“Are you all packed up?” I ask, sitting up to kiss Pandora.

“Yep. It’s nice having stuff at both places, though, so all we have to do is grab the essentials.”

I reach out and grab her breast, and she giggles. “What? Just the essentials, right?”

“You play your cards right, and we can have a babysitter tonight.”

“Your sister is having baby fever again,” I say, picking up Lav and taking her over to the changing table.

“I know. She says one more, and Ivan agrees. But I think that man would give her as many babies as her little body can carry.”

She comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her cheek on my shoulder.

“If we timed it out right, you could both be pregnant at the same time,” I say.

“Oh God! Can you imagine? Penelope would go nuts.”

I blow a raspberry on Lav’s belly and listen to her giggle. “Might not be so bad. She’s already a year old. Maybe we should have them close together.”

“Sounds like you’re the one who has baby fever,” she says, smacking my ass. “Are you and Penelope in cahoots?”

I hide my smile from her and try to shrug casually. I may have been talking to Penelope about cycles and when they would both be ovulating again. Ivan didn’t like the talk at first, but as soon as Penelope was talking about being fertile, he was right there with us.

“Royce Davenport, turn around and look at me,” Pandora demands.

I pick up Lav and hold her up beside my face. “Would we lie to you?”

Pandora bites her lip and shakes her head. “You’re not allowed to use her cuteness to get out of trouble. Come to Mama, little one.”

She takes Lavender, and then I scoop the both of them in my arms and walk toward the door.

“Tell you what, why don’t we let your parents watch little Lav tonight, and you and me have some alone time? You know, see what happens.”

Pandora rolls her eyes, but I know she’s thinking about it.

“I can’t say I don’t like it when you try to knock me up,” she says as I put her on her feet so she can grab her bag. I take it from her, and then take the baby, as Pandora locks up.

“Then just shut that pretty mouth of yours and let your man make things happen.”

“I think your dad is trying to give you a brother or sister,” Pandora says as she walks past us.

“I’m trying my best, baby girl,” I whisper to her, and she giggles at me.

EPILOGUE

Pandora

Five years later

“Oh my God, Pan, that guy is totally checking you out,” Penelope says from beside me.

I look up to see a guy at a bench in the park near us looking our way.

“Whatever,” I say, blowing it off. I’m in yoga pants and a tank top, with what I’m sure are at least three different kid stains.