Five Years Later

The annual Holden family vacation is always hectic, but I've grown accustomed to it by now.

Every year, Cameron makes sure to rent a private jet, but we can't ever seem to show up together on time. The plane is bound to leave thirty minutes later than it's supposed to, which is only fueling the pilot's pockets further. Like Maddie, I'm a very timely person, so we're already in the cabin seated and ready for take-off.

"Sorry, Sorry!" Izzy bounds up the steps with three bags filled with more than likely clothes and shoes. She's always claimed that some of her items are too fragile to be in the luggage hold. "We're here."

"Babe, give me some bags. You shouldn't--" Mason is close on her heels with guilt flickering across his face. Odds are, the reason they're late is that they became distracted. A common occurrence between the two.

Maddie waves her hand, getting more irritated by the second. "You aren't the last ones here. We're still waiting for Connor."

Izzy quirks a brow. "Are you surprised?"

Cameron shakes his head. "Not at all."

The destination for the vacation this year is a European cruise, which was my pick. Each year, we all put our destination choice into a hat and the youngest always pick. Connor was highly aggravated it wasn't his choice, freaking Iceland. I had no desire to get frostbite and freeze my ass off for seven days, so I was thrilled mine was picked.

"Daddy, put me down!" A shrill giggle comes from the back of the plane. I turn my head to see Everett with our three-year-old daughter slung over his shoulder and one-year-old son on his hip. The smile on my husband's face is one of pure, unfiltered joy, and my heart swells to twice the size.

Things happened quickly for us, but in a way, they didn't. We've known since we were teenagers that we had a special connection, and after Izzy and Mason's wedding, Everett didn't make it six months before he proposed. We had an intimate ceremony in a chapel with just the two of us two months later, and a month after that, we got pregnant with Janie. We both wanted a big family, and, needless to say, have been successful at starting.

"There's my favorite granddaughter!" Maddie opens her arms when Everett sets Janie on her feet, and Janie runs over on her tiny legs to throw herself into Nana's embrace. She's a spitting image of Everett with curly brown hair and bright blue eyes, and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, our son, Marco, named after my father, has my same tan complexion and honey-brown eyes, taking after me.

"She's your only granddaughter," I clarify.

Izzy plops down into the aisle across from me with a tiny grin on her face. "For now."

All eyes shoot to her. Mason's eyes dance with delight as he stares at his wife, and Maddie's eyes begin to well up with tears. It's not that nobody thought she'd get pregnant, but she's a career-driven woman with a lot on her shoulders. I've worked my way up in her company and now am a co-designer on her newest collection, but I see how much she deals with on a daily basis. If I'm overwhelmed? I can't even imagine how she feels.

Izzy's cheeks redden. "It's still early, but we just... We uh, we found out this morning. That's why we're late. I had to take a test."

"Congratulations!" I say. "It's about time for Janie and Marco to have a cousin."

Everett gives her sister a side hug and then takes a seat beside me, hugging Marco close to his chest. Being a father looks very good on him. Since we married, he designed a video game with some buddies from college, and this past year, it's taken off, ranking number one on almost every platform. To watch him grow into someone he's proud of has been one of our greatest accomplishments as a team, however, I'm very happy that his sense of style hasn't changed. He still likes to wear his black skinny jeans and Balenciaga hoodie, and now? He's added a full sleeve on his left arm along with a nose piercing. He's the sexiest man I have ever laid eyes on. Sometimes, I still wake up in disbelief that I get to keep him forever.

"Why is everyone crying?" Connor has finally made his appearance, so tall that he has to duck in order not to hit the top of the plane. He's outgrown even Cameron's height, which is saying a lot.

"Uncle Connie!" Janie slips off Maddie's lap to haul herself down the aisle. Connor catches her with ease, pulling her into his arms to attack her with kisses. My daughter looks like a freaking ant in his arms. I swear, her entire body is the width of one of his biceps.

"Janie bug!" He spins around, grinning from ear to ear when she giggles. "Are you excited to spend a whole week together?"

She nods excitedly.

"Me too. Me, you, and—" He looks around until he spots Marco. "Ah, there's the future hockey player."

Everett laughs loudly. "God help us if that's the case."

"If I have anything to do with it, he'll be passing a puck in no time."

Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I feel contentment when I look upon Connor and my children. Mason and Izzy are busy people in general. They do spend time with the kids, but it can be hard for them to find time to do so. Connor, however, spends every waking second he can with our kids. Takes them to the movies, and the park, and sometimes, his Coach lets him bring Janie to practice to watch him play. He's truly the best Uncle we could ever ask for. Not that Mason isn't, but the bond Janie shares with Connor is a special one. Something tells me that when Marco gets older, the bond will be just as strong.

"I was just telling everyone that we're pregnant," Izzy tells him. "We found out this morning."

