Page 331 of What We Brave

Blake sits up. "Wait. Really?"

"Really."

"You're not just saying that because we?—"

"Blake." I reach up and touch his face. "I'm saying it because I want to. Because every time I watch you two with the kids, I think abouthow much love we have in this house. And how there's room for more."

Reid's staring at me like I've just handed him the sun. "Laine..."

"Don't make it weird. I'm already regretting this decision. Do you know what pregnancy does to my body? Do you remember what I was like with Iris? I cried because a commercial had a puppy in it. A puppy, Reid."

"I remember." He's grinning now. "I also remember other things pregnancy does to your body."

"Pervert."

"You love it."

I do. I really do.

Blake pulls me against his chest, arms wrapped tight around me. His heart is pounding—I can feel it against my back.

"Thank you," he says quietly. Just for me.

"For what?"

"For staying. For all of it. For giving me a family I never thought I'd have."

My throat tightens. Blake doesn't say things like this often. He shows love through actions—through cottages and breakfasts and the way he holds our children like they're the most precious things in the world. Words are harder for him.

Which makes the ones he does say matter more.

"Thank you for building me a place to stay," I whisper back.

Reid's hand finds mine. Squeezes.

We lie there in the quiet, the three of us tangled together. Tomorrow will be chaos—kids at dawn, presents everywhere, my parents wanting to help with breakfast. Real life will come crashing back in.

But right now, in this bed, with these two men who somehow became my whole world?—

Right now is perfect.

"So," Reid says eventually. "Should we start trying tonight, or...?"

I shove a pillow in his face.