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But Grayson takes him literally and wraps his arms around both of our shoulders. It finally gets a genuine laugh out of Nix. I hope he’s actually okay and not just putting up a front.
Nix wanders off to talk to Holt and their youngest brother, Gage.
“You gettin’ tired, Mama?”
I hum against Gray’s chest. “I’m starting to fade. Is Luddy ready to go?”
Grayson turns us so I can see where she and Leah are dancing together. “Of course not.”
“She’s as social as her daddy.”
“I fucking love that about her.”
“Me too.”
“She’ll crash the second we get on the road though,” Gray jokes.
“You go get her, Prince Charming, and I’ll start saying goodbye.”
Gray pops a kiss to my mouth and heads off to snatch London. The surprise attack makes her squeal out in laughter.
I make my way to Gia, Holt, Farrah, and Knox first. “We’re going to head out.”
“We’re right behind you.” Holt nods to his daughters. “The minute Luddy leaves, they’ll realize how tired they are.”
As we start a round of hugs, the rest of the group comes over to say goodbye too. It takes us about thirty minutes to gather our things and actually get on the road. Luddy’s out in the first five minutes of our drive, and I’m overcome with a contentment I only ever dreamed of experiencing.
This is the life I always wanted. I just didn’t know I was headed in the wrong direction to achieve it. I believed I could get to this point if I just tried harder to make my husband happy. It was a hard lesson to learn that I have no control over someone else’s choices. They have to want that life as much as I do.
When I look at Grayson, I know without a doubt he does. He’s never made me question where I stand with him. My insecurities made me think he wouldn’t want me like this. I’d spent years trying to fix myself to be someone else’s definition of perfect. It made me hesitant to believe someone like Gray would want me just as I am.
I needed to learn that the person who’s supposed to love me wholeheartedly wouldn’t ask me to change.
“You’re thinking awfully hard over there, Ladybug.” Gray lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“All good things. Mostly that I’m grateful for you.”
His quick glance is so full of love it almost takes my breath away. Then he nibbles at my knuckle and makes me laugh.
“What was that for?” I squawk.
“You’re making me all mushy. If I don’t nip it in the bud now, I’ll turn into the biggest sap in town.”
“You already are the biggest sap in town.”
His dramatic gasp has me cackling. “You’re gonna pay for that little comment.”
“Oh, yeah? How’s that?”
“I’m not afraid to turn that fantastic ass of yours red with my handprints.”
The rush of heat his statement sends through me is enough to make me lightheaded. Jesus, he has such a hold on me it’s overwhelming at times.
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath. “You like that idea.”
“It seems I do.”
Gray drops our clasped hands to the bulge in his costume pants. I can’t help but rub him a little, gripping his length through the material. He’s deliciously hard, and if Luddy weren’t in the back seat, I’d be tempted to pull him out.