Connor breaks into a full-toothed grin, glancing at Janie. "I'm just the luckiest guy in the world, aren't I? Another niece or nephew?"

Everett chuckles beside me, dropping his voice low to whisper, "You're not going to tell them?"

"Now?" I shake my head. "No way. This is Izzy's moment."

Everett and I found out two weeks ago that we were pregnant again, and while we had plans to create a big family, we didn't expect it so soon. Not when Marco just turned a year old. We wanted to tell them on this family vacation, but now it just feels...wrong. We'll tell them, but not today. I've already had this moment twice of telling the family we're pregnant. Let Izzy have a turn.

"Okay," Everett says, his hand brushing my stomach. He draws a gentle circle, causing my heart to flutter. "I can't wait for this baby to be here. We're really making our dreams come true, huh?"

I tip my head up to press a gentle kiss on his lips. "We are."

"And I can't wait to see you all pregnant again," he hums. "Nothing turns me on more."

I don't know why I was ever insecure the first time around when Everett had given me nothing but reassurance that I was beautiful. Throughout my pregnancy, he was in awe watching my stomach grow, watching me create life, and the day Janie was born, he seemed to be in awe of the power and strength I carried during her birth.

Connor leans over our seats with Janie still on his hip, dropping his head down to mutter, "Congrats to you too, by the way."

My head tilts so I'm staring at him upside down. "What are you talking about?"

He scoffs. "I saw the Taki's stocked in your pantry when I watched Janie last week. Did you think I wouldn't put two and two together?"

Dammit. I didn't even think about that. Taki's are my one weakness during my pregnancy. I've craved them every single time. The morning I woke up craving them two weeks ago, I immediately went and got a test. I knew.

Everett glowers at him. "Keep it to yourself."

"I won't say a word," Connor promises. "Our family is growing bigger by the second. I'm stoked to have more nieces and nephews."

I grin smugly. "Sure you don't want to give us a niece or nephew? Hop on the train with Izzy and Mason?"

He wrinkles his nose in disgust. "I am totally good with spending time with the littles and handing them back to their parents. I'm only twenty-two. I've got more than enough time."

Connor's phone pings in his pocket, so he passes Janie over the seat to set her in my lap just as Izzy leans over and asks, "Are Elias and Liam meeting us there?"

I nod. "Yeah, Liam texted me this morning. He and Elias wanted to have...alone time on the flight there. Whatever the hell that means."

"Entering the mile-high club," Everett muses, letting out a chuckle. When no one joins him, he narrows his eyes. "Seriously, Connor? That was funny. Now you choose not to laugh at a dirty joke?"

Connor still hasn't said anything, which is cause for concern. Everett sits up to peek over the seat. "What's wrong?"

Huh?

I sit on my knees with Janie standing on the seat beside me. Connor's face has grown pale, his eyes glued to whatever is on his phone. Instantly, concern starts to settle in, and the entire plane becomes focused on whatever the hell is on his phone.

"Honey, what is it?" Maddie urges.

"I..." Connor blows out a breath. "Someone was just hired for the team, and it's..." He can't even finish the sentence. I have never seen Connor Holden speechless. "It's that girl I hooked up with five years ago in the Maldives. It's her in the picture."

Everett erupts into a fit of laughter, earning a death stare from Connor. I elbow my husband in the side to shut him up, but he can't stop himself. Actual tears are streaming down his cheeks. "I knew this would happen," Everett pants. "Well, let's gear up for another wedding everyone!"

"There isn't going to be a wedding," Connor starts.

"Who are you trying to fool? That girl has consumed your thoughts for years. Let me see who stole your heart." Reaching for Connor's phone, he snatches it away, out of his grasp.

"No way in hell," he replies.

"What did she get hired for?" Everett asks.

"You think I'm going to tell you that?" Connor snaps. "You'll google her and probably stalk her and try to set us up."

"As if you won't try to snag her again after the off-season is done and you work together under the same roof? Yeah, okay. Doubtful."

"Whatever," Connor grumbles.

Maddie smiles softly in her seat, mimicking my expression. As much as Connor tries to deny it, the girl he hooked up with meant something to him. I don't know what transpired between them on that beach, but on the flight home from that trip, Connor was...different. He was distracted, and it took a while to get him back to his full comical self.

If this girl is back in the picture, I'm happy for him. But Connor has a way of deflecting how he really feels. He's cocky and arrogant to most, but behind closed doors, he's the kind of man who will cuddle by the fireplace with his niece and read her a bedtime story. I should know since I've seen him do it on multiple occasions.

I just hope that whoever the mystery woman is, she doesn't give up on him, because if I've learned anything, once she gets past a Holden boy's facade? She's going to find a heart of gold.

Author's Note:

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