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He hugged me to him. “Forever, baby. I know that seems alarmingly fast to you, but I know it with every fiber of my being. There will never be another woman for me.”
I shook my head at him. “It does seem really fast, but,” I drew in a deep breath, “it feels so right.” He grinned at me—that same grin that would always melt my soul. I reached up and trailed my fingers over his face. “This sounds so weak, but I just beg you to stay with me,” I told him. “Even when I try to push you away because I will. Sometimes, I don’t know how to handle the darkness.” I swallowed thickly. “I’m terrified of it.”
He linked his fingers around my wrist and turned his head to press a kiss to the center of my palm. “I know you are, baby, but don’t let it suffocate you. Always look for me. I’ll never leave you. I am yours to keep.”
12
JULIAN’S GAME
Ally
Meghan wrapped me up in her arms the moment I stepped into the house. I laughed and hugged her back, relaxing for a moment so I could take in the familiar security of my sister-in-law hugging me. “You look so much happier,” she said quietly as she leaned back to look me over. “I’m so proud of you for giving him a chance.”
“Thank you for pushing me to,” I told her honestly. I smiled at Christian over my shoulder, instantly catching his eye. He flashed me his own smile before he turned his attention back to Axel, introducing his brother as he did so. I looked back at Meghan. “He knows exactly how to handle me. I don’t feel so lost with him around.”
“Just remember to keep fighting for yourself,” she reminded me with a stern look. I nodded. “Let him be your light in the darkness, but keep fighting for you.”
“I will; I promise,” I assured her.
Axel wrapped me up in a tight hug, lifting my feet from the ground as he did so. I laughed, squeezing him back. “Dammit, Ally, you’ve had me worried fucking sick about you.” He grumbled into my hair. I frowned, tightening my hold on him. He sighed. “I know he can take care of you. It’s just hard for me to let go of the reins for him to do so.”
“Auntie Ally!” Holden screamed as he ran down the stairs. Axel let me go, and Holden crashed into my legs, sending me to my ass on the floor. I laughed and wrapped the little monster up in my arms, my throat closing up with tears as I held him.
“Hey, kid,” I greeted, forcing my voice to come out normal. “Have you been good for your mom?”
His cheeks darkened. I knew without asking that he had been a little monster. He was so much like Julian, and he always kept Meghan on her toes. Lana was still a baby, so there wasn’t much that she could do to freak out her mom, but Holden was damn good at doing everything he could to send her into a panic.
Christian grabbed me under my arms and helped me up from the floor. I leaned down and scooped Holden up into my arms. “I bought cookies, but since you won’t be nice to your Mommy, I’m just going to eat them all by myself,” I teased.
He pouted. Jesus, he really looked like Julian. I laughed. “If you’re good for the rest of the day, and you take your nap without arguing with Mommy and Daddy A, then you can have some cookies later on,” I told him.
I set him on his feet, and he rushed over to his mom on his chubby legs. She beamed at him and lifted him up, walking into the kitchen, probably to get him some juice. Caiden and Axel disappeared into the living room, talking animatedly about football. Christian gently turned me to face him, and he settled his hands on the dip in my waist.
“You would have made a really good mom,” he told me quietly. I swallowed thickly at his words. He reached up and cupped the side of my neck, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “One of these days, beautiful, I’ll give you the opportunity to have that,” he promised.
I leaned up and linked my arms around his neck, hugging him. He blew out a soft breath as he wrapped his arms around me as well, holding me to him. “I love you,” I told him, my voice thick with emotion.
“You’re my moon,” he said simply. “I’ll do anything in the fucking world that I can for you to keep glowing.”
When Julian had a game, their house was madness. And today, it was even more so. Christian, Axel, and Caiden kept yelling at the TV, getting angry when there were penalties and what they called ‘dumb moves’. Meghan and I only really knew to yell when Julian had control of the ball, and when the Patriots scored a touchdown. Holden was used to the ruckus by now, so he was just pushing some of his toys across the floor, making weird sounds with his mouth.
