Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“You go first. I’m gonna shut the house down,” I say, and she nods before disappearing into the bathroom. I don’t question it. I learned to never look a gift horse in the mouth.
When I make it back into the bedroom, she’s in middle of her bed with her back to the headboard and the blankets over her lap. I shut off the overhead light, since she has the lamps on, then head into the bathroom. I use the toothbrush she left out on the counter for me and strip down to my boxers. I open the door and see she’s on the phone with who I immediately know is her twin brother, just from her side of the conversation. I go to the right side of the bed and climb in, pulling her against my torso, which she hasn’t taken her eyes off of.
“Love you too, and tell Hunter I love him,” she says quietly, running her fingers down the center of my abs and the trail of dark hair there. “Yeah, see you both soon.”
She drops her forehead to my pec and I look down at her, seeing her hair spread out over my chest and abs. “You okay?”
“Steven is pissed. He hasn’t spoken to mom in forever either, and he can’t believe she had the guts to show up here after everything that’s happened and act like things were all good.” She looks up at me. “He and Hunter are coming next weekend. Shel—I mean Mom—told them about you and me. I think they want to come see for themselves that everything is okay with us.”
“They love you. Them coming is understandable,” I say, looking into her eyes and trying to gauge her reaction.
“Yeah, but… um, will you be okay with that?”
“With them coming into town to check on you?” She nods. “Yeah, baby, you know I get along with your brothers. It’s not a big deal,” I assure, and she bites her bottom lip. “What?”
“It’s just so odd how everything seems to be falling into place.”
“That worries you?”
“Yes… no… I don’t know. It just seems like I’m going to wake up and this will all be a dream.”
My fingers slide through her soft hair and curve around the back of her neck. “This is not a dream. This is definitely not going to end. This is the way it’s supposed to be.”
I watch her eyes soften then slide closed. “Ly wants to call you Dad.”
My stomach muscles bunch and my fingers around the back of her neck tighten at her words. “Pardon?”
“I… Pen told her we are in love. And I guess she heard Dad say you have always been a daddy to her. She asked me tonight when I was making dinner if she could call you that.”
“Fuck.” Heat hits my chest and spreads through every limb, every cell, every single inch of me. I thought I had everything with Bre giving herself to me, but hearing Ly wants to call me Daddy means I not only have everything. I have it all.
“Denver.” Her hand slides up to my jaw, and I focus on her, seeing she’s worried.
“I’m down with that, if it’s what she wants.” I haul her up my body until we are face-to-face. “You okay with that?”
“I am. I just….”
I know what she’s thinking, even without her saying it. I know she’s worried Ly giving that to me will mean she’s going to forget Gabe. “We—you and I both—will make sure she never forgets him, Bre. But I’m fucking honored she wants me to have that title.”
I watch her eyes slide closed. “She loves you.”
“I love her too.”
“I know you do,” she confirms, opening her eyes meeting my gaze. “Please tell me all of this isn’t too good to be true.”
“It’s not, baby. Just stick with me and I promise you’ll see that for yourself.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispers, her soft hands sliding down my chest.
“No you’re not,” I agree, rolling her to her back. “You’re mine now, and no fucking way am I letting you go.”
“Good.” She lifts her head, pressing her mouth to mine.
I kiss her back then do a whole lot of other things to her. Only when we are both exhausted do I tuck her against me and fall asleep with her in my arms, right where she belongs.
Right where she will always belong.
_______________
“Fuck, man. I can’t believe it. I heard it from Lu, who has been spreading that shit wide, and I still didn’t think it was true,” Lincoln, my best friend since I can remember, mutters, watching Bre and Lyra disappear into the restroom at the restaurant we are having lunch at together. “Happy for you.”
“Not as happy as I am.” I pick up my beer, taking a swig. It’s been a week since Bre and I got back into town, and since then, we haven’t spent a night away from each other. I’ve woken each morning with her in my arms, ate breakfast with her and Lyra, and then worked while she worked, going back to her and Lyra’s at the end of the day. Tonight will be the first night I’ll be gone, since I have to head out for an opener. I’m not looking forward to being away, but I know when I get back into town she’ll be waiting for me, so it’s all good.