Fumbled (Playbook #2)(95)
“I was concussed. I thought I imagined it.”
I roll my eyes, knowing he remembers and this isn’t the last time I’m going to hear about him being “concussed.”
He looks down at me, his eyes going soft. “Say it again,” he whispers.
I don’t hesitate.
“I love you.”
“Good.” He smiles, dropping his mouth to mine, kissing me softly. “Because I love you too.”
He goes to kiss me again, but I pull away before he can.
“I have one condition if you move back in.”
A guard shutters his eyes and his shoulders tense. “What?”
“I’m gonna need you to grow your beard back.” I run my fingertips along his bare cheeks. “I liked how it felt.”
He doesn’t answer and his eyes don’t go soft again.
Instead they fill with something that makes my toes curl and my thighs clench.
Then he kisses me until the door opens behind us.
“Disgusting,” Ace says, startling us both. “Just promise not to ever kiss in front of me again. Okay, Dad?”
My vision goes watery again and I watch TK’s arms go around Ace as he pulls him in tight.
“Can’t promise that, dude,” TK says. “I kind of planned on showing you both how much I love you as often as I can. So I’ll probably be kissing your mom a lot and embarrassing you in front of your friends when I eat lunch with you at school. That all right with you?”
“So you’re back?” Ace asks, trying not to sound too hopeful.
“I’m never leaving again.” And it’s not just words, it’s a fierce promise, a vow I know he will never break.
“Good.” Ace smiles, his cool nine-year-old persona firmly in place. “Mom was going nuts without you.”
I feel my eyes bug out of my head, betrayed by my own flesh and blood! I open my mouth to deny it, but TK beats me to it.
“That’s all right, I was going crazy without you guys too.”
I suck in a sharp breath and blink hard.
And when I open them, staring back at me is my family.
It only took ten years.
Freaking finally.
Epilogue
“It’s starting!” Aviana shouts at the crowd milling around HERS. “Be quiet!”
I sit down next to TK, staring at my ring as it catches the light, still not quite believing I’m getting married. “She’s insane,” he whispers in my ear.
I smile and nod, because he’s right.
“I can’t believe she found enough people for the show.” I keep my voice low as the lights go down and the opening for Love the Player starts to play.
“I can.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Dixie has been vying for fame since she put that ring on her finger and Aviana should really get into the business with how well she pitched this shit.”
“You know Dixie’s ass is gonna be the villain and get kicked off after the season ends,” Vonnie says, not caring who hears her.
“Damn, girl!” Justin’s eyes double in size as he looks over his shoulder for Chad. “You know I still have to get along with her husband, right?”
“And?” She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of her martini. “That has nothing to do with me.”
“You need another drink?” Jenna, the waitress Brynn hired after I gave my notice, asks.
“I’m fine for now, thank you.” I smile at her, understanding how she feels being stuck in a room full of Lady Mustangs.
“Girl, you better stop nursing that drink.” Vonnie arches a brow and purses her lips.
“I have to,” I pout. “I have to go home and study some more, I have a huge test in my psych class tomorrow. Plus, TK’s mom is coming into town tomorrow afternoon.”
Vonnie’s eyes go wide and she doesn’t have to even open her mouth for me to know exactly what’s going through her mind.
“It should be fine. We’ve talked a few times. She’s obsessed with Ace now and we’ll play nice for him.” I answer the unspoken questions.
“Look at you.” Sadie slides in next to me. “Being all responsible and engaged and shit.”
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.
“I can’t believe you’re here and still haven’t made time to come see the house.”
Since leaving Maya’s house isn’t an option for me, TK hired a design company to do all the changes I could’ve ever wanted. I even redid Maya’s room. I almost didn’t, but I know she’d want me to fill her room with more babies, not keep it as some shrine to her.
“You guys are always holding hands and kissing. It’s gross.” Sadie scrunches her nose. “Plus, Brynn promised me free booze if I came and kept her company tonight.”
“Then it looks like you’re slipping on the job.” I point out the obvious.
“I was sitting at the bar for the last hour. Trust me, I wasn’t the company she wanted.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
I’m trying to be discreet and see what the hell Sadie’s talking about, when the sound of shattering glass pulls my attention to the bar anyway.
“What the fuck?” Brynn screeches, her eyes focused on Maxwell. The two bottom shelves behind the bar are broken, and shattered bottles cover the counter beneath them. “Get the fuck out of here!”