Page 59 of I Wish He Would

“Hi.” Alyssa’s older sister, Maddy, slowly makes her way out from the resort, her hand resting on her pregnant belly. She’s due in August, and last time I saw her she was complaining to Alyssa about how much faster she’s showing with her third pregnancy. Her brown hair is up in a gold clip, probably to keep her hair off her neck in this heat, but her cheeks are still flushed. Maybe overheating is another pregnancy symptom I don’t know about. “Sorry we’re late. I have to pee all the time.”

“I’m not sure they wanted to know that.” Her husband, Elliott, steps up beside her, holding their two sons who are trying to climb him like he’s a jungle gym.

“Oh, they’re family.” Maddy’s eyes light up when she sees me. She pulls me in for a hug. I shift as much as possible to not crush her belly. “It’s been too long.” She turns to her kids with a conspiratorial smile. “Boys, look who’s here.”

They stop their scrambling for a second to glance my way. Then suddenly they’re on the ground and running toward me. I crouch just in time to avoid getting rammed in the crotch by three-year-old Crew. He flings his arms around me and squeezes tight. I think we could all learn a little something from kids and the way they love people out loud and unashamedly. Though, I could do a little less with the headbutts to the crotch.

“Austy here!”

“I’m here for the wedding, buddy.” I poke his belly, making him giggle. “Just like you.” I extend my free arm as eighteen-month-old Rhys reaches us. “Hey, little guy.”

He smiles big, making his chubby cheeks even rounder. “Austy!”

I pick them up, holding a boy on each hip. I turn to Elliott and shoot him a look. “How are you going to hold three, man?”

“My job will be keeping these two rascals occupied and far away from the newborn.” He ruffles his kids’ hair. “As you saw, these two are in a rough-play stage.”

“Rough?” I fake-gasp. “These two angels?” I bounce Crew and Rhys in my arms, making them belly laugh.

“They always ask to see Austy on the TV.” Maddy’s face lights up as she looks at her boys. “Crew wants to be a baseball player, just like you.”

I grin at the blond-haired boy who honestly looks like a mini version of his aunt, though I’d never tell Maddy that since she’s the one who had to carry him for nine months and give birth. “You wanna play baseball?”

He nods, a shy smile on his face.

“Then I’ll have to teach you.”

Crew’s eyebrows shoot up and his blue eyes sparkle with excitement. He scrambles out of my arms and runs to his mom. “Austy teach ball!”

Rhys grabs my face between his little hands, making me look at him. “Me?”

“You want me to teach you, too?” He squeals in delight, so I take that as a yes. “Okay, I’ll show you both when we get home.”

I glance at Alyssa to check on her and am pleased to find she’s already looking up at me, her pink lips slightly parted. Before I can put a name to the way she’s staring at me, her expression shifts into an easy smile. She extends her arms to Rhys, who easily moves over to her and giggles as she lifts him above her head.

This is my first time seeing Alyssa with her family since I realized my feelings for her weren’t platonic, and let me tell you, watching her hold her nephew fills my mind with images of a future I never pictured. One with me and her and blonde-haired, blue-eyed babies that look just like their mama.

If there were a cure to heal me of my feelings for Austin, it certainly isn’t watching him hold my nephews. The way he talks to them and how gently he holds the boys against his giant frame is enough to make me swoon.

I love how well he fits into my family. He’s humble and never makes anyone feel less than because of his fame. Watching the people I love fawn over him only heightens the bone-deep attraction I feel for him. It doesn’t help that I also unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt earlier. Getting to stare at his chiseled chest muscles, knowing I can’t touch them, is a blessing and a curse.

“Wawa?” Rhys points to the pool. Listening to his sweet voice asking my friend to swim melts my heart.

A genuine smile pulls at Austin’s lips. “You want to swim with me?”

Rhys does an exaggerated nod. Austin turns to my sister for permission.

“Be my guest.” She rubs her swollen belly.

Austin takes Rhys from my arms. “Why don’t you ladies go lounge in a cabana?”

Not only did he volunteer to teach my nephews how to play baseball when we’re back home, but now he’s volunteering to be on kid-duty so my very pregnant sister can kick up her feet and relax. He’s gaining some serious brownie points. But I don’t think he’s trying to—this is just genuinely Austin, which makes what he’s doing even more remarkable.

It’s not every day that a man notices a woman’s needs and takes care of them without any prompting. And, if I’ve learned anything from all the romance movies Shayna has made us watch over the years, I know Austin is the kind of man I need to lock down before the opportunity passes.

I’ve already let three years pass just being friends with Austin, but I won’t let another one go by without going after what I truly want.

“You read my mind. The shade is calling my name.” Maddy begins walking over to the nearest cabana, one hand on her belly, the other on her back. My mom trails behind her.