Addy wiped her eyes, nodding.“We do love it.And we want to live with you, not Dad.Tammy always tells us that we need to eat less.But I’m always hungry.And not for plants.”
“Then what’s the matter?This means that you get to live in a big house and you each have your own room.”
Elana scooted back, her wet eyes blinking at me.“So we can stay here too?”
Taken aback, I gaped at her.“Why in the world would you think I’d move in with Vance without you?”
“But Vance said that you’re moving in with him.Not all of us.”
Vance dropped onto the floor, kneeling in front of the girls.“I’m so sorry,keiki, that’s not what I meant at all.And your mom would never move anywhere without you.So, of course you’re included.Always.”
They jumped at Vance, almost tackling him to the ground.“So we can live with you and Vance?”
He didn’t hesitate for even a second before replying, “Absolutely.”
Crisis averted, the girls released him.
“Can I get a TV in my room?”Addy asked.
“Adelaine,” I warned.
She threw her hands up and rolled her eyes.“Fine.I was just asking.Don’t get all angry.”
Addy and Elana raced up to their rooms because walking like a normal human wasn’t even a thought in their heads yet.My knees screamed out in pain watching them race up the stairs.
“I spoke to Malena right before you called.She’s taken everything to your ex-husband’s lawyer.If they agree to a deal, we don’t have to go to court.”
“How likely is it that they’d agree?”
“Very likely.”
I hated that my ex was such a shithead to the girls, but at the same time, it might be what pushed this over the line for us.“Do you think he’ll agree to sign adoption papers?”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make it so.And so will Malena, Keely, and Thad.You forget how many people you have on your side.And we’ve all been working to make sure you never have to worry again about losing the girls.”
I turned to Vance, overwhelmed and ready to burst if I didn’t let at least some of my feelings out.“I love you.”
He pressed his lips to mine.“I love you too.And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Well, then.Ditto.”
Another laugh that made my toes curl.“Don’t ever change.”
It was my turn to kiss him, but this time it wasn’t brief.This time it was all tongue.It was all heat.It was all-consuming.Proven by the fact that someone tugging on my shirt was what made us break apart.
Elana looked at us with big eyes.“So youaregetting married.”Already moving on, unperturbed by the possibility, she climbed onto the couch next to Vance and leaned against him.“Can we go in the pool?”
He wrapped an arm around her, hugging her into his side.“If it’s okay with your mom, I can take you.”
Tickling my youngest, I pretended to think about it.“I don’t know.I mean, the water is so nice and warm.And there are all those pool floats that need to be used.So I guess it would be a good idea to get in the water.”
Cheering, Elana slid off the couch, then raced up the stairs, yelling out to Addy, “We get to go in the pool.”
I reluctantly left Vance’s lap and stretched.“All right, I guess I should find out how great your pool is.”
He slapped my butt and shot me a heated look.“I like this plan of yours.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the water, spending time with the kids and not worrying about what might happen next.
