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Gilli snuggles closer. “You did the right thing, Aiden. They might be our blood, but family is what you make of it. The people who stick by us no matter what, the people who have our backs when the chips are down,theyare family. It doesn’t matter who gave birth to us or who married who. Although you could have invited your parents. I like them.”

“And they love you.” I press another kiss to her forehead.

Surprisingly, my parents have no problem with our lifestyle. I’d told them the deal from the start and they amazed me with their open-mindedness.

There were a few questions ofhow is one woman going to be everything three men need?

Those quickly faded once Mom and Dad saw the four of us together, as a unit. It’s the only thing that matters.

“Maybe we’ll have them over for dinner one of these nights. We can extend your birthday celebrations for the entire week rather than just one day,” I tell Gilli. “Or we can go out to eat at Ruth’s. Or that place you like with the sushi.”

“You’re too much.”

I glance over at her to see her eyes flutter shut. She and the pup are both about to be deep in sleep.

Soren and Tase have been upstairs in the half-finished office, going over some plans for expanding the veterinary practice. Soren had scoped out a building for sale on the main road, and with a few renovations, the two of them are going to make it work.

Things are coming along.

Things are better than they’ve ever been.

A small creak sounds and Soren is standing in the doorway, staring at us. I put my finger to my lips and glance at Gilli, a clear signal not to disturb her.

“You want to help me bring her up to bed?” I whisper. “I’ll walk the puppy.”

Soren shakes his head. “Have Tase walk the puppy. You’ve done enough today.”

“My knee thanks you, good sir.”

Just like that, another day is in the books. And I can’t wait to see where the rest of life is going to take us.