Page 12 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

TABBY

“I’m freezing.”

At least, that’s why I tried to say. It was more of a chattering moan as I tried to keep my body wrapped tight into a ball.

Alexander winced. “Maya said she’d packed for you. We’re in Colorado in winter . I didn’t realize she’d pack you a dress that showed so much of your legs.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You say that, and yet you can’t get your eyes off said legs.”

Alexander looked up, a wicked grin spreading over his face. “I can’t help it. I just had those legs wrapped around my neck. I love those legs.”

I blushed and was grateful for it as it warmed me marginally. Or maybe I was going numb and was on the way to the warmth before freezing to death.

“And you’re not the only woman in a short dress. It seems to be the thing at a Vail New Year’s Eve party.”

I looked around the small gathering at the local ski resort and community center and smiled at the other women in short dresses. They smiled back, but I had a feeling that they had chosen their own clothing.

“I know I went through most things that Maya had packed, but I got distracted with the twins and something that needed to be done for work, and I didn’t finish going through a list. I didn’t even get a chance to make a full list.”

Alexander winced, and I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “And, we’re inside, I’m just still cold from the walk over here.”

“There’s no parking here at all , or I would have driven you here, dropped you off, and then walked over myself.”

“And I told you I was fine. And I am. I’m all nice and warm now.”

“Come on, let’s go get you some hot apple cider.”

I beamed and slid my hand into his. “You going to be okay here tonight?” I asked, my words slow.

Alexander gave me a soft smile. “Of course. I’m an alcoholic, Tabby.

I’m always going to be an alcoholic. But I don’t want to drink now.

And I won’t tomorrow.” It was a common refrain that he said, and it soothed to him as much as it did me.

My husband was one of the strongest people I knew.

He had followed his demons and had come out the victor.

Bruised, bloody, a little broken, and a whole lot lost, but he had found his way.

And I loved him so damn much.

I wiped away tears, and Alexander’s eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just a little weepy. I guess I can blame it on hormones.”

His smile was bright and wide. “Hormones,” he whispered. “We’re having a baby,” he said.

“We are”, I said on a laugh.

“When do you think we’re going to tell the rest of the family?”

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to tell them soon, mostly because I keep having to go to the restroom at work with nausea, and your sister Meghan has already guessed. I didn’t say anything,” I added quickly.

“Because you needed to be first, but she was the reason that I went and got the test anyway.”

“So how long have you known?” he asked as he handed me a hot cider. I took a sip, and it warmed me from the inside out. I did a little dance on my feet, pleased with the taste and warmth. “Only for five days.” Alexander’s eyes widened.

“I was waiting to tell you as a surprise and wanted it to be a cute little thing. I wasn’t nervous that you were going to be upset or anything. Far from it.”

“Good. Because I’m fucking excited, babe.”

“I’m excited too. I still can’t believe we’re doing this again.”

“I can’t wait for Aria and Sebastian to find out. They’re going to be excited.”

I smirked. “You think so.”

“I know so. They love their nieces and nephews. And now they won’t be the babies anymore.”

“They aren’t the babies anymore anyway. Your family keeps breeding. Hell, so does mine.”

He shook his head. “That is true,” he said softly. “You know, we’re probably going to need a bigger house,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t thrown me for a loop.

My eyes widened. “What? But I love our house.”

“I love our house too, but we are the only ones not living in a house built by my family.”

I rolled my eyes. “As I’ve helped with every single house that’s been built, I know that. But we found the perfect little home for us.”

“Emphasis on little , babe. Aria and Sebastian are sharing a room now because they’re young enough.

But they’re not going to want to when they get older.

They may love each other and enjoy spending time with one another.

But, eventually, they’re going to have their own interests, and it would be good to let them have their own space.

And then, as I’ve seen with my siblings, the twin bond means that they’re always going to be connected, but we don’t want our next child not to feel like they’re not part of it.

So we need to give them all their own rooms.”

I shook my head. “You’ve thought about this in detail.”

“When we were dealing with the plumbing a couple of days ago, and then the stove, I realized that I think we’re ready to move on. We both do well, and it’s time for us to maybe buy a Montgomery home.”

I laughed. “Your family will be happy.”

“Yeah, they will. We’re a little proprietary.”

