HUNTER

I've never been particularly interested in children, especially after offering to babysit Siobhan's then eight-week-old twins. Natasha and I had planned to tag team the babies, so our friend could go on a date night with Sync.

When Siobhan left the house, the adorable babies were sleeping. Natasha and I figured we'd eat popcorn and watch a rom-com. Then, Kiera woke up screaming. I was horrified to see how angry a tiny human could become. Soon, Deirdre was howling, too.

Natasha and I did everything on Siobhan's list. In the end, we could only walk around and bounce the screaming babies while begging for time to move faster so their parents would return home.

During a diaper change, we mixed up the babies when their caps fell off. Natasha began to cry, thinking Siobhan would never know which baby was which.

Siobhan and Sync arrived home around midnight to find us freaking out. I've never been laughed at like they did that night.

"Of course, we can tell them apart," Sync insisted.

Siobhan added, "They have different auras and cowlicks. It's all good."

The parents took their screaming babies, did a magical football move to work out gnarly burps, and quickly had the girls in their correct cribs.

"You did your best," Siobhan said while I sulked and Natasha sniffled. "I used to get overwhelmed with Carys's kids. It just takes practice to figure out their little quirks."

I'm thinking about that night while rubbing lotion on Carys's swollen belly. Studying the kids on the playroom's security feed, she looks exhausted.

"Ripley's coming soon," Carys announces.

Freezing, I ask, "What do you mean by soon?"

"In the next few days."

"You said that last week," Siobhan points out and returns to fanning her sister. "Why can't we just point the fan at you instead of pretending you're an Egyptian pharaoh?"

"The fan gives me a headache. This doesn't. Now serve me. I have only a few more days of whining left."

Still fanning Carys, Siobhan gripes, "No, you'll whine about other shit once the baby's born."

"You're just jealous,"

I smile at how the O'Malley sisters bicker. Austen and I never had such an angsty relationship. She was always a cool, wild child, younger version of Suzanne. Then, after the attack, she became a fragile creature needing protection. Only since she faced her fears and claimed her sexy biker, have we been able to rebuild our earlier relationship.

"I want a baby," I announce.

Glancing around, I exhale with relief when I realize I didn't blurt that shit out while the men were still in the room. Tack, Bear, Sync, and Pork Chop left the house as soon as Zoot and Noble arrived at the farm.

"Well, you're fucking Tack now, so making a baby shouldn't be too difficult," Carys replies. "You're either going to have the cutest kids together or the weirdest looking." When I frown at her, she shrugs. "I get overly honest when I'm nearly ready to push a kid out of my clam."

"I was an ugly baby," I admit. "Like, goofy looking for the first few months. I own that. But I was cuter than you were at six months."

"How dare you bring up my terrible six-month-old baby picture?" Carys gasps, stuck between fake rage and laughter. "I had a big head. It's not my fault. My parents are both large-headed people."

"My head isn't large," Siobhan announces.

"Yeah, because Mom cheated on Dad with a tiny-headed motherfucker. That's why you don't look like anyone else in the family."

At this point, Carys is laughing so hard she can barely get out her final lie. Siobhan also giggles her ass off. After all, they look so much alike that people often get them confused.

Natasha shakes her head at their teasing. "You're all so beautiful."

"Shut up, you blonde bitch," Carys snaps, changing gears immediately. "You're at the pretty part of pregnancy. Look at you fucking glowing and farting puffs of floral while I'm over here oozing a weird smell."

I lean over and sniff Carys. "You smell nice."

"Thanks, baby," she says and turns off her bitchy vibe. "I haven't gotten laid in weeks because I'm too uncomfortable. Without Pork Chop's dick in me, how can I feel pretty?"

"Look in a fucking mirror, moron," Siobhan replies immediately. "You were beautiful long before that man stuffed your clam."

"I love you," Carys says and reaches for her sister.

Shaking her head, Siobhan dodges Carys's hands. "I'm not falling for that move."

Carys laughs and tugs me closer since her sister won't play along. "Tack is a great guy, but he's going to be a terrible father at first. Just prepare for how he'll struggle. He was the same way with his dog. Oh, and when he got his room at the second farmhouse, he didn't put anything except a bed inside. I swear his parents didn't prepare him for anything in this world. But once he gets the hang of something, he's great."

"I'm worried he doesn't really want kids but will lie for my benefit."

"He's like Sync and Bear," Carys says as she wraps me closer to her. "They weren't interested in kids. Sync used to look at Hicks like my sweet boy was a gross thing. Then, he had the twins, and they were his, and he just went goofy over them. You've seen how Bear has warmed up to Hector and Jacinda. Tack will be the way with your baby. But you have to show him how to love a tiny thing that can't really love him back."

Resting against Carys, I try to imagine a future where all this madness is behind me. I try to see Tack and me together with his dog and a baby.

Except Tack will never be safe. His dangerous lifestyle was a roadblock for a long time. I want to go all-in with Tack. However, I worry about starting a life with him, moving in together, having kids, and then losing him.

On one hand, I see Aunt Fred and Elvis who've spent forty years together and are still going strong. On the other hand, Pork Chop's brother was killed during a dentist appointment, leaving behind a wife and kid.

In the end, I know Tack is the only man I'll ever love. My heart won't allow me to switch gears and fall for anyone else. Even if he'll only be mine for a short time, I'll enjoy every day we have together.