When I pull back, I look toward Wyatt and Tenley. I open my mouth to apologize, but Tenley scoots closer to me. Before I can register what is happening, she’s plopped Kessler into my arms. I’m surprised by the weight of him as he snuggles into me.
“There,” Tenley exclaims like she’s just performed a magic trick which, maybe, she has, “now you’ve held a baby. Nothing to worry about.”
My shoulders drop and my panic starts to ebb away. And the entire time, Bridger is right there. He’s strong, solid, and steady. Just what I need.
Hope flares in my chest, bright and unquenchable. I’ve tried to push it away. I’ve tried to ignore it. But neither is a possibility any longer. I want this man. Not only that, but I also want everything with him.
A future.
Love.
A family.
When I look up at him, his eyes are already on me. He’s taking me in, his eyes filled with affection and something deeper, something it’s too early to put a label on.
But it’s there and that’s enough. For now.
CHAPTER 15
BRIDGER
Even though I know she’s fine, I find myself standing at the threshold to the living room to watch Avery. Now that we’ve eaten and everything is cleaned up, the ladies have moved back to the living room and are sitting with their heads together. Kessler is back in Tenley’s arms while Ian is doing something on his phone.
Wyatt comes up next to me with a beer in his hand. After he hands me one, he clinks the neck of his against mine. “Come out on the back porch with me,” his voice is low as to not disturb the tableau in front of us.
Avery giggles and her eyes light up with something Tenley is saying to her. I find myself nodding even though the last thing I want to do is miss a moment of this. Watching this woman, my woman, come alive under the attention of people who care about her is magical to witness.
And I don’t want to miss a moment.
But I also know Wyatt won’t let this go. He’s persistent when he needs to be and I have no doubt he’s worried about me.
The silence settles between us when we step out onto the back porch. The lawn stretches out in front of us. I haven’t done muchback here, but only because I could never picture what this space needed to look like.
Now, a picture is starting to form. One with a little playhouse and a playground. One where our little one can grow, play, and be safe.
We settle down on the patio seating I picked out when I first moved in; the only thing I could imagine back here was enjoying a beer or drinking a cup of coffee while looking out over my yard knowing it’s mine and completely under my control. I still feel the same sense of pride and comfort I did that day.
The silence settles around us and I take a deep breath. I wait for panic and fear to take over, but it doesn’t. I just settle back and soak it all in.
Dinner was great. Watching Avery light up as she got to know Tenley, Wyatt, and Ian was something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. If I weren’t already halfway in love with the woman, if not more, that would have done it. Not only did she open up her heart to my family, but she did it without fear and without holding back.
That takes courage. It’s also sexy as fuck.
“How are you doing?” Wyatt’s question, spoken softly to keep this conversation between us, pulls me from my thoughts.
I look at my boss, my friend, and see the sincerity in his eyes. He’s not asking from a place of judgement or expectation, just pure curiosity and concern.
Honestly, I figured this was coming. Sure, he brought over dinner with his family to make it easier for us, but he also wanted to check on me.
As much as I want to tell him I’m fine and answer off the cuff, I take a moment and take stock of everything that’s happened. It’s happened fast, but I’m not bothered by that. Not after I spent months thinking about that night, which was over far too quickly.
Waking up the next morning alone, I felt the loss of Avery next to me, and I hated it. I wanted to reach for her and feel her curves mold against my body. But she was gone.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
Now she’s found her way back to me. I’m not going to ruin the chance to have her in my life. The fact that she’s carrying my child makes it better, more terrifying as well.
“I’m processing,” I admit honestly. “I’m good though. I want Avery here. I’m glad she found me when she needed me.”
