“I’m going to get cleaned up and I’ll be right back out,” I shout over my shoulder as I rush to my room. As I run the water over a washcloth in my bathroom, I hum out the melody as lyrics begin to come to me.
You’re my revival,
My place of survival,
Your arms are the home I never lost.
I might be fragile,
But you make me whole again,
Make me sing again, my muse.
I type the lyrics in my notes app, promising myself I’ll put them to paper later when we get home. After adding a reminder to have Kyle ship my favorite songwriting guitar to Jackson’s house, I walk out of my bedroom feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
My melodies are coming back to me, and instead of the heartbreak and grief they’ve been riddled with for so many years, I’m finally able to write about something lighthearted—like falling again for the boy who was once my whole world.
In all honesty, Jackson Wilson has always been my muse.
I’d say my heart’s revival album is long overdue.
We make our rounds as Jax introduces me to his teammates and their significant others if they have one. So far, I haven’t recognized any of them and I’m anxious for Carson and McKenna to arrive so I can see some familiar faces.
Just then, Bennett joins us on the back patio with a young boy on his shoulders and his new bride, who I recognize as Scarlett Carlisle, the newest and youngest owner of the Minnesota Wolverines, beside him.
Jax wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in as they approach us with big smiles on their faces.
“Taevin, hey! I’m so glad you could join us today. How are you feeling?” Scarlett asks, surprising me when she brings me in for a hug.
Somewhat stunned, I pat her back awkwardly when Bennett tells her, “Little Red, not everyone is a hugger like you.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. It’s just with all I’ve heard about you lately, I feel like we’re old friends,” she explains.
I side eye Jackson and the little shit winks back at me.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind the hug. I mean, I would’ve hugged you on your wedding day had I not made such a dramatic exit.”
“How are you feeling now?” Scarlett asks me.
“My incisions are nearly healed, it’s the exhaustion at this point. Add in the hormone injections Jax is poking me with each night and I am just a hormonal, tired mess at this point.”
“What are the injections for? And why in the hel—heck are you trusting J to give them to you?” Bennett asks, and I’m somewhat surprised he doesn’t already know considering how close he and Jax are.
“I’m getting injections to prep for my upcoming egg retrieval this week,” I explain.
Bennett’s eyebrows shoot up, and as he opens his mouth to respond, Scarlett cuts in. “Oh, I didn’t know that! My stepmom did IVF to have Gemma, of course that was sixteen years ago and I was pretty young, but I remember the injections being tough on her. When is your procedure?”
“Thursday,” I reply.
“Well now that we’re back from our honeymoon, let us know if there’s anything we can help with. I’d love to make you dinner sometime this week if that’s okay with you.”
“Really? That’d be amazing,” I tell her, then turning to look up at Jax. “Do you think maybe we could have them over for dinner?”
Jax squeezes my hip, and the small gesture warms my chest. “Of course, baby.”
I feel like I need to pinch myself right now. As if standing here with Jax, meeting all of his teammates and being introduced to his new family members, wasn’t already making me feel overwhelmingly grateful, now he’s claiming me in front of everyone once more with his arms around me and calling me “baby.” I can’t begin to explain how amazing that feels after convincing myself for years that I’d never get to experience any of this with him.
“Shut up! Is that my favorite secret sister-in-law talking to my other favorite sister-in-law?” a shrill voice asks just before her bouncing blonde curls come into view.
