finished up shifting my dead weight in his arms.  

          “You literally have your hands full; I am heading in now anyways. Tomorrow I’ll be gone most of the day just to let the two of you know.” He stood and weaved before catching his balance and smiling at himself. “You can remind her in the morning, I have to go see a woman about a horse.” He said as he stood holding the door for Lex to carry me inside.

          “Princess, you aren’t going to have much of a liver left at this rate.” He whispered in my ear on the way up the garage stairs.

          “But I will have great memories.” I responded. I felt him set me down before removing my clothes and tucking my naked body into the bed under the blankets. His bare chest pressed against my back; his arms wrapped around me. “And I always have you.” I said before drifting off to sleep.

           I woke up the next morning to a loud beeping sound that was ringing through my head. I groaned and reached out to grab my phone from the nightstand. After knocking everything off the stand the beeping continued. I took my pillow and put it over my head while releasing a groan.

          “You won’t find what you are looking for under there.” Lex’s deep husky voice spoke as I felt his hands gently glid across my body.

          “Ugh, who decided there was going to be training this early every day!” My voice was being drowned out as I pulled the pillow closer to my ears. The beeping finally stopped. I slowly removed the pillow from my face.

          Lex kissed my forehead before getting up and heading to the bathroom door. I looked after him, the sight of him in his boxer-briefs was getting me excited. I laid flat on my back trying to get his naked body out of my mind, I needed to mentally prepare. He came walking back out of the bathroom and he was no longer wearing his boxers.

          “Princess, I won’t be able to focus on training with you being so distracted.” He said as he walked over to the bed. I was staring up trying to not look in the direction of his voice.

          “I haven’t a clue what you are talking about.” I stated in a flirty tone, maybe this morning won’t be so bad after all.

          “Oh, I think you know that’s not true.” He stated.

          Lex came onto the bed and used his body to spread my legs open, his chest keeping me down. He nuzzled his face into my neck and took a deep breath in. I felt his head pull back slightly. He was now looking deep into my eyes. I could sense he was conflicted and worried, more so his arousal was distracting me from the world. He lowered his face to mine and pulled my lips into a sweet gentle kiss.

          “I know what you did last night was not easy. I would have been indifferent no matter your decision.” He began to leave a trail of kisses down my neck and stopped in the middle of my chest. A growl escaped him as he cupped one breast in his left hand while he teased the other with his tongue.

          “I do think you deserve a reward for your hard work.” He continued as his lips and tongue played across my stomach, descending below my belly button.

          I lifted my hips up towards him gently. “I think I am okay with that.” I said before he continued to take care of my ‘problem’.

          As I walked out back, I realized everyone was already waiting for us. The girls were all groaning and mumbling under their breath. The 3 bodyguards were there as well, in addition Tristan and Shane had joined today as well. There were 2 females talking to them and I glanced up at Lex with a questioning look.

          “Hi, I am Astrid. I apologize for not knowing we would have additions this morning.” I glared at Lex and Kilian let a chuckle escape a little to loud.

          “Hello Ma’am. My name is Betty, and this is Brook.” She nodded to the beautiful tall woman standing on the other side of the group. “We heard Lex and Shane talking about the girls not having any other females around, we couldn’t let that happen on our watch.” She smiled at the end.

          I shook both of their hands and welcomed them to the house. I gave them the usual speech that if they needed anything, they could just help themselves or ask anyone. As we paired off, Helga went with Brook, Betty was working with Freya and Ingrid. I was realizing that we would really need to evaluate space soon. I know they had a came nearby but how many people are staying at the camp?!

          After I was cleaned up and ready to go, I headed down the stairs of my bedroom. Lex was waiting in the garage with the keys to my Jeep Gladiator. I loved it, I had it painted ‘army green’ with various veteran support and suicide awareness stickers all over it. I smiled as he opened the passenger door and gave me a quick boost to get in.       

          “Where are we off to right away?” I asked.

          “Like you are going to wait any longer before you meet your new nephew. Sylvi and Luke called while you were in the shower. They just need us to stop by on our way into town. I had Betty grab this last night, I hope you don’t mind.” He said showing me the gift bag that was in the back seat.

          “Of course not, what is it?” I said as I turned around and tried to peek in the bag.

          “It’s just something for Mason. I figured they didn’t have time to have a shower so you wouldn’t want to show up empty handed for a while. Betty has good taste; I think you will like her.” He finished shrugging his shoulders.

          “I love that every day you still surprise me.” I said to him. “And I think Betty is going to fit right in, she did great with Ingrid and Freya this morning. How old is Brook?” I asked thinking about her and Helga clicking instantly.

          “She is 19. She hasn’t had an easy life and missed part of her teen years. I thought she would be a good addition to training but benefit from being around a ‘normal-ish family’.” He used his hands to do the quotes like I always did, and I giggled.

           I was so excited to meet Mason, he was a happy baby all things considering. I was shocked he was perfectly content with his new mother. Babies really are relentless. Luke and Sylvi were overjoyed by everything that was done the day before. I was just glad they were able to enjoy everything. Being a new parent is stressful as hell, but usually you get at least a few months to mentally prepare yourself. Sylvi and Luke had never even spoken about adoption to my knowledge.         

          Luke sat me down and handed each of us a mimosa. Cheers to the best addition we could hope for! I said, my mouth watering for the orange juice. I didn’t get a chance to grab anything on my way out this morning. The Champagne was likely at fault too. Sylvi giggled and put her hand on top of my glass stopping me from pouring it into my mouth.

          “Slow down, I know you have breakfast this morning with creepy 18 times-removed-non-uncle. Luke and I wanted to make sure one thing was handled right away. Will you and Lex be her god parents? If anything happens to me or Luke… I just want to make sure he is always going to know the blessing he is…” She was still going, and I squealed like a high school cheerleader with excitement.

          “Oh my god YASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!” I was jumping up and down now ripping the babe from Sylvi’s arms. “Come meet Aunt Astrid, and I am your back up parent! I am crazy so just remember your parents chose this for you.” I said taking my fingers and playing with his hands as he smiled up at me.

          It felt like we had just arrived but Lex and Sylvi were both pushing me out the door to head to the diner. Lex was not going to ride in with me just incase I was being watched. Sylvi promised she would be there soon and was going to bring Mason with her, she hadn’t worked out daycare yet but in a town like ours, it really wasn’t needed.

          “I will see you there, if you want just bring him over to the table and leave him with me, it will be a nice distraction from this creepy guy.” I said on my way out.

          “Don’t worry princess, we already have 4 people inside the building by the exits and double that outside. We are going to track him when he leaves and see if he actually leaves town.” He kissed my forehead. “He won’t be surprised if you stay there after he leaves especially if you are helping with Mason. Once we know he and his friends are cleared out I will pop in and you can introduce me as your cousin, the father of the boys staying with you. That should keep the raised brows to a minimum for now.” He finished.

          “Great, so in a few weeks when this blows over, I am going to be banging my cousin? We live in Tennessee; do we need to add fuel to the fire?” Everyone laughed instantly. “Whatever, let’s just keep rolling with these punches.” We can just have a huge BBQ and correct the rumors when the threat is gone.