LOGINMaya's POV I looked at Carmen and shook my head.“Girl, what the hell is going on?”That was all it took.She started crying again. Not cute little tears, either. She was crying profusely, wiping at her face and trying to catch her breath.“I’m just so shocked that Stephen even wants me,” she said. “That any man before him didn’t. Look what happened with Crandon. He treated me like shit. And for that man to say he loved me, but then sneak me around? He wouldn’t even announce me to our familys. That man wouldn’t even sleep with me because I was supposedly such a disgusting person.”I blinked.“Say what?”Sienna looked at Carmen, then at me, then back at Carmen.“Wait. Do you still have feelings for Crandon?”Carmen straightened immediately.“Hell no!”She wiped her nose with a tissue.“But when a man treats you like that...like you’re nothing. Less than nothing. Worse than nothing. Like you’re not even worth the gum on the bottom of his shoe, you get a little mental complex.”She swal
Maya's POV “I'm having two babies. Kira has her last baby. That's eight babies from just the two of us. Then Keisha has her two. That's ten.”She held up both hands.“We went from zero to ten in like four years. That's fucking insane.”I shook my head.“Well, you know what? I think it's love. You found your people. You found your mates. It is what it is.”Before anybody could respond, the loudspeaker crackled.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now six o'clock. The boat will set sail at eight. Everyone, please mingle. Food and hors d'oeuvres are available on both floors. Dinner will be served at eight o'clock. Please eat, drink, and enjoy.”Everyone started moving around.People grabbed drinks.Food.Pictures were being taken.The music was already playing.Then Carmen came up the stairs.Everyone clapped.She was wearing her sash and looked completely in her element.“Okay, girls! Let's pass out the sashes!”Of course.She started handing them out.“The Most Prepared.”She passed one to s
Maya’s POVAs we pulled up in our Uber, I sighed and looked over at Shane.“You ready for this?”He looked at me and grinned. “I’m more than ready.”I glanced at the time on my phone.5:55 p.m.And there was still a damn line stretching outside the loading area of the boat.I frowned.“What the fuck is this?”Shane shrugged. “Hopefully we got the right colors, because that’s what it looks like she’s doing. She’s checking to make sure everybody has on the appropriate colors.”I rolled my eyes.“This cream dress is going to have to fucking work.”And honestly, I looked good as hell.I had on a classic boho-glam A-line mini dress with a deep V neckline. I was showing plenty, but not too much. Because the dress was fitted at the top and flared slightly toward the bottom, you couldn't really tell I was pregnant.Well...unless you looked closely.And my tits?The girls were out in full effect.The high beams were beaming tonight nice and full.Shane had already looked at me at least five ti
Kole's POV Where in the fuck do we even start?Crandon had successfully weaseled his way out of this whole damn situation by taking Tempest on a trip to California for her sister’s graduation.Must be nice.Meanwhile, the rest of us were stuck dealing with Carmen.It was Saturday, and Carmen’s official wedding was next week. Which meant this weekend was supposed to be fun.The bachelor slash bachelorette party.Or, as Carmen had officially branded it, the Bachelor and Bachelorette Boat Ride.We were supposed to have two separate boats. At least, that was what I remembered from Carmen’s itinerary. The men were supposed to be on the Spirit of Chicago, while the women were supposed to be on the Odyssey. Then, toward the end of the night, everybody would meet up.Simple enough.Apparently, Carmen decided simple wasn't good enough.Late last night, we got a group text informing everyone that we were all supposed to be on the Odyssey.Men and women.The women would be on the top floor. The
Crandon's POV As our flight landed in San Francisco, I reached over and took Tempest's hand. "Come on." I guided her toward the rental car counter, and I couldn't help but smile. Yes, we had taken an early Friday morning flight. The first flight out of O'Hare had been at 6:15 a.m., and we had been sitting comfortably in business class. Now, I don't know how people ride coach. I haven't ridden coach in decades. And I'm talking about since I was a child. Tempest, on the other hand, had never flown business class before. She was completely shocked when they served us an actual breakfast but we barely ate it as it was so early in the morning. Then they brought out snacks. She stared at the little bowl of roasted almonds like somebody had handed her contraband. "Aren't nuts basically outlawed because of allergies?" I laughed. "No." "Unless you're allergic to them, they're still serving them." "United and American both do it." She looked at me like she didn't believe me. "T
Shane's POVWe pulled into the parking garage at Northwestern Medical Center, and I hurried around the truck to help Maya out. She smiled as she took my hand, carefully stepping down from the passenger seat.Right behind us, Maria climbed out of her car.A second later, I heard another horn.My mother.She parked a few spaces away, hopped out of her SUV, and came over grinning from ear to ear."Hey, Mom.""Hey!" she squealed, clapping her hands together. "I'm so excited!"She immediately linked arms with Maria like they'd been best friends for years, and the four of us headed inside together.Within minutes we were sitting in the OB waiting room.Maya filled out a short stack of updated paperwork. Since she was already an established patient with Dr. Ross, it wasn't nearly as much as a brand-new patient had to complete. She only needed to update her medical information and pregnancy history.After turning in the forms, the nurse handed her a specimen cup."Just leave it in the little
Shane’s POVMan… I can’t believe they’re actually finally married.I stand there for a second, drink in hand, letting the reality of it settle in while the reception buzzes around me with the music thumping, people laughing too loud, somebody already drunk and it’s not even late yet. I glance over
Shane’s POVBeep. Beep. Beep. Beep.My hand reaches for my phone on instinct, but I can’t move.There’s a soft, warm weight pressed against my chest.I crack one eye open and look down.Maya.Still sprawled on top of me, naked, peaceful, completely out of it. Soft snores slipping from her lips like
Isla’s POVI wake up after falling asleep on the couch and the first thing I do is reach for my phone.1:03 a.m.I stare at the screen longer than I needed to.My husband, Shane, has always been home by 12 o’clock am on a Saturday night for the last thirteen years. We’ve been together since I was s
Maya’s POVMy best friend in the whole entire world pulls me away from that fine specimen of a man like she’s saving me from myself.Shane.Lord.I sigh as Sienna drags me a few steps to the side, her grip firm but familiar. “What’s going on, girl?” I ask, already knowing the answer.She gives me t







