Page 54

CONOR

FIVE YEARS LATER

It’s crazyhow much thingshave changed and how big these weekly dinners on Declan and Quinn’s patio have become . The massive space almost feelstoosmall for all of us, yet it continues to accommodate our rapidly growing crew. The sound of the ocean crashing against the shore serves as a constant backdrop to the evening. It’s a soothing calm against the expected chaos unfolding before me.

My boys, Grady and Sean, splash around the pool with Rory, Kira, and Aiden. The five of them are inseparable—their laughter echoing through the air as they dunk each other under the water and chase each other around the pool. They remind me so much of my brothers and me at that age, especially as they ignore Fiona’s pleas to stop splashing her. And fuck, we’re all in so much trouble.

Liam and Sasha are sitting beside the pool—their feet in the water—taking turns to snuggle their newborn daughter, Clara. She’s just a few months old, and I can’t help but smile at her little coos and big blue eyes.

“No. It’s hot!” Declan exclaims for the umpteenth time tonight. I turn toward his voice to find him standing beside the fire pit, trying desperately to keep his toddlers, Emma and Owen, from touching the flickering flames.

“And this is whyyou don’t let them outnumber you,” Quinn teases from across the patio with a playful glint in her eyes. “You did this to yourself.”

Scooping up a toddler in each arm, he carries them across the patio and sets Owen in her lap, holding onto a now-squirming Emma. Bending down, he places a soft kiss on her forehead as he confesses, “I’d put a hundred more babies in your if I could, mochéadsearc.”

Because of complications with the younger twins, Quinn cannolonger round out the roster for Declan’s baseball team.But that definitely hasn’t slowed his enthusiasm for fatherhood. His obsession with breeding that poor woman… even logic won’t stop him from trying.

Across the patio, Tristan and Layla are sharing bottles of wine and whiskey with Jorge and Rory. The four of them are carefree and content—laughing at the ridiculousness of our child-fueled chaos.

Finn and Catlin sit beside them, a ridiculous smile plastered on his face. They learned this morning that Catlin is pregnant, and he is over-the-moon excited. Having watched him for years with Fiona and all the other kids we’ve added to this family,I have no doubt thathe’ll be an amazing father.

Crossing the patio, I make my way to Elena and Victoria, who are sitting together on a sun-drenched bench. Victoria’s hand is resting on Elena’s swollen belly, the two of them in quiet conversation. Elena’s eyes meet mine, and a smile spreads across her face as I approach. She looks as radiant as ever. Pregnancy suits her.

I lean over the back of the couch and wrap my arms around them—my hand findingitsway to her belly, gently rubbing it as I press a soft kiss to her temple.

“How’s my little girl doing?”

Elenachuckles,“Kicking the shit out of her mommy.”

“I meant my other little girl.” I rub my hand on her belly as my gaze drifts tothe tireddark-haired beauty lying on Vic’s lap. Lifting Delaney into my arms, I pull her up to my chest, and she nuzzles her face against my neck. “How’s my sleepy little princess?” She quickly drifts to sleep in my embrace as I smile at her, excited to know her little sisterwill be joiningus shortly.

Staring at my wives, I can’t help but think if it weren’t for the stupid auction I was so adamantly against, I never would’ve met either of them. The two of them have completely changed my life.

All these women have .

Playboys, loners, and a heartbroken widow… All ofusnow a husband. Each of us a better man— well, at least in some ways —because of the amazing women that came into our lives and were just crazy enough to want to join this family.

I close my eyes for a second, taking it all in—the laughter, the screaming, the sighs of exhausted parents, and the love that surrounds us all.

And none of us would change a thing.