LOGINKole's POV"Brother, I love you, but this is insane."Knox laughed as he looked around the backyard. "I think it's fun. The kids are enjoying themselves. We have age-appropriate activities for everybody since we have so many toddlers in the family now. We even have areas for the teens and preteens."I shook my head."You should've invited Shane and his kids."Knox groaned. "Shit, I forgot about him. I was trying to keep it mostly family, you know? That's why I didn't think about it. Next time."I raised an eyebrow."Next time?""Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I don't think we're doing a big party for the kids' actual birthdays this year. Sienna will be due around that time. The next party will probably be next year. It seems like I always get Sienna pregnant around the same time as this new baby is due one week after Carter's birthday, and his birthday is three days after Londons'."I started to respond when Dad walked over."I should've brought your other brothers."I rolled my eyes
Keisha's POV"Kole, where are Mabel's little gym shoes that I just bought her?""Babe, they're in her room," Kole called back. "On her little stand over in the corner."I sighed dramatically and headed back upstairs.Sure enough, he was right.I grabbed the tiny sneakers and headed back down, shaking my head."We have to get to Sienna's house before everybody else does," I said. "All the parking is gonna be gone."Kole laughed."What are you talking about? They have an entire parking lot behind the house.""I know that," I said. "But I want to park in the front. I don't want to be way back there. The neighborhood is up-and-coming, but it ain't all the way up yet.""Stop it," he said, laughing. "There's so much development over there now. The Presidential Library is over there. Restaurants, shops, everything. We'll be fine.""Whatever."I bent down and slipped Mabel's little shoes onto her feet. Today was some kind of giant family adventure day that Knox had dreamed up for all the kids
Maya's POVBuzz. Buzz. Buzz.I frowned as my phone vibrated for what felt like the tenth time.I looked down at the screen while mindlessly eating from a bag of popcorn and watching Gabby run circles around the living room, waving the ribbon she'd gotten from her goodie bag earlier that afternoon.My eyebrows furrowed as I read the message.What in the entire fuck?So Stanley had been approaching Shane's ex-wife, trying to recruit her to dig up dirt on us and break us up.The man was a complete shithead.I quickly texted Shane back.'Did she give him any information? Did she actually help him with anything?'His response came almost immediately.'I don't think so. Sounds like he just kept approaching her from different angles trying to get information.'I sighed and dropped onto the couch.As I sat there chewing popcorn, my thoughts started piecing things together.Then something clicked.Isla had never been invited to my art opening.Yet she showed up. So did Stanley. So did Stanley'
Isla's POVAs I pulled the last batch of cookies from the oven and transferred them onto a serving plate, I glanced over at Lily and Sophia. Both girls were happily dipping oatmeal raisin cookies into glasses of milk, smiling like they hadn't a care in the world.For a moment, I simply watched them.God, I loved my children.The doorbell rang.I heard Shane groan from down the hall before he emerged from his room and headed for the front door. He looked through the glass, nodded, and opened it."Thank you so much."A moment later, he came back carrying two large pizza boxes from Giordano's.One was a deep-dish pizza.The other was a thin crust loaded with spinach, mushrooms, and other toppings I actually liked.I smiled despite myself.Shane set the boxes on the table and checked the time."It's 5:45. Shane Jr. should be here soon. He texted me and said he's on his way."I grabbed drinks from the refrigerator and placed them on the table along with plates, napkins, and cups."Girls, a
Shane's POVAs I watched my children eat their box lunches, I had to admit they looked really good.The lunches had come from a specialty sandwich shop who donated the food, and the kids had been able to choose whatever they wanted. Even the children who didn't eat meat had options. There were wraps, vegetarian sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips, and cookies.Honestly?I was impressed.I grabbed my own lunch box and sat down while Maya grabbed hers and took a seat beside Gabby.The room buzzed with laughter and conversation as kids proudly showed off their artwork."Dad! Did you see what I painted?" Sophia asked excitedly.I looked over at her canvas."Yeah, Soph. This is gorgeous."Her entire face lit up."Really?""Really."She grinned."I love painting. I want to come back next time."I smiled."I'm glad."Then I looked over at Lily."What about you, Lil?""I want to come back too," she said immediately. "I think I did an awesome job."She pointed toward her painting."And the teacher
Isla's POVAfter Shane and the kids left, I sat down at the kitchen table and took a deep breath. The house felt quiet.A little too quiet.I rubbed my hands over my face and sighed. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? My kids had always gravitated more toward Shane.That wasn't new.It had been that way for years. He was the fun parent. The dependable parent. The parent who showed up every single time.And now?Now it felt like they were slipping farther and farther away from me. The truth was, I never thought Shane would actually leave me.Not really.I thought he'd be angry. I thought he'd yell. I thought we'd fight.But leave?No.I never thought he would walk away from me. Not after all these years. Not after we'd been together since we were sixteen. Physically, I had always been there.Mentally?That was a different story.I looked around the house and felt something settle heavily in my chest. What am I doing?Did I want my children to be happy?Or did I want myself to be
Isla’s POVBy the time I pull up to the school, my stomach is already tight.It’s not because of traffic. Or work. Or the kids.It’s the feeling.That low, nagging certainty sitting in my gut, whispering that Shane is not working late. Again.I sigh as I shift the van into park. I could follow him.
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
Explicit Scenes AheadShane's povThe mattress dipped under my weight, and I looked up to find Maya smirking down at me. That look, bold, and unapologetic sent a jolt through me that had nothing to do with the bed beneath us."Take off that t-shirt," she commanded, her voice a low purr.I didn't







