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I bit my lip, but I couldn’t help it. A snort escaped my chest.

For a moment, my fathers looked like they wanted to say something before they looked at each other, desolate, and turned to leave without another word.

I watched as the car disappeared down the driveway.

“I thought seeing them would hurt more,” I admitted.

Gideon turned me so he could give me a full-on hug. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired…maybe hungry. Zoey is going to need to eat soon, so maybe we should get some snacks and feed the little milk monster?” I asked, cocking my head up at him. “Mostly, I’m just excited to spend time with my real family.”

“I must say, I feel quite the same.”

Chapter 53

Gideon

How things could change in the blink of an eye.

My daughters were eight years old and four weeks old. I had been a bit concerned about the girls having such a large age gap, but Joey was loving every minute of being around her baby sister.

I was half expecting her to ask Bethany for another one soon. The poor woman was going to be inundated with more baby requests—her fault for making such an adorable daughter, in my opinion.

If the requests did become too much, I would call a family meeting to ensure that Bethany wasn’t pestered beyond what she was comfortable with. But given her grin of delight every time someone asked, I didn’t think she was that upset about it.

“You know, your daughter has some impressive spit-up skills,” a soft voice said from the doorway with a laugh.

Looking up from my boring legal paperwork, I smiled at my omega leaning against the doorframe. Her scent now infiltrated every part of our home, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Crisp sweet apple was my favorite smell, and nothing was ever going to change that.

“Oh, I see. When she’s good, she’s your daughter, but when she’s being a pain, she’s mine?”

Her grin widened as she pushed off the doorframe, padding into the room. Her head tilted to the side. “That’s the gist of it. Sometimes she’s Cullen’s daughter, but that’s reserved for when she’s beingextragrumpy.”

“Ahh, makes sense.” I nodded as I pushed back my chair and opened my arms so she could sit in my lap.

Bethany had been extra cuddly since childbirth, and I loved it. Her face was so radiant, it was like she was glowing from the inside out. I thought women were supposed to glow while pregnant, but Bethany just seemed to be constantly happy now. Blissfully so.

I kissed her cheek, rubbing against her, scenting her. The fact that I could rub my cheek against hers whenever I wanted, and she was open to it, gave me the kind of joy I never thought I would have. Bethany was so open and loving. It was strange in the best way.

“Do you ever regret bonding with such old men? You’re so young and could be free.”

Bethany laughed, sitting in my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck. “Oh, yes, I would totally much rather be out partying in uncomfortable heels and going home on my own to a lonely apartment,” she said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm.

“Brat.” I laughed.

She cocked her head at me, a serene smile on her face. “I love my life right now. Did I expect to be a mother of a babyandan eight-year-old at my age? No, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Our little family is perfect—and, hey, you’re not that old.” She grinned. “You are merely more experienced in certain areas of life, and Igreatlyenjoy that.”

I shook my head. Her words rang with sincerity, but I still found it hard to believe.

Maybe she would just have to show me, every day for the rest of our lives.

“Did you know Cullen wants to make a chicken and mushroom risotto for dinner tonight?” I asked, unable to help myself. Her reaction to the idea of eating fungus was just too cute.

Instead of recoiling, though, she beamed at me, kissing my cheek. “I assure you, I already know. Joey and I will be going and getting chicken nuggets just as soon as he starts cooking. We planned it and everything. We are going to dive into the car themomenthe mentions mushrooms and flee without a word.”

“And where will our youngest daughter be during this escapade?”

“Either in Daddy Gideon’s or Daddy Jensen’s arms—though I’m not opposed to taking her in the car seat, but that will slow down our escape efforts.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I can’t wait until she’s toddling around. It’s going to be so much easier to plot and plan.”