Page 80 of Monstrosity

"You do today," Astrid says firmly. "We've got gossip to share and you'll just give us the death stare if we talk about your brothers."

"I don't give death stares to people who don’t deserve it."

Everyone in the room gives him a look.

"Out," Starla repeats. "Give us three hours."

"Three hours?" He looks mildly panicked. "What am I supposed to do with two kids for three hours?"

"You’re in an MC," Meghan points out. "I think you can handle your own daughters."

"The club's easier," he mutters, but he's already herding the girls toward the door. "Come on, monsters. Let's go get ice cream while the ladies do their thing."

"Ice cream!" Cali abandons her packing immediately. "Can we get sprinkles?"

"All the sprinkles," he confirms, then leans in to kiss me. "Don't let them pack anything weird."

"Define weird."

"You know what I mean." Another kiss. "Love you."

"Love you too."

"Love you three!" Cali shouts.

"Love you infinity," Florencia adds, not to be outdone.

After they leave, Meghan immediately pounces. "Okay, spill. How's it been? Living together officially?"

"Amazing," I admit, accepting a donut. "Like we've been doing it forever."

"The sex must be incredible," Tindra says, then blushes. "Sorry, that was?—"

"The sexisincredible," I confirm, making her blush deeper. "But it's more than that. It's the little things. Coffee in bed every morning. Him braiding the girls' hair while I make breakfast. Family dinners where we actually talk about our days."

"The girls seem thrilled," Starla observes, starting to repack my kitchen box properly. "Florencia cornered me yesterday to ask if you being there all the time meant you were her 'real' mom now."

My heart clenches. "What did you tell her?"

"That 'real' is about love, not just biology. And that she's lucky to have you." She wraps a plate carefully. "That little girl adores you, you know. Both of them do."

"I adore them too," I say, throat tight. "Sometimes I can't believe I get to be their mom."

"Believe it," Everly says, joining us in the kitchen. "Those girls claimed you long before Rio got his head out of his ass."

"Speaking of Rio," Meghan grins wickedly, "how's he handling having you there all the time? Still walking around like he won the lottery?"

"Pretty much," I laugh. "Yesterday I caught him just standing in the doorway watching me fold laundry with this dopey smile on his face."

"That's disgusting," Astrid declares. "And adorable. Disgustingly adorable."

"None of that," Everly says briskly. "We've got work to do. Tindra, start on the bathroom. Meghan, bedroom. I'll tackle this disaster of a living room."

"I feel like I should be offended by everyone's assessment of my packing skills," I say.

"You labeled a box 'stuff and things,'" Starla points out.

"It has stuff and things in it!"