Chapter 6

“Hey, Rosie Posie.”

Rosie’s head snaps up from where she’s playing with her toys, a massive smile taking over her face when she sees me, lighting up my heart.

“Hi, Mama.” She drops what she’s doing and stands. “Can we go over to Auntie Emmy’s house and see the baby?”

“We can, later,” I tell her, moving over to sit on her four-poster queen-sized bed. “I wanted to talk to you about something first.” I pat the spot next to me, nerves fluttering around in my belly. The belly that is currently growing a human. I still can’t believe I’m pregnant.

Her brows furrow as she climbs up on the bed to sit next to me. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes?” I say it more like a question. I know not a single person will be upset at this news. No, the complete opposite. I’m the one who is still a little unsure, even if technically we’ve been trying for a few months now.

“Mama.” She raises a brow. “Talk to me.”

This little girl is as smart as a whip.

“Remember when we talked about having a baby brother or sister sometime in the future?”

Her eyes light up. “Yes.” Then her face falls. “You didn’t change your mind, did you?”

“No.” I laugh. “Not at all.”

“Okay...” She eyes me suspiciously.

You can do this, Harlow. She’s a seven-year-old.“How would you feel if that was sooner, rather than later?”

She looks at me for a few seconds, just blinking. And then I see the moment it clicks. Her eyes go wide with pure excitement as she gasps. “Mama, are you pregnant?” She asks with so much hope that my cold heart can’t help but burst.

“Yeah.” I nod. “And you’re the first to know.”

“Yes!” she screams, jumping to her feet. “I’m gonna be a big sister, I’m gonna be a big sister.” She jumps around the bed, giggling and fist-pumping the air.

I can’t help but feel a rush of relief because, if I’m honest, her opinion is the only one that truly matters to me.

A smile takes over my face, and I laugh as she goes crazy. Then she drops to her knees, eyes lighting up with pure delight. “So I’m the only one who knows?”

I nod. “Other than Mama Evie, yup.” When Evie first came into Rosie’s life, Rosie called her Auntie Evie. But as she got older, all of us living together as a family, she understood the dynamics of all of our relationships a little bit better.

Evie became just as much a mother figure to her as I did. So when Rosie started calling her Mama E, or Mama Evie, no one told her she couldn’t. When no one was looking, I could see the tears of happiness in Evie’s eyes. She loves this little girl with her whole heart.

“Oh, I am sooo rubbing it in Uncle Neo’s face that I knew before him,” she giggles with pure wicked delight.

“Rosie.” I try, I really try to say in a warning tone but who am I kidding, this is my girl. She’s an evil genius. And she loves to mess with Neo just as much as Neo loves to fuck with all of us.

She just gives me a sweet, innocent smile that”s anything but. “Can I tell everyone else?”

“If you want to.”

“Are we doing anything big and dramatic?”

“Do you have something in mind?” I laugh.

“How much time do we have?” she asks with a smirk.

Oh boy, this is gonna be something else, that”s for sure.

***

I’M HONESTLY SURPRISEDthat Rosie didn’t want to go big for the announcement. But her idea was cute enough. After I told her, Evie and I took her out to the mall. We got her a T-shirt made that says I’m going to be a big sister.

And her plan? To see how long she can wear it until someone realizes. What a kid.

I’m glad she didn’t wanna do anything big or dramatic, to be honest. Yes, that’s normally my vibe, but I’m so nervous and holding onto this information is driving me nuts. I just want it out there, for my guys to know.

“Come on, Mr. Bacon.” Rosie grunts as she struggles to get the pig dressed. “Just let me put this on you!”

I look over at Evie and we both grin. This girl, God, I love her. She had us make up a shirt for the pig that says You”re going to be a daddy.

At first, I thought that was cute, something just for Neo. I should have thought better. Rosie said. “I bet he doesn’t even catch on. Makes it even better. He’s not the brightest crayon in the box, you know.”

