“Good. Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime. Now you need to go back to sleep.” She ruffles his hair.
“Good night. Love you both.”
“We love you too.”
I dim the hallway light as we pass by, darkening Isaac’s room, and follow Paige downstairs. The second we reach the landing, I pull her into my arms, trapping her in my hold, sighing as I rest my forehead to hers. “Happy New Year, Mrs. Wilder.”
“Happy New Year to you too. What time is practice tomorrow?”
“Not until one. They gave us the morning off since it’s a Wednesday.”
“So we don’t have to rush off to bed?”
“Oh, we’re going to bed. But I want you naked and waiting for me with your legs spread. We’re celebrating.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“Surviving another one of Luke’s parties. Will that man ever change?”
“Will you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Of course not. You’re lucky I love you exactly as you are.”
“Good. I love you too, Paige. And always will.”
REED
I lift Hayley out of the car and she squeals, hanging on for dear life as if I’d ever drop her. “I can get out on my own, Reedy Boy. What are you doing?”
“I’m carrying my wife to the front door. Sue me for being romantic on New Year’s Eve.”
“Technically, it’s New Year’s Day and it’s four, five steps maximum.”
“Well, I’m not taking you farther with Lincoln asleep in the car.”
Hayley grabs my face in her hands, silently laughing. “Oh, Reed. I wasn’t asking you to. I meant that I can walk. If you’re carrying Linc, who’s getting his bag?”
Reed glances back at the car. “For a little kid, he sure has a lot of stuff.”
“He’syourkid, Reed. He’s not little. Do you remember when Juliet was this age? She was half his size.”
“What can I say? We’re raising a football star.”
“Or a model. Models are tall too.”
“Sure. Or both. I’ve modeled before.”
“You’ve what?” Hayley wriggles out of my hold and crosses her arms over her chest. “How the hell didn’t I know about this?”
“Because I didn’t tell you.” I shrug and turn away, walking back to get Lincoln.
“I know a lot of things you didn’t tell me,” Hayley teases, following after me. “It’s called the Internet.”
“Yeah, well. You won’t find that.”
