Page 80 of Pretend it’s Forever

“He can be ours, and you know, our family loves to make people honorary Cages. Even if they have different last names.”

In that moment, I knew I would change my last name if they wanted me to. I wasn’t going to make the girls do it again when I made them mine. Because I would adopt them, Sophia had already agreed. We were just waiting to lean into this new moment of our lives.

Cora had taken Juliet’s name, and I had been grateful for that. We hadn’t wanted another connection to the family that had tried to take so much from us.

Maybe I could add Cage to my last name. It would surely confuse some of the older people I worked with and piss off my father.

I grinned at that, the smile probably wicked, and Sophia gave me a look.

“I’m a little afraid of what you’re thinking right now.”

“Oh, just thinking how I can be a little wicked.”

“Carson,” she whispered.

“I’ll tell you later.” I leaned forward, and kissed her jaw, before running my beard along Violet’s cheek to make her giggle just like her sister.

“Scratchy!” Violet giggled.

“Okay, I guess I need to shave.”

“No, I like it,” Sophia said, and I swallowed hard, knowing that for her to say something like that was a big step.

She had spent so long hiding who she was, never expression her wants or desires. That she felt free to do so with me meant the world.

Because she never had to deal with ramifications when it came to me. I would always be there for her. And if she wanted to tell me her preferences, or asked me to change or not to change, I would.

Because she trusted me, and I would do all in my power to make sure she knew that she could trust me.

That these girls could trust me.

“Okay, let’s get ready to head to Uncle Aston’s,” Sophia said after a moment, and I smiled, knowing that I would find a way to make a dating triathlon of some sorts in order to keep the kids safe.

From the look on Sophia’s face, she knew exactly where my mind had gone.

It didn’t take long for us to get everything ready. I lived closer than Sophia had, so that was a plus. After the kidnapping and attack, Sophia hadn’t wanted to go back to that house. It was the second home of hers that had been broken because of Cale, but that man wouldn’t hurt her anymore.

He was dead.

I would never regret not reaching out to save him. Part of me probably should, but I had been there to make sure Sophia had survived, and moving would have meant possibly risking her life and mine in order to protect the man who had threatened his children and nearly killed Sophia more than once. I would not feel guilt over that man’s death. Sophia would though. And that was why we talked, why she and her family went to therapy, and why I went with her.

Whatever Sophia needed, I would be there. Because she was the strength within us, and her being able to shine that light meant the world.

We got to Aston’s place, and he gave us a knowing look as to why we were late for brunch. But I ignored him. He wouldn’t tease his sister, not for a little while yet, and I was grateful for that. One day he would see how far she had come and would tease her like he once did. But then again, they hadn’t grown up together. Everything felt new when it came to this family, and I was the one joining in now. I was the one learning how to be part of this family.

But they had welcomed me with open arms. Even Cora and Juliet were invited to most meals that we were, though today they were out of town on a second belated honeymoon. Cora had been so damn scared about what had happened, but had opened her arms for Sophia, welcoming her as a sister. And Juliet had done the same.

Our parents didn’t matter. If I never heard from them again other than through their lawyers, I would be fine. And I knew Cora and Juliet would be too. They had been adopted by the Cages just like I had. And just like Sophia had said at the wedding, Cora would never be alone.

We were all family for a reason, and we were figuring out exactly who we were together.

Not all the Cages were here, with Flynn being late from what I could tell, and Kyler out of town. Those who lived farther away from Aston weren’t here today, but there were enough of us. The entire Cage family could take over our conference hall at this point, and I knew that once people started having more kids, it would just get louder.

I was excited that one day I would be in this home, with Sophia as my wife, and the girls as my legal kids. And that day would come soon. The ring was already wearing a hole in my pocket. But I would wait.

I would wait until Sophia was ready.

When she wouldn’t wake up in a sweat because she could hear that man scream.