It took everything in me not to laugh. She’s wrong, Neo is crazy smart. But he’s also a very complex person with a wild imagination. The ADHD is strong with that one.

Mr. Bacon squeals and wiggles in her hold, but she finally gets the shirt on him. She lets him go and he takes off running into the backyard.

“Your daddy is going to lose his mind.” I laugh, looking up at Susie, who’s standing in her pen, head over the rail resting on my shoulder. I love this big old fuzzy girl. She hates everyone but me, Neo, and Rosie. I love it.

She lets out a little huff and I laugh, kissing the side of her head.

“Mama!” Rosie runs over to me, excitement filling her eyes. “Daddy’s home! So is Uncle Dean, Axel and Sam. Come on, I wanna see if they notice.”

“What about Neo? We should wait for him,” Evie suggests.

Rosie gives her a bit of her sass, raising her brow. “I want him to find out last.”

“Damn, girl, what did Uncle Neo do to you that has you out for revenge?”

Rosie swings her sassy glare to me. “He stole my doll stroller and put Bob in it! Bob! He’s too big and his hoof ripped the seat. He told me he would get me a new one, but did he? He got a new one alright, but not for me! I saw him pushing Mr. Bacon in it and he didn’t even tell me!”

She has her hand on her hips, a look of pure revenge on her face. She’s going to be someone you don’t wanna fuck with when she gets older. That little girl has more money from her swear jar than any seven year old I know. She knows how to work the system in her favor. Always slipping in when one of the guys gets swearing. Lots of swear bombs to profit off of.

I’m so damn proud.

“Alright, little killer.” I laugh. “Let’s get inside.”

Honestly, I don’t think Neo is going to care about who finds out first. Because the moment he finds out, he’s going to be so over the moon. The thought has me smiling.

“How are you doing?” Evie asks me as Rosie takes off into the house with us following.

“I’m good. Maybe still in shock? I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet.”

Evie takes my hand and leans her head against my arm. “We’re going to be alright. I got you, baby.”

And that has me fucking tearing up. I love this woman so fucking much. Damn it, these pregnancy hormones are going to make me into a damn mess. I don’t like it and fucking Queenie is cackling in the back of my head. She’s just going to sit back and let me go through this all on my own. Asshole.

When we get into the house, Rosie is dancing around the kitchen as the guys trickle their way in.

My face lights up when I see Sam. My sweet broken soul. I rush over to him and he chuckles, wrapping his arms around me.

“Hi, my angel.” He holds me tight.

Things with Sam are still very much different than how I am with the other guys. Axel and him are still very much in love, and it’s adorable to see Axel all growly and protective over him.

Sam still hates going out in crowded places but we’ve worked around it. Often booking things so that it’s only us in the space.

Over time, Sam thought that maybe he would grow to be more sexual with his lovers. But that’s not the case. Yes, we still have sex, but it’s only once every few months. But every time I’m with him, it’s so damn special.

Sam and Axel have sex too, but it’s always with me around. It used to hurt Axel that Sam could never fully feel comfortable alone with him in that way, but he’s come to understand Sam’s trauma and knows it’s not because of him.

That doesn’t stop the way they seamlessly flirt, and I’ve walked in on some very steamy make out sessions that had me touching myself.

“Wanna know a secret?” I whisper in his ear, finding myself giddy with excitement to tell him.

“Always,” he whispers back.

“There’s a baby in my belly.” My heart pounds as I say the words again out loud.

I pull back slightly enough to see the raw emotion in his eyes. “Really?”

Biting my lip, I nod. “You ready to be a daddy?”

Sam loves kids. And he’s so damn good with them.

“More than anything.” I kiss him softly, allowing that bit of vulnerability.

“La la la la la,” Rosie sings. I break the kiss to see Rosie just floating around the room.

“What”s going on with her?” Sam asks and I laugh.

“She’s got a shirt on that’s meant to tell the guys about the baby,” I whisper in his ear. “I’m letting her do her own thing.”

“Makes sense,” he laughs.

