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Chapter Fifteen

Lucas

“Oh, she’s gonna do it,” I say, sitting up a little straighter as Brooklyn stands and looks down at her feet. Quinn laughs from my arms and shakes her head.

“She’s just teasing you, babe. She’s probably going to start walking when no one is around to watch her.”

I scoff and glance down at her. “No way. My girl is about to be a walking machine.”

Instead of arguing with me, she just shakes her head again and cuddles into my side as we watch Brooklyn on the other side of the living room. If you had told me even a few months ago that this would be my life, I would have laughed. In fact, I think I did laugh when Ali insinuated that I would be next but meeting these two changed everything. There is peace in my soul where there once was chaos and my guilt has been replaced with love for the woman of my dreams and her perfect daughter.

My mind drifts back to yesterday. After we finished showering at the hotel, we came home but I wasn’t ready to leave them so Quinn suggested we take Brooklyn to the zoo. We spent the whole day walking around, showing Brooklyn the animals and stuffing our faces with vendor food. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun and when Quinn took Brooklyn into the bathroom, a little old woman told me I had a beautiful family. Like a little bitch, I almost cried right in front of that stranger because it’s been nineteen years since I felt like I had a family but as soon as she said it, it felt so right that I couldn’t brush it off. Quinn and Brooklyn have become my family just like the guys in the club did when they took me in all those years back.

Quinn gasps and points across the room as Brooklyn lifts her little foot up, trying to take a step, but before she can set it down, she plops down to her butt and I sigh.

“I told you she was teasing.”

I dig my fingers into her ribs and she squeals. “Yeah? What was all that gasping for, then?”

“Okay, so maybe she got me that time, too.”

“That’s what I thought,” I murmur as I wrap my arms around her and kiss her forehead. Brooklyn stands again and claps her hands as she looks up at us.

“Oh, no, baby girl. I’m on to your games.”

She laughs, flashing us a toothy grin and we both chuckle as she glances down at her feet and takes a step forward. Quinn gasps, leaning forward and I’m right there with her, watching intently as Brooklyn takes another tentative step.

“Oh my god,” she breathes, dropping down to her knees and holding out her hands. “Come on, sweet girl. You can do it.”

Brooklyn glances over at me and I smile as she takes another step. I nudge Quinn and she flicks her gaze over her shoulder as I grin.

“What did I tell you? Walking machine.”

Rolling her eyes, she turns away from me. “Smug bastard.”

“Brooklyn,” I call, laughing as I get down on my knees next to Quinn. “You got this, Princess.”

Brooklyn takes a few more steps, surprised and delighted with herself each time her foot does what she wants it to do. She claps as she gets closer to us and I peek over to Quinn. There are tears shining in her eyes but she’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen as she watches her daughter take her first steps.

God, I fucking love her.

I would move heaven and earth for either one of them. Reaching down, I feel the outline of the ring I’ve been carrying around in my pocket all day long and smile. I don’t know how I’m going to do it yet or when but soon, I’ll get down on one knee and ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.

“Oh my god,” Quinn gushes. “Just one more step, baby.”

Brooklyn squeals and looks over at me before taking the final step into her mama’s arms and Quinn squeezes her to her chest as she praises her.

“You did it, baby girl. You’re getting so big.”

Brooklyn reaches for me and Quinn sighs as she rolls her eyes.

“Oh, of course. You just want Lucas.”

“You can’t blame her, Darlin’,” I tell her, grinning as I pull the baby into my arms. “She’s got damn good tastes.”

I stand and sit down on the couch with Brooklyn in my arms and Quinn cuddles in next to me again as Brooke lays her head on my chest.

“I suppose that’s true,” she says, brushing her fingers across Brooklyn’s chubby little cheek. “You are an excellent pillow.”