Page 43 of The Monsters Within

“There will be no tupling of sex tonight,” Gunner growled.

Haizley rolled her eyes and pulled her chair closer to the table. “You guys can sit on that side. I want to be close to the girls.”

Ryder stood from his spot next to Ellie and gave it to Dr. Jefferson before grabbing a chair and sliding it up to the table next to Blade.

The three pregnant women sat on the cushy booth seats with Dr. Jefferson. Haizley sat next to her, and I was on Cash’s lap next to Sam. He had decided I wasn’t sitting anywhere else.

The young waitress’ eyes bulged when she saw how many people had joined us. “Don’t worry,” I told her. “These boys will all tip big.”

“Who says?” Ghost asked. Dr. Jefferson leaned forward and peered at her old man. “I’m just kidding, princess. No need to give me that icy stare.”

“Then don’t say stupid things.” She smiled through her words and then sat back. The girls all laughed, and I smiled. It was a bit overwhelming having them all there, but it felt a little like a family.

“You okay?” Cash whispered. I nodded, unable to put my feelings into words, but content to let them wash over me while I was safe in his arms.

She took the extra orders, and we asked to have ours held until they were all done. We talked and laughed. Never had I experienced anything like this. As I looked around the table at the people that surrounded me, I felt a sense of belonging.

Something I never quite got from the Nyght Nymphs. I loved them all, don’t get me wrong. But we all had our demons. And they had a way of keeping us from getting too close.

“Have you decided on another name yet?” I asked Sam when the laughter died down.

“We have. We decided on Josephine.”

“Ahh, I love that,” Ellie cried. “Rosie and Josie.”

“You’re really naming one of the babies Rose?” I asked quietly. Not quiet enough, though, because everyone at the table stopped talking while they waited for Sam to answer.

“Yes. Mimic told us all about his little sister.” I huffed at the little part. But Sam just smiled and continued, “When we were discussing names, he suggested Rose. And Jack and I agreed. We let Charlie pick the other baby’s name.”

“Really?” Blade asked. “How did you not end up with Rainbow or Unicorn?”

“Well, we gave her the names we liked and let her have the final say. She can’t wait for them to get here,” Sam boasted.

“How much longer?” I asked, my eyes on her belly. I saw the movement under her shirt and lifted my hand, before realizing what I was doing and snatched it back.

“It’s okay.” Sam took my hand and placed it on her belly where the babies were moving around. It was such a weird feeling, but magical too. These three women were creating life.

“Three months.”

“Huh?” I asked, not paying attention.

Sam giggled and said, “How much time we have left. Three months.”

“Oh,” I said, pulling my hand away, embarrassed that I had been so focused on another woman’s body.

“You want babies, Rose?” Cash whispered in my ear so no one else could hear.

“Maybe someday.” But I wasn’t sure about that. I had never really thought about having babies until I talked to Ellie the other day, and she told me about all the emotions she dealt with.

I couldn’t think that far into the future. I needed to concentrate on the now.

“He isn’t here to fucking babysit you, Dante. Stop worrying.”

We all looked up at Sypher’s voice. We hadn’t heard the jingle of the bell over the talking and laughing.

“What are you guys doing here?” Ghost asked. “Where’s Dani?”

“She is spending some time with Auntie Amber.” Sypher smiled. “We heard there was a ruckus at the diner, so we decided to come check it out. Seems to be date night tonight.”