Free Keeping Their Love (Griffin Brothers #7) by Crystal Perkins Page A

she’s my favorite person in the world, too.
Chloe just looks at me and shakes her head. We’re used to being
second.
    “Daddy can share with
me, too,” Yas says.
    “But Mommy.”
    “Or I’ll just share
with Daddy.”
    “Fine. But you love
me best?”
    “Nope. I love you
both best. I tell you that all the time, so you know that. Why are
you being so mean to your Daddy?”
    “I love Daddy. You’re
prettier, though. And you’re soft when you cuddle me.”
    “I totally agree with
everything you just said, Buddy.”
    “You’re my best
friend, Daddy. Okay?”
    “Yeah. That’s
always okay.”
    He reaches out and
takes my hand, before I can let the tears that have gathered in my
eyes fall. “Let’s get food for Mommy.”
    We load our plates, and
I carry them as Dave runs ahead and lifts his arms to Yas. She puts
him in his high chair, and I take the seat next to her. She gives me
a nice, long kiss before turning and kissing our little boy on the
cheek.
    “Since my brother’s
been smiling since yesterday, I’m guessing you’re happy about the
new job.”
    “I am. It really is
my dream come true.”
    “That’s my plan. To
make all your dreams come true.”
    “You do.”
    “How times change,”
my dad says as he walks up. “I can remember when your mother used
to worry that none of her boys would settle down. And now all of you
have.”
    “We had to find the
right women,” I tell him. “And we did.”
    “Yes. I couldn’t
ask for better daughter-in-laws.”
    He smiles as he walks
back over to join our mom, who’s talking to Jane and Jessica
Corrigan. Jessica and my good friend, John, were getting pretty cozy
last night. I watch as he walks in and puts an arm around her waist
as he kisses her cheek.
    “Your dad and
Jessica, huh?” I ask Chloe.
    “They’ll be good
for each other,” she says in reply.
    I open my mouth to say
more when another group enters the courtyard. Owen, Candi, and Hope
are here, along with Tegan, Faith, Gavin, Isabelle, Audrey, and
Reina. They all spread out, with my brother and his family making
their way over to our table.
    * * *
    Owen
    “Whatcha doin’?”
Hope asks my niece and nephew when we walk over to their table.
    “I’m sharing with
Daddy,” Erin tells her.
    “And I’m sharing
with Mommy,” Dave says.
    “I’ll share with my
Mommy and my Daddy,”
Hope replies.
    God love my little
girl. I smirk at my brothers, letting them know I’ve won. Hope
doesn’t have a favorite with me and Candi. She wants us both. All
the time.
    “I’ll get our food,
ladies. Please have a seat.”
    Candi rolls her eyes at
me while Hope giggles. My brothers make gagging noises. Jealousy
looks great on both of them. I whistle as I walk away to grab the
plates.
    “You two seem like
you had a nice couple of nights,” Scott tells me with a smirk when
I get back with the food.
    Hope answers before I
can. “Mommy and Daddy are designing a new baby brother or sister
for me. So I have to be a big girl and stay in my own room. Except
for Sunday. Sunday is cuddle night.”
    “Wow. You two are
good,” Chloe tells us with a look of awe on her face.
    Candi shrugs. “She
asked for a baby. Who are we to deny our beautiful daughter?”
    “Nice. Real nice,
bro,” Ryan tells me, bumping fists with me across the table.
    “Can we have a baby,
too, Mommy?” Dave asks Yasmin.
    “Umm…maybe when
you’re a little bigger, like Hope.”
    “Yep. ‘cuz you
can’t be too scared to sleep alone while your mommy and daddy
design it. But if you do get scared, it’s okay. You just need to
knock first before you interrupt the designing.”
    “You two need to
write a parenting book, or at least a blog. This is just gold right
here, “Yas tells us.
    I just smile and kiss
both of my girls. I know how lucky I am. I don’t need anyone else
to tell me. The happy couple walks into the courtyard before I can
respond further. I’m grossed out because she’s my niece, but I
totally understand them showing