Knowing she was mine, that we were going to walk out of that hotel room together, made everything so much more.
My eyes lift to the rearview mirror, and as if she knows I’m thinking about her, I find Casey staring right back at me.
The air crackles between us, and I forget that we’re not alone as I reach down to tug at my pants.
Casey’s cheeks flame before Sutton’s soft voice fills the car, dragging me back to reality.
We’re almost back, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
What I really want to do is drive home, taking everyone in the car with me. But I know I can’t; Mom might be fully aware of what is happening between us, but that doesn’t mean I can bring her into our lives, our family, without discussing it with both her and Sutton first.
A pained sigh passes my lips, earning a glance from Mom.
“Everything is going to work out. Have faith,” she says quietly.
I don’t respond. I can’t. Instead, I grip the wheel harder and try not to think about what’s about to happen.
Unfortunately, before long, Casey's apartment building comes into view and I’m pulling into one of the free spots in the parking lot.
The whole way home, her soft voice has filled the air along with happy giggles from Sutton.
Watching them laugh together in the rearview mirror had me fighting to suck in the air I needed.
It was too much but not enough, all at the same time.
“Can’t Casey come home with us?” Sutton asks as I kill the engine. Disappointment is evident in her voice. I feel it all the way to my soul.
“Sorry, sweetie. I should be at work right now.” Seeing her panic, Casey reaches over and squeezes Sutton’s hand. “Making sure you’re okay was more important than anything else. Make sure your daddy spoils you rotten today, okay?”
A smile spreads across Sutton’s face. “I will,” she promises before shooting a look in my direction. “He’s going to win tonight, too,” she states confidently. “And,” she adds, lookingpointedly at me, “he won’t spend any time in the box. Will you, Daddy?”
“I’ll try my best,” I promise as I turn around to look at them.
Casey’s eyes find mine, and my breath catches.
She doesn’t want to go, either.
Fucking hell.
“I’ll walk you in.” The words are forced, and I hate them. But as much as I might want to take Casey home with us and play house, it’s not that simple. As she said last night, we’ve got a whole lot of stuff to work through first.
“It’s okay, I can?—”
“I’m walking you in,” I state, leaving no room for argument, before pushing my door open and climbing out.
By the time I get to her, she’s already waiting beside the car.
Her hair is unstyled, and she doesn’t have any makeup on—not that she needs it. But what really makes my heart race is that she’s standing there wearing my shirt from yesterday. While Mom might have packed me a bag with spare clothes, Casey only had the clothes on her back, which is why she stole my shirt when we got dressed this morning.
Waking up with her naked body tucked against mine was the thing dreams are made of.
I could have stayed there all day with her. But reality was calling—or more so Mom, so that Sutton could talk to me.
In a few months’ time when the season is over, we’ll have the chance to laze around in bed all day. But for now, we’ve got to keep moving.
With her bag in one hand, I snatch her fingers up with my other and walk her toward the entrance.
She watches as I tap in the code for her building before pulling the door open and tugging her inside, aware that the tinted glass will give us some privacy.
