Page 81 of Craving Consequences

“I swear, it’s like our DNA didn’t even try,” Van mutters, eyeing us with a hint of a grin dancing in the gray of his eyes.

“I dunno, I think she has your nose,” Lachlan observes, head cocking.

Van shakes his head. “Definitely Everly’s.”

Lachlan steps over and kisses the tip of the nose in question. “Doesn’t matter. You’re still perfect.”

Flora drops her head on my shoulder, and I press her closer.

It doesn’t matter what’s going on with the rest of the world.

Here, in our little bubble of isolation, this is all I need.

All that matters. Sure, we lied ... a lot, but sometimes, you have to in order to keep your peace.

And, so what if the people of Jefferson think only Van and I are married?

So, what if they think Flora is only his?

So, what if they think Van asked Lachlan to move in with us to keep me safe when he’s not home?

It’s none of anyone’s business how we live our lives.

The only people who ever comes to visit is Lauren, anyway.

An hour later, we’re all dressed and packed into Lachlan’s truck. Flora’s strapped into her car seat in the back next to her diaper bag with all the things she might need for her time in daycare.

I climb into my usual spot between my men and settle in for the three-hour drive into town.

“Am I still meeting you at the community center?” Van asks over me as we head off.

Lachlan grunts. “Just need another look at the electrical. Most of the structure is done. I want this done before we start painting.”

Van’s hand brushes my skirt up to reach skin before curling into place. All the while, the two continue their conversation.

“I need to stop by the house, too,” he says. “Lauren’s complaining about the heater again.” He purses his lips. “Worst tenant. ”

I chuckle at the statement. It was his idea for his daughter to take over the place when he moved out. He charges her the same amount as the rent of her old apartment, which he puts towards the mortgage.

Lachlan is doing the same with his place. A new couple rented out the place six months after he moved to the cabin. I haven’t met them, but Lachlan says they’re nice.

My parent’s house was sold a week after I gave Teddy the keys. Alana and Samuel had their baby there and seem to be loving the place.

The rest of our drive is spent making plans for lunch, where everyone will be throughout the day and what time we’ll meet back up to head home. It’s our usual conversation, a familiar stream of chatter that makes up for the fact that I won’t get to see them for hours.

A deep overcast follows us into town. It stretches over the familiar faces going about their business. We finalize our plans for the day as Lachlan pulls up outside the Kendricks’ house.

Van and I exchange a long, slow kiss that curls my toes before he has to detach. His gray eyes search my face the way they do every morning, like he’s trying to paint it to memory

“Love you,” he says softly.

I brush his smooth cheek with my thumb. “Love you, too. ”

With a last kiss, he pulls away. I watch him hop down and move around to the back to yank open the door. His big frame hunches over the tiny figure lifting her arms to him.

“Love you, Princess. Daddy will see you soon.” He kisses her downy cheek before grabbing his toolbox off the truck floor and heading off.

We watch him amble up the path to the two-story colonial and get let inside before setting off again.

At the deserted corner before Silver Pines, I scoot to Lachlan and pull his face down to mine. I kiss him deeply.

I know it was his idea to play the good friend to Van, to be the one I have to pretend I love platonically in public, but I hate it.

I hate that I can kiss Van, hold him, tell the world Flora’s his when Lachlan is just as big a part of me and Flora’s life.

I know he says it doesn’t bother him, but it bothers me.

“Love you,” I tell him, needing him to never forget that no matter what, he’s mine, too.

The corner of his mouth quirks and he cups the side of my face. “Love you, too, sweetheart.”

I hold his hand as we pull up outside Maisie’s. He squeezes once before hopping down to help me drag all of Flora’s baby equipment onto the sidewalk. She has too much I think some days, but everything is needed .

Lachlan lifts Flora from her car seat. The little girl squeals and flails her arms. She grabs either side of his face as he leans in and nuzzles her cheek.

“Be good for Miss Nina,” he tells her, peppering the soft globe with tiny kisses. “Daddy will see you in a few hours.”

With a final kiss to the tip of her nose, he tucks her into her stroller and faces me. Our eyes lock for what is probably longer than is acceptable. It takes everything in me not to lean up and kiss him. Not to snuggle into his chest and breathe in his warm, clean scent.

“I’ll see you at lunch,” he tells me softly.

I can only nod and stand there as he steps back. Neither of us say another word as I take Flora’s stroller and head in the direction of the bakery.

Our routine holds through the day.

I grab my coffee and muffin, drop Flora off at Little Pines Daycare and head in the direction of City Hall. I dig out my phone as I walk, aching to text my boys and knowing I shouldn’t; both are working. Instead, I pull up Lauren’s messages.

“I think it’s going to rain.” I hit send.

Her answer is immediate like she was already texting me, as well. “I hate yellow.”

I raise an eyebrow at the statement. “Because it looks like pee?” I guess.

“No, just a realization I had this morning.”

I snort to myself. “Want to come over this weekend?”

“Would I turn down a whole weekend with the love of my life and the mini love of my life? No. I would not.”

Grinning, I sprint across the street and start through the black gates.

“Headed in. Talk soon.”

Mayor Ferguson isn’t alone when I hurry into the office. I deposit my items on my desk, brush a hand down the front of my skirt before joining the two.

“Good morning,” I say, and freeze as the stranger turns away from the desk and the mayor to face me.

There is no kindness in the steel lines of his face. No patience or mercy in the icy gray of his eyes. That is all I’m given the chance to process when he stalks past me and out the door without a single word.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” I say to Mayor Ferguson once I have gathered my nerves back around me.

The man behind the desk smiles and waves a hand. “We were finished. Mr. Virelli is thinking about settling down in Jefferson and wanted my recommendation on a good location.”

I am not a fan of the idea. Nothing about Mr. Virelli was pleasant or welcoming. He’s not at all what a town like Jefferson will welcome willingly. But I let it go as we set to work .

Flora’s missing from daycare when I swing by to pick her up at the end of my shift. Nina meets my eye from across the room and gives a slight shake of her head.

I sigh and dig out my phone.

“Where’s my kid?” I mutter into the receiver.

“Why, I wouldn’t have the foggiest,” Lauren declares in a thick, over exaggerated accent.

“Woman, you need to stop kidnapping her,” I grumble as I change route and head in the direction of the Cut 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 Van shakes 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

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