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“I’m scared to tell the others,” I whisper. “What if they aren’t happy? We don’t even know who the father is.”
Maybe it will be for the best if we never do, because that way they’ll all be as important to this baby as each other. They look so different, though. If the baby shares his or her father’s features rather than mine, it might be obvious.
Tino smiles, revealing a set of straight, white teeth. “Trust me, Duchess. This is going to be the best birthday present Dom has ever had.”
Chapter 43
Kirill
Something is going on, and I don’t know what.
It’s Dom’s birthday.
Mackenzie and Tino have agreed to meet us in the den to celebrate Dom turning twenty-two. I’m pleased they’re both out of bed, but they seem to be sharing some kind of secret, and it’s bothering me that I don’t know what it is. I keep catching them exchanging secretive little looks and smiles when they think we’re not looking.
I wonder if it’s something they’ve arranged as a birthday surprise, but I don’t understand why they haven’t included me. I don’t appreciate being left out. Ever since I spent that time in the basement with my Kukla, we’re closer than ever, and this is making me feel pushed out. I want to confront them, but I also don’t want to send either of them back into a downward spiral. At least they are both smiling and happier than we’ve seen them in a long time.
We’ve got some gifts for Dom—a rare collector’s watch, a one-of-a-kind engraved Jones Deluxe handgun, and a giant suctioned dildo, as a spoof. I’m sure he’ll see the funny side. Mackenzie is hanging up a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner, as though Dom is turning two instead of twenty-two. I’m sure he’ll be pleased she’s made the effort, but Tino is hovering around her like she’s a fragile piece of glass he’s worried is going to break.
I know we’ve all been through a lot, but one thing I’ve learned is that Mackenzie is a hell of a lot stronger than we gave her credit for.
She turns her head in my direction and throws me a smile.
Fuck, she looks beautiful today. There’s color back in her cheeks, and her golden blonde hair is clean and shiny. She’s lost weight, and I miss her curves, but I’m sure she’ll get them back now she’s eating again. I’ve ordered a shit ton of food from the nearby town, since our kitchen isn’t fully back up and running, and the table is laid out with pizza and chips and dips. Plus, there’s a huge cupcake stand. Mackenzie has already snagged one of the chocolate cupcakes and wolfed it down. She got frosting on the corner of her mouth, and Tino wiped it off with his finger, and then bopped her on the nose, making her giggle.
I’m so fucking grateful that she seems to have come back to us. These past couple of months have been trying times, but the one thing we’ve all managed to do is stick together. I can’t imagine where we would have ended up if we hadn’t had each other to rely on.
The door cracks open, and we spin around as Dom enters.
“Happy birthday,” we chorus.
Domenic pauses, drags his hand through his hair as he looks around, and then his face splits into a grin. “Fuck, guys, you didn’t need to do this.”
Mackenzie runs up to him. She launches herself at him, and he catches her, her legs hooking around his waist, and her arms around his neck. She kisses him hard.
“We wanted to,” she says when she breaks the kiss. “Happy birthday, baby.”
He kisses her back and then sets her down.
“This looks amazing.”
“We have food,” she says, practically dancing over to the table to indicate the pizza.
Her energy is almost wild, like she’s had five too many shots of espresso. Maybe it’s all the sugar she’s eaten, but my gut tells me it’s something more.
He grins. “Awesome. I’m starving.”
“Food first?” she asks. “Or gifts?”
“Definitely food.”
Is it my imagination, or does her expression fall slightly? She catches Tino’s eye, and he gives her a tiny nod. What the hell are these two up to?
We make short work of all the food between us. Dom and I have a beer, too, but Mackenzie and Tino both go without.
Mack claps her hands. “Gifts now!”
“Okay, okay.” Dom laughs at her enthusiasm.
