Kiera nodded, then went back to cooing and cuddling Onnika. I didn’t think she had any plans to give Kellan a turn. Not willingly at least. Eventually she had to share though, because after a while everyone else walked into the room. And just like that, our place was party central. There were so many people in it, I felt like we should start charging admission.

Aside from Kellan and Kiera, Mom, Dad, Liam, Matt, Rachel, Evan, and Jenny were there. There were also nurses loitering outside the door, and a few people visiting other patients too, from what I could tell. Guess news of a rock star’s wife having a baby had already circulated around the hospital. I’d probably have to beat them back to get out of here.

Everyone was all smiles as they passed Onnika around, and whatever tension had been between us suddenly melted away. Rachel and Jenny were fine with me, the guys were fine with me, and I was fine with them. I could barely even remember why I’d been irritated earlier. Another one of Onnika’s superpowers. This kid was truly amazing. Again, not a big surprise. She was genetically engineered to be cool.

While Kiera impatiently waited for another turn with Onnika, she told Anna, “I called Mom and Dad. They’re heading out tomorrow or Monday. Mom’s mad that you couldn’t hold out until your due date.”

Anna snorted. “She’ll get over it. She did the last time.”

I expected my wife’s happy buzz of newborn bliss to fade, but she looked relaxed and sleepy as she lay there, watching everyone lose their shit over her daughter. It seemed like nothing could faze her at the moment, a fact that was confirmed when she told the room, “I’m so glad you’re all here for this, and Mom, Dad, I want you to stay as long as you want! My home is your home! Invite everyone, the more the merrier!”

My eyes widened. Did she really just say that to my parents? I couldn’t help but wonder if whatever was dripping into her IV was making her loopy or if she was riding a natural high. Either way, she’d just opened the floodgates, and there was no taking it back. I could see it in my mother’s eyes. She’d been given permission to crash for as long as she saw fit, and nothing Anna said or did now would matter. Our negotiation was null and void, but at least I hadn’t torn up the contract. No, Anna had screwed this one up all on her own.

Chapter 7

Oh Holy Awesome

Thanks to Anna giving my family the green light to stay as long as they wanted, two months later, my home was still full of visitors. Every single room was being used up by various relatives who’d decided to “visit” and refused to leave.

Anna’s parents were staying with Kiera and Kellan. Kiera said that was because our house was too crowded, but Anna let it slip that the real reason they were staying over there was because they preferred Kellan over me.

She didn’t say it quite like that. She’d merely said they “had a few issues with my personality.” What? I had an awesome personality, so that couldn’t really be it. They were just wrapped up in the Kellan Kyle fantasy, like everybody else.

That really irritated me. I was the coolest person I knew, and certainly Martin and Caroline would come to know that if they spent a little more time with me. I didn’t see what problem they could possibly have with me anyway. I’d married their daughter, given her an awesome home to live in, and impregnated her with two of my very best seeds. What more could they ask of a husband? I should be on their Most Awesome Person in the World list.

Anna had deep bags under her eyes as she bounced Onnika in her arms. “Griffin, I’ve had about as much of this as I can take. When are they leaving?”

We were in our room, where Onnika slept in a bassinet by the bed. We were eventually going to move her upstairs in a room next to Gibson, but Anna wasn’t ready to be that far away from her yet. Me either, although I was looking forward to having sex in my bed again. When Anna had felt ready to resume the horizontal mambo, we’d moved over to the closet to complete the act. I just couldn’t have sex in the same room as my kid, no matter the age. I never would have thought I’d have a sexual Achilles’ heel, but I guess I did.

I knew what Anna meant by her statement. Even with our bedroom door closed, I could hear people talking, laughing, shouting, running, watching TV, stomping, eating, playing, and somewhere, someone was crying. I needed a bigger house.

Shrugging, I told her, “I don’t know when they’re leaving. You kind of told them they could stay as long as they wanted. I think some of them are planning on moving in.” A few of my cousins had jokingly said that when they’d noticed the pool and tennis court. At least, I was pretty sure they were joking. I might have to deal with squatters in the near future.

Anna gave me a look born from exhaustion, a look that said she was frying my manhood in her mind. “I do not remember saying that. Or anything even close to that. I think you told them it was fine to stay longer, which goes against our negotiations. So, according to the rules, I have one free win to use at my discretion.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say shit to anybody.” Except my sister, Chelsey, but I didn’t mention that. “You were the one feeling all lovey-dovey in the hospital.”

“I was doped up on baby juice. That doesn’t count.”

She closed her eyes, and I saw the tears forming. She was so tired. I’d told her in the beginning that she’d be less tired with everyone around, but that just wasn’t the case. Anna felt the need to entertain them, and while they did help with Onnika and Gibson during the day, Anna was still the one getting up all night long with Onnika. I’d tried to talk her into napping whenever she could, but she said it was too loud, she couldn’t sleep. I wished there was something I could do to help her, but I was stuck. She’d opened the hospitality doors, and I couldn’t shut them. Not on family.