Page 44 of Full Strength

“Can I bring you dinner?”

I watched as she hesitated and prepared for her rejection.

“That would be so great. Thank you.”

My heart felt like it was doing that cartoon thing where it shoots out of your chest and pounds. “Okay. I’ll be over at seven.”

“Thank you so much.” She popped up on her toes and kissed my check before walking away.

“Where’s my kiss?” Erik asked as he passed me on the way to the exit.

“Right here.” Noah puckered up and rushed toward him, but Erik pushed him away.

I shook my head and followed behind Olli on the way out. “Thanks again guys. I owe you.”

The four of them stopped on the sidewalk and turned to me.

“No, you really don’t.” Erik said and the others nodded in agreement.

“One of us needed help, so we did what we could. That’s it.” Olli said.

I looked to Nikolay. He was the newest and might not agree, but he was nodding along. “We’re family and family helps each other.”

I smiled and patted him on his back. “Thanks brother.”

14

Addison

I wanted to change and freshen up my makeup before Grant arrived, but decided against it. He’d seen me sick with the flu and stayed. He didn’t care how I looked, he just wanted to be with me.

That had been such a foreign concept when we’d first met. I’d been nervous about going to the gala with him, but he made me feel so comfortable. Each time we were together after that he made me feel as special and beautiful as that night. No matter if I was in an old t-shirt or all dolled up, just the way he looked at me told me what he thought.

My ex was the polar opposite. Appearances were everything and he expected women to be put together any time their man was around. He was very traditional, at least that’s what he said. I thought he was decades behind women’s rights.

But that was my past. Now I had a man in my life that liked me for me.

I looked down at Eli as he played on a blanket. He was obsessed with the mini rubber hockey stick Grant gave him. Of course, Grant said it was because he’d given it to him, but I was pretty sure it was because Eli liked biting it. I didn’t want to crush Grant’s dreams, so I let it slide.

“Is that tasty, bub?” His eyes met mine for a second before focusing again on chewing. I paced the living room making sure for the fifth time everything was cleaned up. The last time Grant was here the house was a disaster and I didn't want him thinking I’d let things stay in that disastrous state. He’d been over plenty of times so I didn't know why I thought he’d judge me now, but it mattered to me.

It felt like within the last few days, things had changed. We’d crossed an invisible barrier and were past some of our obstacles. Granted, most of those were created by me. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly when or why things had changed, but everything leading up to our kiss happened so that moment could happen. Maybe the universe was just aligning for us. It was finally our time.

A knock sounded at the front door and I hurried over to open it. The anticipation of seeing him was hard to contain. I opened the door and laughed at the brown paper bags greeting me.

“What do we have here?”

He parted his arms, revealing his face. “I bring barbeque, how’s that sound?”

My stomach had been growling for over an hour. “Amazing.”

I shut the door behind him as he set the bags down on the kitchen counter, but instead of unloading them he turned and went directly to Eli.

“How’s my favorite little man?” He picked him up and kissed his forehead. “Don’t tell Olli and Emma I said that. They still think Jackson has the most fans, but honestly the team is split over these two.”

I laughed and shook my head. Never in my life would I have imagined the Utah Fury knowing who me or my son were much less caring.

“I’m glad he’s a contender.”