“Your birthday is coming soon! Why didn’t you tell me? I need to buy a present. And it’s your thirtieth. We definitely should have a party. I bet all the venues are already booked.How am I going to manage? And what do you buy a football player who has everything anyway?”
I pinch her chin. “You don’t need to buy me a present. You already gave me my favorite thing in the world.”
“What?”
“Your love.”
She melts against me. “You’re a big softie, aren’t you?”
“Don’t tell anyone my secret.”
She crosses her heart. “Promise.”
“Now, we have cake to eat.”
“We better hurry. Mila has a tendency to steal the frosting. She thinks no one knows. How can we not know when half the frosting is missing from the cake?”
I bark out a laugh. “Your family is a blast.”
“Ourfamily is a blast.”
My gut tightens. Our family. I have a family. I came to Smuggler’s Hideaway for training camp and some sun and laughs. I’m leaving with the most precious thing in the world. Belonging.
“How can I ever thank you?”
“Hmmm…” She taps her chin. “Love me for the rest of your life?”
“Done.”
She giggles.
“I love you, songbird. I’ve loved you from the moment I heard you sing the first note and I’ll love you until you’ve sung your last.”
She meets my gaze. “And I love you, sweetheart.”
I drop my mouth onto hers and—
“They’re kissing again!”
I burst into laughter. I’m never going to be bored with this family around. My family. My Addy.
This is the start of a beautiful life. And I can’t wait for it to begin.
Chapter 38
Cake isn’t the only surprise.
One month later
Addy
Iscan the room. The streamers are hung. Balloons are tied to every surface. A big banner withHappy Thirtieth Birthdaywritten on it fills one wall. And the cake is on the table. There’s nothing else to do.
I wring my hands. I hope Gage likes his birthday surprise. He usually doesn’t do much for his birthday.
But he’s also never had a family. A family who wants to celebrate his birthday with him.
I check the time. Mom and the kids should have landed by now. I offered to pick them up, but Mom is renting a car. She doesn’t want to ruin the surprise any more than I do.