The guys are smiling, watching Rosie without a clue. They just think she’s cute—and she is—but it’s starting to piss Rosie off that no one has noticed yet.

Probably has to do with the fact she hasn’t stayed still long enough for anyone to read her shirt.

“I’m just dancing around. Nothing different at all. Nope. Not at all.” She sighs dramatically.

That gets a brow raise from Cass. His golden hair is down today, hanging past his shoulders. I bite my lip as the thought of grabbing onto it as I ride his cock fills my mind.

Nope, Harlow, we are not thinking about sex right now.

But God, a good dicking right about now would be nice. So damn nice.

“Rosie, honey, are you okay?” Cass asks.

“What the heck is going on with her?” Axel asks, coming over to join me and Sam. He looks down at Sam, a hungry look in his eyes, making Sam blush. Then to me.

“Hey, shut it,” I chuckle.

“Oh, talk dirty to me, baby.” He gives me a blank look, humor dancing in his eyes.

“Any time and place, baby.” I laugh, leaning up on my tip-toes to kiss him. He grabs the back of my head and kisses me hard. I growl and bite down on his lip.

“Fucking hell,” he hisses, pulling back to lick the blood from his lip. But I feel how hard his cock is, pressed against my belly.

“You love it.” I wink and he grumbles.

“Everything is perfect, Daddy!” Rosie says with a huff. “Really perfect. Wouldn’t you think?” She stops dancing and stands in front of her dad. I bite the inside of my cheek as she looks down at her shirt then up to her dad with a pointed look.

“Okay. That”s good then. How was your day?” He leans down and kisses the top of her head.

Evie snorts out a laugh as Rosie huffs. The poor girl. She should just give the guys a hint, but she’s a stubborn one.

“Wonderful, Daddy,” she growls. “So wonderful that Mama and Mama E took me to the mall.”

Cass’s brows furrow, not sure why his daughter is being snippy. “That sounds like fun. Did you get anything?”

“I did. I did get something.” She nods.

“What did you get?”

“I don’t know, you tell me!” She sighs dramatically, throwing her arms in the air.

Cass’s eyes widen as he scratches the back of his head. Poor guy isn’t going to survive her teenage years without some help. He looks over at me with pleading eyes.

“We got some clothes, didn’t we, Rosie?” I throw my man a bone.

“Yup.”

“What kind of clothes? Wanna show me?” Cass asks.

Rosie huffs and climbs up on the chair, then the island. “Daddy!”

“Yes, Rosie petal?”

“Look at my shirt!” she demands.

“Oh, okay.” His eyes drop to her shirt.

A wave of nerves hit me and my belly flips as I wait for it to process as he reads it. “I’m going to be a big sister,” he says slowly, blinking. “I’m going to be a big sister,” he reads again.

“Not you. Me!” she shouts. “I’m going to be a big sister!”

His eyes snap over to me and I almost sob at the pure and utter joy in his face. “You’re pregnant?” he asks with so much hope in his question.

“Wait, what?” Dean’s eyes snap over to me. “You’re pregnant?”

“Pregnant.” Axel looks down at me, eyes wide in surprise.

“Yeah. I’m pregnant.” My voice shakes as I admit it to my lovers.

Everyone is silent for a moment and for a second I think they’re pissed. But then the whole room bursts with shouts of excitement.

I burst into laughter as they all rush over to me, kissing and hugging me, smothering me with love. Normally, I hate the lovely dovey bullshit but right now, right now I crave it.

“Fucking hell, baby,” Axel growls, smashing our lips together. “I love you.”

“I love you too, big guy.”

“A baby,” Dean says in awe. “We’re having a baby.”

I nod, then Cass cups my cheeks. “I love you so much. I’m so damn happy. How are you handling it?”

“It’s going to take time, but I think I’m excited.”

“Who the fuck put this ugly ass shirt on Mr Bacon?” Neo comes storming in, the pig cradled to his chest. “You know blue isn’t his color.” He looks over to Rosie who’s beaming ear to ear, proud of herself. “You. You did this to my baby.”

