“Do you think it’s true?”Ryker asks, like he’s not sure he wants to know the answer, and I don’t blame him. This is a man we know and respect. He’s our coach. A much better coach than he’s been a father.“Do you think Coach knows?”
“According to my mother, he knows. And Dad seemed distant before Evan died. But I don’t know... I don’t feel like I know him or her...”Her voice breaks, and if I could kill hermother with my bare fucking hands I would. Who does this to their daughter? Who hurts their kid this way?
How do you drop your kids after being their father for decades? How do you not talk to them about it? How do you just shut off the love you felt for them? Christ, Kyrie’s owned my heart since the day Ashton brought her into my house, and I don’t share a single fucking strand of DNA with her.
“But I’m honestly not sure what I believe at this point. I don’t know what’s true and what was just her last-ditch effort to wreak as much havoc as she could while she still could. The only thing I know for sure is she signed that deal. I spoke with my attorney as soon as I left, and she said she’d get the process started today. Thankfully, she’s had everything together, waiting for my go-ahead. Start to finish, it could take up to a year, but Kyrie’s going to be mine.”
“Ours,”I correct her and tug her into my arms, and Ashton lays her head against my chest and just breathes for a minute.
“So we get to keep Kyrie?”Ryker asks, and I swear to God I love my friends. My girl turns, and the smile that spreads across her face is spectacular.
“Yeah, we get to keep Kyrie.”
“Hey, beautiful.” I stop beside the blanket Ashton has laid out on the grass a few feet before it falls away to the lake. She’s lying on her side, soaking in what’s left of the afternoon sun. A little white dress showcases her baby bump, dark hair covering her shoulders, a bubble wand in hand, and her smile directed completely at our giggling girl. Kyrie sits up all by herself now. A pink sun hat shading her faceand a teething ring in her chubby hand, swatting at the falling bubbles.
“Hey, charmer.” Ashton shades her eyes as she looks up at me. “I thought your trainer was coming...”
“He is. Ryker and Mav are meeting him in the carriage house.” I look over the lake at the sailboat in the distance. “I just wasn’t in the mood today.” I sit behind her on the blanket and take the bubble wand as Ashton leans against me.
“You feeling okay? It’s not like you to skip training.”
“Never better, Ace.” And damn if that isn’t the truth. “How about you? How are you doing with... everything?”
“I’m okay...” she tells me with her face tilted up to the sun, and she actually looks like she’s found some peace.
I wave the wand and watch Kyrie’s eyes grow bigger with the sight of the purple bubbles. So fucking in love with this moment. Everyone was surprised when I said I wanted to build this house. They thought I’d buy some bigass penthouse condo in the city. Something fancy and convenient to all the hot spots. All the action. All the people.
But these were the only people I needed.
This was the house.
Isthe house.
The one I’m going to raise my family in.
Where we’re going to have barbecues and birthday parties. Christmases and summers spent in the lake or the pool.
This was the house I built for them before I knew there was a them to build it for.
“Jamie . . .”
“Sorry, Ace. I guess I got a little lost.” I brush my lips over hers as Kyrie tips over, reaching for a bubble. She tumbles face-first toward us, still laughing as Ashton catches her and brings her to her chest.
“Are you found now, Jamie?” Ashton whispers and looks at me over her shoulder, her soft smile begging me for the kind of honesty some people never know.
“I am. I think I’m finally home. You did that. You and Kyrie and our baby. I’m at peace. Are you?”
“I am.” She kisses Kyrie’s head, then leans hers back against my chest. “I’m home. Ask me to move into your room again, Jameson...”
I close my eyes and commit this moment to memory. The feel of her in my arms. The sound of Kyrie’s laugh. My hand on Ashton’s bump. My son growing inside her. I want to remember this one day. I want to tell our kids about this moment, and I want to remember every second of it. And once I’m sure... once I know I don’t want to wait another second, I open my eyes.
“Marry me, Ashton.”
“Jamie,” she whispers, her lips trembling. “That’s not asking me to move into your room.”
“It kind of is, Ace.” I caress her cheekbone with the back of my hand. “Marry me. Be my wife. Let us raise our kids together. Be my heart. Be my home. I’ve loved you all my life, Ashton. Do you love me?”
“I love you more than anything in the world, Jamie. But I’m scared.”