“I am shocked you could ever say that. Considering I literally have a tattoo inked into my flesh with your family brand.”

His eyes darkened as he gently placed his fingertips over my hip with the Montgomery iris lay.

“Apparently, I’m a little proprietary as well.”

I shook my head. “I love you. And yes, I love our house, but it’s time we find a new one.”

“We can rent that one out, use it for another source of income, or sell it. It’s a great time for sellers right now.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’m just kind of sad that we’re going to be saying goodbye to an era.”

“We’re going to be a possible family of five. That’s an era too.”

My eyes filled with tears, and I looked around at the group of people that were all strangers, dressed in their finest, who were enjoying themselves.

I didn’t want to be there, not with them.

I wanted Alexander alone. “Let’s go back to the house.

You and me. We celebrate New Year’s as the ball drops, and as it hits midnight, just the two of us.

And then tomorrow we’ll go home and start the next phase of our journey. ”

His eyes warmed, and he leaned down, pressed against my lips. “You know what? You’re right. I’m glad we had some time to ourselves, but hell, I miss that big family of ours.”

“And we’re just getting bigger, I said, tapping my belly.

He placed his hand over mine, squeezing slightly. “I’m so damn lucky that you’re in my life.”

“I was just thinking the same,” I said and smiled. “We’ve changed so much, and yet, I feel like it was just yesterday I saw you walk into the office and see me for the first time.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s just one day. I felt like you saw me rather than the little friend that was always around.”

“I think I needed to figure out who I was first. Before I was able to open myself up to you.”

“I get it. I’m glad I got to find out who I was by myself and to build my own wants and needs in life without pining for you all the time.”

“Well, you can pine for me any day of the week. I’ll come running.”

“Somehow, that was sweet and romantic,” I said, and laughed.

Alexander bundled me in my coat as we said our goodbyes and thanks to those running this small party of strangers, and I shiver. “I know my coat goes past my knees, but I’m going to freeze.”

“I’ll take care of you. I promise.” He gripped my hand, and we made our way back towards the house.

It was only two blocks away, and it wasn’t below freezing yet, thankfully.

There had been a slight warm front that morning, so while it was cold, it wasn’t bitterly cold.

There was snow on the ground, but nothing new.

So while I was chilled, I wasn’t in danger of getting hypothermia.

That meant the dress wasn’t that bad, and Maya had chosen my favorite one.

I loved my legs in it. And from the way that Alexander growled every time he looked down at them, I knew if he did too.

We had to cross a small park towards the house, and I looked down at Alexander’s watch and frowned. “It’s later than I thought,” I said with a gasp.

He blinked, looked down, and smiled at me. “Well, do you think you can handle the cold a little bit longer?”

And with the snow around us, the mountains not that far in the distance shielding us, and the moon bright above us, I looked up at him, placed my hands on his chest, and grinned.

“Ten,” I whispered.

“Nine,” he said.

“Eight.” A kiss.

“Seven.” A caress.

“Six.” A touch.

“Five.” A brush of lips.

“Four.” A rasp of breath.

“Three.” Another kiss.

“Two.” Then another.

“One.” And one more.

“Happy New Year, wife of mine,” Alexander said.

I smiled up at him and kissed him softly. There were cheers, people shouting, and happiness and celebration surrounded us.

But I only had eyes for my husband.

“Happy New Year, Alexander Montgomery.”

“Now, let’s get my wife inside where she can warm up, because I’m about to wrap you up like a burrito. You’re not going to start the new year off with a cold. And our baby needs warmth.”

I nodded, just starting to feel the cold. After all, Alexander warmed me up nicely most days. We practically ran to the house, and I stood in front of the fire as he started it.

And then he held me close, and we kissed, and kept kissing.

He slowly stripped my dress off of me, and I toed out of my shoes, my hands on him. And when we were both naked, lying on a soft rug in front of the fire, he slid into me, my body warm, sated, just from his touch.

We made love in front of the fire, both of us breathing into one another as we shook and tried to catch up.

And when I came, I whispered his name, and he filled me, both of us holding onto one another for dear life as the fire made us sweat-slick, and our passions burned even brighter.

“I think we need to start all new years like this,” he whispered. “Naked and having sex in front of a fire? I like it.”

