AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She looks at me, and I raise a brow.
“Fine.” She stomps to his truck and gets inside, slamming the door hard enough to make the cab rock from side to side.
His eyes come to me. “Take care of them.”
I lift my chin and then stand back with Kingston and Miranda as he gets in his truck and backs out. As they pass us, Bowie keeps his eyes on the road while Naomie glares out the windshield.
“I don’t want to jinx us, but I think things are going to get better,” Miranda whispers as Kingston reaches for me. And I take him from her, resting him on my hip.
I tip my chin down to meet her gaze. “I think so too, baby.”
“Finally,” she whispers, and I lean down to kiss her smiling mouth. Kingston grabs each of our cheeks, pressing his face between ours and making a loud smacking sound with his lips.
“I wuv you.” He giggles and I pull back and look between him and his mom, feeling like I just got hit in the chest with a hundred-pound boulder.
I thought I knew what love was. I thought I had experienced it before. But I had no fucking clue until this moment right here.
And fuck me I will never take what I have for granted.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
miranda
With a fire burning in the pit, the guys dug in the sandy shore of the lake with the kids in front of the house. I lean back against Tucker with a blanket wrapped around me to ward off the chill in the night air. The day might have started out with a little bit of drama, but after we all got inside and settled, Tucker and I stripped the beds and began washing the sheets while everyone else took the kids to the grocery store to pick up burgers for dinner and a few necessities we would need for the night and tomorrow morning.
When they all got back, we took a walk down to the water, and the kids played on the beach with Skye, who was a soaking-wet mess by the end. Then we barbecued and ate dinner outside with the sun setting. It’s been the perfect day and one I needed more than I realized. I just wish Emma hadn’t had to work tomorrow because she would love it here. And she would also love Tucker’s family as much as I do.
“I found another one!” Kingston screams, and Winter oohs and ahhs over whatever rock he’s found to add to their collection using the flashlights Miles gave them. Listening to the two of them squeal with excitement each time they find one, you’d think they’ve struck gold about a dozen times.
“How many pounds of rocks do you think we’re going to end up taking home?” Miles asks.
“At least ten,” I say, looking over at him, and he grins at me as Hazel, who is sitting next to him, laughs and leans into him.
At first, I wasn’t quite sure about their relationship dynamic. I mean, she’s gorgeous, and it’s obvious watching the two of them interact that they have history. But more and more, it’s become clear they are truly just friends who happen to have a child together. It’s sweet, and they give me hope that one day Bowie and I might be able to be friends.
“I got the sheets out of the dryer and made the beds,” Willow says, walking toward us, with Clay right behind her carrying a bag and some sticks in his hand.
“You didn’t have to do that. I was planning on making them when I went back inside.”
“It’s not a big deal. The dryer went off while we were in there.” She shrugs, taking the bag from Clay. “Winter, Kingston, do you guys want to roast marshmallows?”
“Yes!” the two of them scream and run in our direction with Skye barking.
“You have to be really careful,” she instructs softly, and the kids bounce around her feet while she places the marshmallows on the sticks for them.
“Come here and I’ll help,” Dalton offers, and the two of them walk around the fire to where he’s sitting. “Does anyone else want one?” She looks around the group. “They already have the chocolate insiiide,” she sings, swinging the bag around.
“I’ll try one.” I laugh and take a stick she passes me along with a marshmallow. As Kingston eats his first one, I twirl mine, making sure it’s perfectly browned before I take a bite of the soft, gooey outside and the melted chocolate center. “What kind of magic is this?” I hold the stick back for Tucker to take a bite, and he eats the rest.
“They are so good, right? I bought a bag and have been toasting them using our stove every night,” Willow says, blowing away the fire on hers.
