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“You’re going to get in trouble,” I attempt.

Only for her to wave a hand at the empty salon. “By whom? Besides, she’s not learning anything over there. Nina has like thirty other kids and my sister-niece—”

“Stop calling her that.”

I’m ignored. “—gets ignored. At least with me, we get to do stuff. We cut hair. We gossip. We get lunch. We hit people in the back of the ankles with our stroller.”

“Lauren!”

She puts her hands up. “Only when they deserve it. We go to the park. We do loads ofstuff together.”

“I’m running out.” Dani hops down and stalks to the door without another word.

I sigh and turn back to my friend. I stare into her big eyes and swallow the words bubbling in my throat. I tuck them away like the coward I am.

It’s been two years.

Two years since she went out with her other friends. Two years since she went on a date. I don’t think I’ve even seen her talk to a man that wasn’t required. And I know why. I know she’s still trying to process what Bron did to her. I know she refuses to acknowledge just how badly he hurt her. He may be out of our lives, but he’s still the monster in hers.

“Have you talked to Teddy?” I nudge, trying to keep my tone light.

She shrugs. “I mean, I guess? I saw him at Mama May’s two weeks ago. He got a burger. I considered texting you about it, but it was one of those things where you had to be there to appreciate it.”

I roll my eyes. “Want to come over for supper? You can stay the night, and we can light the pit.”

The corner of her mouth quirks. “I swear, you are the only person who gets excited about that thing.”

It was the first thing Lachlan built at the cabin, my own fire pit, and she’s right. I do get excited about it, especially nowthat I can curl up in Van and Lachlan’s arms and watch the flames without worrying about a thing in the world.

“Is that a yes?”

Lauren pops out of her seat, steals Flora from my arms and starts towards the door.

“Let’s go, slow poke,” she calls over her shoulder.

Lachlan and Van are already parked at the curb when we step outside; I have a strong suspicion that they went to the daycare and were told Flora and I were gone. They knew exactly where we’d be.

We’ve done this song and dance nearly every day since my return to work. Lauren steals Flora from Nina and we end up at the salon.

It doesn’t bother me. Van and Lachlan suggested I take a few years to spend with Flora, but I made a promise to Lauren that I wouldn’t be gone from her for that long. We may not see each other every day, but I’m here and she gets to see Flora as much as she wants. So far, it’s working.

Lauren waves using Flora’s little arm and the girl wiggles when Lachlan rounds the truck to lift her up.

It doesn’t matter how often I watch them, how repetitive every day gets, I live for this moment. I exist to watch Van and Lauren argue about the heat at her house. I exist to watch Lachlan rub noses with our daughter. I exist for the moment Vanshakes his head and moves to hook an arm around my center and drags me into his chest.

It’s all so perfect and normal.

And mine.

And I know when we get home, the chaos will continue. It’ll be a packed kitchen, a full table and finally, bath and bed for Flora so I can get her dads to myself.

It amazes me that I never would have imagined my life like this two years ago. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have two such amazing and gorgeous men all to myself. But I do. I have them and I will do anything and everything to keep them.

“Hey.”

I blink out of my thoughts and focus on the two faces watching me. Lachlan holding the truck door open and Van waiting to hoist me up.

“Get in the truck, sweetheart,” Lachlan orders.

My lips quirk as I hurry over to them, pausing only to grin up into his face and murmur, “Yes, sir.”

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THE END