“You know, I’m okay with that,” I said, and I leaned into him.

We cleaned up, fell asleep naked on the floor, covered in a blanket. When my phone buzzed around three in the morning, I frowned and reached for it, groaning.

“It better not be a drunk dial,” Alex grumbled, covering his eyes with his hand.

Maya’s name flashed on a screen, and I froze, gripping his hand. “It’s your sister.”

“Maya? What’s wrong?”

Maya’s voice was raspy when she answered. “Hey there, I know it’s late, happy New Year.”

“Maya,” I said, as Alexander sat next to me, his body’s stiff.

“Everything’s fine, but Sebastian has a fever.

It’s pretty high, so we’re going to go into the emergency room just to check.

Your doctor’s meeting us there, and since we’re all on each other’s paperwork, it should be fine.

But I wanted to let you know. Border is going to stay home with the other kids, so Aria’s safe.

But Jake and I are going in with Sebastian.

My parents are coming over to help Border. ”

“We’re on our way,” I said, having put her on speaker.

“Thank you, Maya,” Alexander said. “Just... thank you. And keep us updated.”

“He’ll be okay. You don’t have to drive down the mountain in the dark.”

“We’re packing now,” Alexander said as I stood up, my knees shaking.

“He’s going to be okay. I promise you. He just has a little cold.”

“And he needs his mom and dad,” Alexander said sharply.

“I know, baby brother. We’ll see you soon. I love you.”

She hung up after promising that she would keep us updated, and I ran to the bedroom. We hadn’t unpacked fully, something that I usually did, but we wouldn’t have been here long enough for me to get situated fully.

We threw things into the suitcase, not bothering to worry about what was in its proper place or not.

“We have everything important if we forgot something silly, whatever,” Alexander said, and I nodded tightly. “It sounds like a plan. Are you okay to drive?” I asked.

He kissed me hard on the mouth, pinching my chin. “Yes. I think you’re the one that’s shaking more. Keep the baby safe, I’ll keep you safe, and we’re going to go see our son.”

The normally hour and forty-minute drive took nearly two hours thanks to the cold, the darkness, and us being careful, but we practically ran into the emergency room.

Jake was there, a smile on his face. “He’s fine.

His fever spiked already, and they gave him some meds, and he’s sleeping.

It’s just a cold that his body fought a little too hard. ”

I hugged Jake tightly and followed him to Sebastian’s room, where Maya was, holding Sebastian’s hand while our son slept.

Tears fell down my face, and I clung to my sister-in-law hard before I sat down and pushed Sebastian’s hair from his tiny little face. Alex was behind me, mumbling things to the others.

“Thank you,” Alexander said. “Just thank you.”

“Always, little brother. We’ll stay for a little bit. That way, the doctors can catch us all up, and then we’ll go home and update the family. We’ll keep Aria safe. You stay here. I’m sorry to cut your weekend short.”

I looked up at Maya and shook my head. “Our weekend is exactly what we needed, but we’re here now. And we’re never going away again,” I said, as tears fell freely.

Maya narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re crying more than I thought you would.” Then her eyes widened. “You’re pregnant.”

“Maya, you should’ve let her announce that,” Jake mumbled.

“Probably,” I said with a watery laugh as I wipe my face.

Alexander handed me a tissue. “Thanks, babe. We’re going to tell everybody soon.

But yes, we’re pregnant. And we’re pretty much going to sell our house and buy a Montgomery one, so it’s a little exhausting.

But thank you for taking care of Sebastian. ”

Maya, the most verbose woman I had ever met, was at a loss for words as she just blinked at me. “Well, baby brother, when you go all out, you go all out.”

Alexander shook his head, a smile playing on his face. He leaned forward, kissed Maya on the cheek, then did the same to Jake just because it made Jake laugh. “Go home, we’ll take care of this. Thank you for being here. We’ll update everyone soon.”

After everybody congratulated each other and hugged, they left and I smiled. I leaned into my husband and watched my son sleep.

“Happy New Year,” I whispered.

Alexander kissed the top of my head. “Happy New Year. I love you.”

And as Sebastian slept, I knew we would be okay. Just one little bump, but we had been through worse. But we were together. And that’s a blessed new year.