Page 48 of My Three Hometown Firefighters (Aspen Springs #2)

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Warren

As soon as Hadley pulled away from the curb with Sienna in tow, we all got to work. We only have a few hours to make this happen, but we want to show her that we’re all in.

We want all of us to live here together as a family.

Two minutes after Hadley disappears around the corner, Austin parks the moving truck in the driveway. Tucker and Grayson got all their things loaded into it yesterday, so it was ready for him this morning.

The twins, Brooks and Conrad, park one of their work trucks behind Austin. They all pile out, meeting Grayson, Tucker, and me at the front of the house.

“And to think you gave me so much shit about being with your sister,” Austin says, slapping Grayson on the shoulder.

To which he rolls his eyes. “That wasn’t because she was with more than one guy.”

Brooks snorts out a laugh, which earns him a glare from Grayson.

“It was because you’re my best friend,” Grayson says to Austin.

“You’re so full of shit,” Conrad says, laughing.

“Yeah, yeah… whatever,” Grayson waves him off.

“We better get started,” I say, knowing our time is limited. Without another word, we all get to work.

The last few weeks have been a flurry of secrets, getting all of this planned for her from the secret baby shower to this big reveal. I just hope we can pull it off in time.

We all work together, moving their stuff into the once unfinished basement where there are now two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Having friends who run their own contracting company came in handy over the last couple of weeks. Austin and the twins were able to get all the work done while Sienna was working or out doing other things, so she has no idea.

Sweat is dripping down my back by the time we get everything downstairs. Jackson has been running up and down the ramp up to the moving truck the entire time we’ve been working.

“One more time, Jacks. Austin needs to take the truck back to the store for us,” I tell him.

The look he gives me over his shoulder is almost enough to break my heart.

Grayson steps up beside him. “We are going to go finish the baby’s room now. Do you want to help?”

Jackson spins around and, without any warning, jumps into Grayson’s arms.

“Whoa, there.” Grayson laughs, scrambling to grab him. He holds him tight, not letting him fall.

We give our thanks to Hadley’s men before they all drive off. Looking down at my watch, I see that our time is running out.

Luckily, the nursery is almost done. The three of us have been staying up every night after Sienna goes to bed to get this done.

I smile just like I do every time I walk into the nursery. A few weeks ago, this was my office, that I rarely used.

Now, it’s a nearly completed nursery for our little girl. One of the walls has a colorful wallpaper design of a sunrise over the mountains.

Grayson and I put it up together because Tucker said he “didn’t have nearly enough patience for shit like that.” He put together the crib, dresser, and changing table in exchange.

I guess that’s the benefit of being in a relationship like this. We all have our strengths, and we get to lean on each other when we need help.

With the walls dry from their fresh coat of pale-yellow paint, we start moving the furniture where it needs to be.

Jackson organizes all the stuffed animals in the basket by the glider in the corner of the room. The blackout curtains are hung, and sheets are put on the mattress.

We all step back, looking around the room. It hits me like a ton of bricks. I’m really going to have another kid.

I don’t think I’ve let myself fully accept it until this moment because I’ve been terrified of having my heart shattered in a way that can’t be repaired.

Images of Jackson’s nursery flash through my mind. That was a completely different time in my life, but the feeling is still the same. Becoming a dad is something you can’t quite describe until it happens to you.

I can’t say with one hundred percent certainty that everything will work out with Sienna, but I can’t deny how right all of this has felt from the very beginning.

At this point, I’m just choosing to trust. Trust her.

There are still changes we want to make to the house, but for now, this will do. Eventually, we want Sienna to move into the main bedroom so she can have her own space when she wants it.

I will happily give up my room if it means I get to have her, for real this time.

“Dad, look at my spaceship,” Jackson says, poking his head out from one of the many boxes strewn through the living room.

I duck my head inside, seeing everything he’s drawn with his markers. “I love it.”

“Shit,” Grayson yells from the kitchen. “I mean, shoot,” he corrects, looking at Jackson, who didn’t even notice.

“What?” Tucker asks.

Grayson looks down at his phone. “Hadley texted fifteen minutes ago saying she was about ready to bring Sienna back.”

The telltale sound of car doors closing draws our attention to the front door.