“Oh god, I really am stupid,” I mumble.
I call my mom and ask her to come over to watch the kids, then I order myself an Uber. I don’t even bother to see what I look like, just pocket my phone and run down the stairs. I don’t even bother to skip the third step.
All three kids are standing in the kitchen, smiling a little creepily.
“Lake, can you watch your brother and sister? Aunt Lily is on her way over.”
“I can, yup. Go.”
They all smile even wider.
“Thanks.” I rush over to them, kiss their cheeks, and tell them I love them.
Then I open the door and rush down the porch steps. My Uber is already here, so I wind through the cars parked along the curb. As I approach, the back door opens, and I rear back.
Hayes steps out and pauses when he sees me.
I suck in a breath.
“Get out.” Callie’s voice comes from the back seat, and I lean around him, seeing not only Callie but his three teammates in the Uber XL.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, really hoping Hayes is here for the same reason I was running to him.
“I’m here for you. I’m sorry for all the shit I said. I love you. I can’t even function without you.” He takes my hand and leads me to the curb.
“He really can’t,” Easton says, getting out of the vehicle.
“It’s pathetic,” Foster adds.
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Tears burn my eyes. “I shouldn’t have pushed you out of our lives. I was so scared that something had happened to you, and it dredged up all this shit, but I was wrong for shutting you out. You were right, this life won’t be perfect, but it’s us, working through everything. Together.”
“I should’ve tried harder to call so you wouldn’t have to worry.” He puts his hand on my cheek. “And I should’ve just left Foster at the hospital.”
“Thanks,” Foster mutters.
“So…” I’m not sure what happens now.
“So, I’m going to kiss you,” he says, and I nod like a damn bobblehead.
His other hand comes up to my cheek so both of his palms cradle my face, and he presses his lips to mine. I sink into him, the feeling of home and rightness wrapping around me.
Then our friends and family are cheering, the kids are jumping up and down in the doorway.
“Okay, kiddos, in the house before it gets rated R.” Callie forces everyone toward the porch and ushers the kids inside.
The door shuts, and I wrap my arms around Hayes’s waist, burying my head in his chest. “I love you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “You’re the love of my life.”
I squeeze him tighter.
We stand there wrapped around each other for a long time.
Before we pull apart, I say, “I think we have to watch out for Lake. She just did some weird psychology thing to get me to see that I was wrong.”
He chuckles. “Probably learned it from Callie. We should ban her from spending time with the kids.”
He puts his arm around me, and we walk up the stairs, and it feels as if the puzzle pieces fit. Well, except for one.
