“It’s okay. Maddox bailed him out again.” She pushes up to sit next to me. “We’re still trying to figure things out, you know?”
I nod. “I get. It took my mom and me a while to get settled when Dad took off. It’s an adjustment period. Might not be the same length for everyone. Don’t ever think I will hold that against you.”
She smiles, then lifts our hands and presses a kiss to the back of my wrist. “I love how you get me.”
With my free hand, I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “You’re easy to get, Laiken. Pure and good, through and through.”
My world had become so much brighter since she walked into it.
“I’m not sure about that.” She blushes. “Considering what I let you do to me a few minutes ago.”
I bark a laugh. “You did get a little dirty, didn’t you?”
“I did no such thing!” She gasps.
“I do recall you begging me to go deeper. Harder. Faster.” I nip at her lip as she laughs.
“I hate you sometimes,” she mumbles.
“I love you.” The confession flows so naturally I almost didn’t realize I said it. But fuck, I meant it.
She stares at me, the laughter dying between us.
“I mean it, Firefly. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”
Tears prick her eyes before she whispers the words I’ll never forget. “Good, because I love you too.”
Chapter eighteen
Laiken
I nervously bite my lip as I check my outfit in the mirror. It’s simple. Like me. Jeans, my favorite off-the-shoulder purple sweater I never really wear, and my go-to gold cowgirl boots that have seen better days. I added some waves in my hair with a curling iron and even attempted lip liner as per Dakota’s suggestion. I actually look like awoman.Not just a mom on the verge of losing her sanity.
“Are you sure you’re okay to watch him?” I ask Ari, who’s sprawled across Dakota’s bed.
“Totes.” Ari flicks her dark hair over her shoulder. “We got big plans.”
I snort a laugh, imagining where Dakota and Cooper stood just a few months ago. Unmarried. No dependents. Just two best friends harboring feelings for each other for years. Now they’re hitched and raising Dakota’s teenage sister she didn’t even know existed until last fall.
It’s wild. But she’s the best and Trace has become highly fond of the emo adolescent.
“Big plans?” I ask as Dakota curses from her bathroom.
She and Ivy insisted we get ready together like it’s junior prom. Which is fine. I’m currently kicked out of my own house anyway.
“Yep. Texas Hold ’Em, and then Ryder is taking us night fishing at the tank.” She glances at her black-painted nails. “I mean, Ryder doesn’t know that yet, but we’ve kind of bonded lately.”
A laugh bubbles from my chest. “Bonded? With Ryder Mayson?”
“Weird, right? We oddly vibe.” She shrugs.
Who knew it took a thirteen-year-old girl with zero filter to remove the stick from Ryder’s jean-clad behind.
“Okay, I’m ready!” Ivy barges in, hair in a mountain of blonde curls.
“Me too.” Dakota steps from the bathroom, clasping on her gold hoops.
“I guess I am too.” I hold out my hands. “This okay?”
