“Yeah. Oh, damn,” Jensen repeats.
“Hope she’s okay,” Austin adds, then for a second the table goes quiet.
“Can I have another cookie?” Sailor asks, breaking the silence, but not waiting for me or Hailey to say yes before she stands in her chair and grabs one off the plate in the center.
Her innocence makes us all laugh, and like Sailor, we all end up reaching for another cookie, too.
“Well, that went off with only a minor hitch.” I wrap my arms around Hailey as she works on the dishes at the sink. I got Sailor bathed and tucked in for the night, and now all that’s left to do is finish cleaning up the kitchen before I can have Hailey all to myself.
I can’t wait to have my second dessert.
“For the most part,” she agrees. “I hope Gareth and his friend are okay though.”
“I’m sure they are. I’ll message the group later,” I reassure her, kissing her neck.
She hums a moan as my hands begin to wander along the front of her body.
“You spending the night again tonight, sweetheart?”
“If that’s okay with you.” She turns the water off when my fingers play with the button of her jeans. Drying her hands, she tosses the towel on the counter then leans her head against my shoulder.
“It’s always okay with me. In fact, I’d prefer if you never left. Move in with me.”
Turning within my hold, she faces me, looping her arms around my neck. “You want to live with me?”
“Is that such a surprise? You’re here all the time, but there could be more of you. Touches of Hailey all over the house. Your feminine touch around the place. My space becoming our space. You already have a key, sweetheart, let’s just get your belongings over here too and make it official.”
“This isn’t too fast for you?” If I had a nickel for every time she voiced concern about things moving too fast forme, I’d probably be a billionaire by now.
“Nothing with you is too fast, Hailey,” I assure her, like I do every time. “I’d toss you over my shoulder, throw you in the car, and drive your ass to the courthouse now if you’d let me.”
“You don’t mean that.” She laughs, pushing onto her tiptoes and planting a chaste kiss on my mouth. It immediately prods the fire inside me, making it roar to life.
Using my hips, I pin her body to the counter, grinding my erection against her so she can feel exactly how much I do. “I mean it with every bone in my body, sweetheart, but if you need me to keep reminding you, I will every day for the rest of my life.”
Her hands sink into my hair, and I groan at the feeling of her touch. “Do you promise?”
Nuzzling my nose against hers, I close my eyes, letting every memory we’ve shared in the last four months flood my thoughts—every lingering stare, every subtle touch. The late night talks, the embarrassing moments. The way my heart beats out of control when she’s around, and the way my life became exponentially brighter when she entered it. Even if Hailey and I had never become romantically involved, I can say without ashred of doubt I would have wanted her in mine and Sailor’s lives forever.
So now, when she asks me if I promise to remind her how much I love her every day for the rest of our lives, my answer is simple. Concise. And it comes without hesitation. “Yes, sweetheart, I promise.”
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
The early spring sun beats down on the VIP box at Coit Stadium, an unseasonably warm day even hotter with the heat reflecting off the metal seats.
It’s opening day and the Bears are playing against the Rebels for the second year in a row. The confidence of the guys has been sky high after winning the World Series last year, despite the few small hurdles along the way.
This year, they’re hoping to take home that title again, convinced that if history repeats itself and they beat the Rebels in their first game, they’ll have it in the bag.
Either way, I’m so proud of them—especially Declan. He worked so hard last season while still being the most attentive partner, and an amazing dad to Sailor.
Things with Addison are still pretty heated, but we’re working on it for Sailor’s sake. Somewhere between Sailor’s birthday and Christmas, Addison realized I wasn’t going anywhere, and finally decided to playsomewhatnice when she showed up for another visit.
Scanning the field for Declan, I’m surprised to not see him, but wave to Gareth instead.
Turning my focus to Sailor, I hand her a package of opened fruit snacks, then get comfortable in my chair, taking a swig from my water bottle. As I’m crossing my legs, the Jumbotron starts playing a montage of Declan.
