Adrian:You’re welcome.
Nate:Like Roman said, relax.
Roman:Come over later. I’ll talk you down.
Me:Will you let Shira give me a hug?
Roman:Fuck off.
Laughing to myself, I tucked my phone away. Mazzy made a soft mewl and snuggled closer, her arm slinging around my waist. I nuzzled her hair with my nose, inhaling her clean scent, my eyes fluttering closed.
Yep. Definitely screwed.
When we got home, we spent the rest of the day with Katty. She’d had fun with Aunt Barb and Kylie while we were away, but had missed us so terribly she burst into tears at first sight. Once she got the tears over with, she was all good, and we had a good day together.
Which made leaving that night all the harder. When I was standing at the door, dragging my feet to open it, Mazzy grabbed my hand.
“Stay?” she asked softly.
I exhaled a hundred pounds of dread from my lungs. “Yeah. I’d like that, baby.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Mazzy
Aftermybirthdaytrip,life went on. School, work, Kateryna, and Ben.
Over the last month, the only nights we’d spent apart were when he was traveling for a match. Most of the time, he stayed in my little apartment. On the weekends, Katty and I slept at his house.
The cautious voice in the back of my mind tried to shout things were getting too intense too fast, but the lover girl in me had too many hearts in her eyes to pay attention. Besides, it was impossible not to be serious about a relationship with the father of my child. We were inextricably linked for life. It wasn’t like we could do casual.
At least, I couldn’t.
And the way Ben practically molded himself to me all day and night, I didn’t think he could either.
We were attached to each other, and Katty was in heaven. I didn’t think she really understood me and Ben were a couple, just that she got to have her mom and dad around all the time and was heaped with attention.
That shouting voice tried to warn me about that too, but again, heart eyes. I was trying my best to trust this would work out, one way or another. What else could I have done?
Probably take things slowly.
Not have sleepovers every night.
Definitely not fall deeply in love with his family and friends.
But here we were. Katty and I were staying with Ben, helping him watch Jonah while Roman and Shira were in the hospital, welcoming their new baby, Ruby.
Jonah was currently wedged under my arm, sucking on two fingers while watching a kids’ show. Katty was on my other side, wedged just as deeply. It was kind of fantastic.
Ben walked in, stopped in his tracks, slid his phone out of his pocket, and snapped a picture.
Then he shook his head. “I don’t know, Mazz. Two kids look pretty damn good on you.”
I laughed softly and stroked Jonah’s baby curls. “I think Roman and Shira would have a fit if I tried to keep him.”
Winking, he bent down and kissed the top of my head. “We’ll have to make one of our own.” He gave Kat and Jonah kisses too, then flopped down on the couch next to us. It didn’t take long for both kids to migrate to him—Jonah on his lap, Kat curled against his side.
I smirked as my heart did a wild dance in my chest. “I don’t know…two kids look good on you too.”
