The Hardest Fall(125)

“Let’s check them out.” I winked at Zoe as she stood barefoot next to the stove and stirred the meat sauce for the lasagna she was preparing. She shook her head, but I knew how much she enjoyed seeing me with Sophia. Marriage hadn’t killed our love or sex life—not at all. We still couldn’t keep our hands off of each other, and I hoped it’d stay that way till we were wrinkly and old.

I took Sophia to the counter and showed her everything I’d gotten one by one. To say both my daughter and wife had a sweet tooth would have been an understatement.

“Good, good. You did good, Daddy. Now put them all in my closet so I can see them every day.”

I threw my head back and laughed. She was the funniest little thing, repeating everything she heard from the adults around her, and just like her mommy, she loved gazing at her prized possessions.

“Where is your grandpa, Soph?” Zoe asked, and she turned her attention to her mom.

“Outside.”

“Yeah? What’s he doing outside?”

She lifted her little shoulder in a shrug until it touched her ear. “I dunno.”

“Sophia?”

“My favorite ball went missing and he is helping me look for it.”

My chest shook with silent laughter. “Did you hide it, Soph?”

She turned her big, innocent eyes to me and gave another shrug. “I dunno.”

Gently, I put her down and righted her frilly white birthday dress. “Come on, go get Grandpa Ron—everyone will be here soon.”

“For my birthday, right?”

“Yes, everyone is coming to see you. Now go get him.”

Happy with everything she was hearing, she dashed out of the kitchen after giving Zoe’s leg a quick hug and a quick “Love you, Mommy,” all the while yelling for her grandpa.

“Granpa, everyone is coming! We’re gonna have cakes and I’m gonna get pressies!”

I went back to Zoe and she shrieked when my hands went up toward her boobs. She slapped my arms and forced my hands out of her shirt.

“My dad is coming inside, what are you doing?”

“You weren’t worried about your dad a minute ago.”

“Yeah, because I knew they were outside. Now Sophia will get him in faster than you can give me a kiss.”

Ignoring her protests, I hugged her and rested my chin on top of her head. “We could’ve gotten pizza—why are you cooking so much food?”

“Don’t say pizza. I want one so bad. Everyone will stay for the weekend, so we’ll order some tomorrow, and your dad loves my lasagna.”

“And you love him.”

“Well…yeah…”

I pressed a kiss against her cheek. She loved my family, and they loved her in return. My mom had taken her side on more than a few occasions, and I couldn’t have been prouder of my parents with the way they had welcomed her into the fold.

“Did they land? Did they call you? Amelia texted me before they boarded, but I haven’t checked my phone since then.”

“They did. I just talked to them before coming inside. They’re waiting for JP and his wife then they’ll head here together.” I reached forward and stole a piece of cheese before she could stop me. “JP will probably land at any moment.”

“Is he happy now?” Zoe asked before turning off the stove.

“Yeah, he’s happy with the assistant coaching job for his old high school, and we have more ideas. It’ll be okay.” My best friend had struggled with the outcome of his injury, but he’d never given up on anything in his life. A shift of career wasn’t going to change that. Just a different road now, he’d said. Just a different dream. “When is Chris coming?”

“He should be here any minute, and Kayla should be here not too long after him.”

“Good.” I nuzzled her neck. “Are you happy to live just an hour away from your friend? She’s doing better, right?”

She tilted her head to give me more access and dropped the wooden spoon on the counter.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “She’s not dating seriously, not after that Tyron guy, but she is at least dating. Dylan, my dad is gonna come inside any minute—Dylan! Don’t do that.”

“I can hear them, and Soph is asking him what pressies he got her.” I chuckled and gently bit Zoe’s neck as she melted into me. “Just in case you didn’t know, we’re raising a monster. I don’t want her to grow up. This size is perfect.”

“You’re just now noticing that? Mmmm, that feels good. Jared can’t make it by the way. He’s busy with work, but he said he’d call you later.”

I nodded and kept brushing small kisses on her skin.

The doorbell rang and we both froze. A second later we could hear Sophia’s shriek as she ran through the house to get the door.

“Uncle Chrissy is here!”

Zoe chuckled. “Chrissy—he’s gonna get you back for that, you know,” she mumbled as we reluctantly let go of each other.

I sighed and yelled at my daughter. “You’re not allowed to answer the door, Soph! Wait for me.”

“Hurry up, Daddy. Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!”

I saw Ronald come into the kitchen with a smile on his face and left Zoe with him so I could go open the door for my best friend, Sophia’s Uncle Chrissy.