Page 80 of The Champion
When she looked up, I was emotional eating and stuffingcookie after cookie in my mouth. “Oh my god...poorVan! I had no idea he felt like that.” Another cookie, “He just seemed so...together.”
“That’s what you see. When he’s not working or...he’sjustdifferent.”
“I guess so.”
Our conversation soon drifted as everyone made their wayinto the kitchen to check on the food we were cooking.
I should clarify. Nancy was cooking and Andrea and I werecatching up and peeling potatoes. I hadn’t seen them since the Fourth of Julyparty. I couldn’t believe how much the Lucifer twins had grown.
Logan was finally as tall as Lucas and they seemed tohave been acting more mature. The other thing I noticed was how much they werestarting to resemble Charlie.
Emma waddled into the kitchen, holding her side. “Isthere anything to eat in here? I’m starving.”
Just about then, Spencer walked in too, looking for food.“Careful sis, if your ass gets any bigger you’ll need a beeper when you backup.” He snickered popping a couple deviled eggs in his mouth and sat down onthe stool next to me.
“You’re such an asshole, Spencer.” I told him shaking myhead in disapproval when Emma burst into tears that someone called her fat.
“Hey...I’m honest.”Spencer crammed another egg in his mouth. Jameson walked in right about thenand leaned against me. “You’re just lucky you didn’t have twins with all theice cream you ate.”
Jameson stuck up for me and smacked the back of Spencer’shead.
“What the fuck are you talking about? Sway was never fatwhen she was pregnant.”
“Ow fuck!” Emma screamed and clutched her stomach.
Aiden ran into the kitchen to grab her but slipped on thewater she had spilled.
Only problem was, that wasn’t water from the sink. Emma wasin labor.
It’s just like the women in our family to go into laboron a holiday or a major event. All the Riley children were born after a racethat Jimi won. Lane was born in the pits at a dirt track. Axel was born onChristmas. Lexi was born after the Daytona July race and now the twins...Thanksgiving.
What can I say? We specialized in excitement.
The next few hours were spent calming Emma and Aidendown. They were freaking the fuck out, worse than Jameson and I when we wentinto labor. At least she didn’t need to get dressed and spend hours justgetting her husband to wear his own clothes.
Once they were at the hospital, Emma delivered the twinswithin two minutes of getting there. Jameson drove them because he insistedthat he was the only qualified driver. Smartass.
Everyone stayed out in the waiting room until Aiden cameout with a huge grin.
“Emma is doing great...afterbeing sedated...but she’s great.” Hewaited for a moment, as though he practiced saying that in the mirror or somethingbefore his eyes went wide. Clearly, we wanted to know more. “Oh...the babies are great too.”
I don’t think you could have wiped that grin off hisface.
For someone who didn’t want kids, he sure seemed happythat his boys had arrived safely.
Alley and I jumped to our feet at the chance to see thetwins. Nancy stayed at the house with Jimi to watch the Lucifer twins, Lane,Axel and Lexi so we could assist Aiden with Emma.
Emma was in a bit of a frenzy once the doctors told herthere was no time for pain medication. Can’t say I blame her on that one.
“What are their names?” I asked when I peered down at theone in my arms. Alley was holding the other.
Emma and Aiden exchanged a loaded glance, as did Jameson.
“What?” I looked back and forth between the three ofthem. Spencer and Alley were too caught up in staring at the other baby.
Jameson, who had been standing against the door justwatching me smiled and made his way over to pull me against his chest gently.
“The one you’re holding...isCharles James.” He whispered softly kissing the side of my head.
