Page 28 of Kaya's King
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a bunch of pregnant women move as fast as the four old ladies did, but they practically knocked Poseidon down in their haste to get to the front of the line to get themselves some of the life-giving dessert. Leaning over Noah’s wheelchair, I check to make sure Collette is firmly secured with the belt then apprise him, “We’ll let them get theirs first because I know Mary and Hayley will make sure everyone gets a piece.”
He giggles as I start pushing him toward the kitchen’s entrance, Colette clapping her hands in giddiness. From my peripheral vision, I can see Trident mean mugging my kid, so I flip him off and send him my own narrow-slitted glare. He’s being a damn tit bag and needs to get the fuck over himself. Colette is fascinated with Noah and if he’s in the same room as she is, she gravitates to him every single time.
Later in bed, Kaya says, “Thank you.”
“For what, sweetheart?”
“Being you, Specks. Everything you do for and with us is so effortless and I appreciate it so much. Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me whatever you want,” I reply.
“Is it too soon to tell you I’m falling in love with you?” she whispers, anxiety rolling off of her in waves. I can understand her fear, it is soon, but it feels like we’ve been together for an eternity.
“Not as far as I’m concerned. Every one of my brothers has fallen hard and fast for their old ladies, why should we be the exception to the rule, babe?”
“Well, I am.”
“Good to know because I am too. Now, I don’t have any dessert, but I’ve got something else in mind for us to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
She giggles as I roll her on top of me. “I like the way you think, Specks.”
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Specks
“Good job, Noah,”I praise through my headset. Chelsea is getting ready to take him on a field trip to the state park so we’re currently playing Minecraft. I think Tommy would’ve loved how games have come so far along since our early Nintendo days. Hell, we can even use a chat box inside the game room and not even speak aloud, but Noah loves asking questions and I enjoy answering each and every one of them.
“Thanks, Mr. Specks. Can I ask you about something?” he queries. I can hear the hesitation in his voice so set out to reassure him.
“Anything, buddy. What’s up?”
What he asks me next blows my mind. “If you marry my mommy, can I call you daddy?”
I work to clear my throat a few times because the emotion welling up inside has a lump the size of Stone Mountain perched in my throat. “I’d be honored and privileged, Noah,” I quietly reply.
“Okay. Can I ask another question?”
I chuckle under my breath because he does this all the time, and it reminds me of how my little brother would do the same damn thing. “Go ahead.” I maneuver a character through a tunnel he’s just built while I wait on him to ask what it is he’s wanting to know.
“Are you going to marry her?” I can picture him right now, chewing on his bottom lip with his head tilted to the side as he waits on my response.
“Yeah, Noah. I’m going to ask her to marry me. Are you okay with that? Would you give me your permission to marry your mom?” I suspect he’s good with it and will support me and say yes based on the questions he’s just asked, but I want to be one hundred percent certain.
“Yes, sir!” he exclaims, his voice quite a bit louder than it was mere seconds ago, which has me chuckling.
“I take it you’re excited.”
“I am, I’ll finally have a daddy to do stuff with!”
“Yes, you will.” I can hear Chelsea telling him to make sure he’s got all his stuff gathered so he can keep playing. “We’ll keep going, Noah, okay? And while you’re in the car, we can practice with the chat box so Canyon and Chelsea can talk.”
“But keep my headphones on, right?” he asks.
“Sure.”
While I wait for them to get him into the car and buckled up, I check on a few things I’ve been monitoring for the club, shoot Poseidon an email about upgrading our security again, send the shitty attempt I made at drawing a tattoo for me and Kaya to her via text, and set up a grocery delivery order for the clubhouse. Most of the shit I do is almost second nature at this point, although I do occasionally go into the auto repair shop to lend a hand. Today, however, is what I refer to as paperwork day, although I don’t deal in paper or spreadsheets unless the documents are online.