Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“We do,” I agree.
Sam’s eyes widen at my admission of we. “You doing okay, Momma?” I ask her.
“I’m so sorry,” Sawyer blurts. “I’m such a bad friend, but she’s so cute.” She smiles down at Aria. “How are you feeling?” she asks Sam.
“Good. Exhausted.” She looks over at Jase, and the look they share causes a wave of longing to rush over me. I want what they have.
“Why don’t the two of you go take a nap? We can watch the princess for a few hours,” I suggest.
“Mom and Dad are coming over tomorrow,” Jase says, “to give us a break. They have Logan and Kacen’s kids today, and we didn’t want all the germs around Aria. Not yet anyway.”
“We’ve got her,” Sawyer assures them.
“Babe,” Sam says, and Jase gives her his full attention. “She just ate.”
“We’ve never left her.”
“We’re going to be right here, man. You’ll be right upstairs. I promise if we need you, we’ll come and get you.”
“If she does something cute, you better take a picture,” Jase says, glancing over at Aria sleeping in Sawyer’s arms.
“Come on, player,” Sam says. “Let’s go take a nap.”
Jase looks torn, but when Sam tries to stand up from the couch on her own, he jumps into action and scoops her up in his arms. “We’ll be right upstairs.”
“We’ve got this,” I tell him. “Four little brothers, remember?”
He nods, takes one last look at Aria, and then his feet are moving, carrying them upstairs. “Come sit with me.” I pat the loveseat next to me. Sawyer carefully stands and comes to take the spot next to me. Once she’s settled, I place my arm around her shoulders.
“She’s so sweet,” she whispers.
“You want kids?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she says wistfully. “At least three. I was an only child, and I hated it. Now that Mom and Dad are gone, it’s just me, and I can’t help but think having a sibling would have been nice.”
“It’s not just you, Sawyer. You know that, right? You have me and my family, Hadley and Derek, Sam, Jase, and this little angel. We might not be blood, but we’re your family. Fuck, beautiful, you’re my entire fucking world.”
“Watch that potty mouth around the baby, Riggins.”
“She’s an infant.”
She shrugs. “She’s still a precious little baby.” She smiles down at a sleeping Aria.
“Sawyer baby, look at me.” I wait for her to give me her eyes. “You’re not alone. There are so many people who love you.” I let what I’ve said sink in before going for it. “I love you,” I tell her, my voice soft. “I choose you to be my family, baby. That’s better than blood. I want you. I choose you.”
Her eyes mist with tears. “You just said that you love me.”
“You caught that, did you?” I ask her.
“Did you mean it?”
“With everything that I am.” Leaning over, I press my lips to hers. “Now, tell me about these babies of ours. Boys or girls?”
A single tear falls from her eye, but the smile on her face tells me the tear is from happiness. With my thumb, I wipe under her eye as she begins to talk about two boys and a girl. That’s how we spend the next hour and a half. Talking about what life would be like raising kids visiting the lake, a swing set in the backyard. I memorize every word of our conversation and vow to give it to her—all of it. I want the picture-perfect life we just created in our minds. Sure, life isn’t perfect. There will be ups and downs, but with Sawyer by my side, we can make it through anything.
Chapter 23
Sawyer
“Has this week been the longest ever, or is it just me?” Marshall asks from where he’s leaning against my desk. It’s Friday afternoon, and he’s right; this week has been hectic as we work to open another location in Northern Ohio.
“It’s not just you,” I tell him.
“I’m ready to go home and just chill.”
“What? No big plans for this Friday night?”
“None. I just want to get out of this suit and drink a beer. Maybe I’ll order in some wings, or maybe I’ll fire up the grill.”
“It’s too cold outside to grill,” I tell him. It’s the last week of October, and the Nashville air has been chilly.
“My wings are better,” he grumbles.
“I wouldn’t know. You’ve yet to make them for me.”
“Tell my brother to bring you over, and I’ll fix you up,” he says. Something passes in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it.
“Rain check?” I ask him. “Royce made me promise not to make any plans this weekend. I don’t know what he’s got up his sleeve.” I watch Marshall for signs that he might know, but his phone rings distracting him.
“Hey, Momma.” He listens. “Sure, I’ll just leave now and head that way.” A long pause. “Love you too.” He hits Ends and slides his phone back into his suit pocket. “Mom needs help moving a few things in the basement. I’m going to head out for the day, run home and change and head over there.”