“I did,” she huffs, jutting her chin out at him.

“Why? It’s so ugly.”

“It’s not ugly. It’s cute. Unlike you.” She grins. Savage little thing.

“Whatever,” he growls. “I’m taking it off,” he grumbles, removing the shirt from the pig. “And why the hell does it say he’s going to be a daddy? There’s no other pigs around and unless some freaky alien shit is going to happen with Susie, he can’t knock her up.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Axel groans. “I can’t. I can’t even with him.”

I can’t help it. I burst into laughter. God, I love that man, but holy shit.

“What’s so funny?” he grumbles.

“Babe. Read the shirt.” I tell him through the laughter.

He huffs and looks at the shirt in his hand. “You’re going to be a daddy.” He looks over at me. “Okay. So why is he wearing it?”

“Neo. It says “You’re going to be a daddy.” I step away from the group and walk over to him.

“Yes. I can read it, my queen,” he mutters.

“Neo.” With shaky hands, I grab his face and yank it down to mine. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

He blinks a few times. “You’re going to be a daddy?”

I shake my head. “No. Neo, you, as in you Neo, are going to be a daddy.”

“I’m going to be a daddy?” he asks so slowly. I nod, tears springing to my eyes. “I’m going to be a daddy. Me. I’m going to be a daddy?”

“Yes, Neo.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

“There’s a baby in your stomach?”

“Yes.”

He blinks a few times before he screams from the top of his lungs. “I’m going to be a daddy!” A pure joyful grin splits across his face. “Fuck yeah.” He runs over to the guys. “I did that. Me. I knocked our girl up nice and good.”

“Yeah, because you didn’t give us a damn chance,” Axel snarls.

Neo laughs, patting Axel on the cheek. “Ah, don’t be so salty, big boy. If your swimmers really wanted it, they would have found a way. But they didn’t because you fucking suck!” he cackles.

“Fucking dick,” Axel mutters.

And like the girl has bat ears, Rosie glares at him. He sighs and digs out a dollar which she happily takes. Neo takes off running around, shouting and cheering, jumping off things like a lunatic.

For the first time, I feel okay. I feel happy. To see his reaction, to be able to give him something he wanted so badly, to make him happy. It makes me happy.

“Where is he going?” Dean asks as Neo takes off into the back yard.

“Give him a moment, he will be back,” I laugh.

A second later, after Neo gets some zoomies out, telling Susie he’s going to be a dad, he’s back inside the house.

He heads right for me and I laugh as he scoops me up. He spins me around until we enter the living room before placing me down on the couch. He drops to his knees and pulls up my shirt.

“Hey, little bean. It’s me, your daddy. Holy fucking shit, you have no idea how happy I am to know you’re cooking in there. So, here”s the deal, life out here, its going to be fucking nuts, but you don’t have to worry. Nothing bad will ever, ever happen to you because, well, I’ll kill them,” he says so casually.

Tears are spilling down my cheeks and I don’t even care. My heart feels so full it’s hard to breathe.

“I love you. I love you so fucking much.” He leans in and peppers my belly with kisses. “I’m never going to make you do anything you don’t want to do. Never feel like you can’t tell me no.”

My heart hurts because I know he’s thinking about how his dad treated him. Neo would rather shoot himself before ever mistreating our kids.

He looks up at me and the look in his eyes pierces my soul. “I love you so fucking much, Harlow,” he says, cupping my face. “My queen. My everything.” He kisses me dirty. I moan as he gathers me up in his arms.

“We’re going to visit the baby!” Cass shouts and I wave a hand, lips still fused to Neo’s.

I know what he’s doing. He’s getting out of here before Rosie can hear Neo fucking me into the next dimension.

The others will celebrate with me later, they know how much Neo wanted this.

No matter how afraid I might be, I know I’ll be fine. I have my guys and girls by my side. They will never let me fall.