Chapter 28 My house is filled with laughter, and that somehow makes it seem more colorful in here. Even warmer, too, as the sound of an intense game of Go Fish goes on at my dining room table. "No, I do not have a lobster," Tripp says, peeking over his cards at Aviana. "Go fish, my friend." Aviana rolls her eyes at him, huffing out an exaggerated breath, but it's obvious she's having fun playing the Maine edition of Go Fish with Tripp and her brothers that he brought home to her today. The doctor said card games were allowed during recovery-just no screen time for now. I watch them off and on from my kitchen as I put away the leftover spaghetti we had, which I hadn't even had to make because Tripp did. Having him here seems to bring a great comfort to my entire house, and the boys laugh harder than I think I've heard them laugh in years. Five years, to be exact. We got home a week ago from the hospital, and my in-laws left town, but Tripp has been here whenever he hasn't been at the arena. Aside from at night, when he goes home. We've snuck a few kisses here and there when no one is around, but we're only ever alone for a few minutes now and then. But right now, seeing him with all three of my kids ... it's doing things to me. Everything with the insurance so far seems to be moving along, but every time I walk to our mailbox, I'm terrified there will be a denial letter in there for me. The first time I voiced this concern to Tripp, he told me not to worry about it because even if the insurance decides not to cover it after the fact, he'll pay the bill. I got a little pissed at him when he said that, so luckily, he hasn't mentioned it since. The last thing I want is for him to feel like I'm using him for his money. When the kids begin to leave the table, Tripp walks toward me, and I bite down on my lip and blush. When he's around, I don't feel like the mom who always wears loose-fitting clothing and who barely has enough time to brush her hair. I feel ... desired. And that's just from one simple look. "Avy won ... again," he drawls, clearly amused. "At first, I thought the boys were letting her win, but when they got pissy, I remembered ... they hate to lose." "They sure do." I look back at the dining room and around the area, noticing it seems to be just me and Tripp now downstairs. "I think she really liked that Maine edition of Go Fish. So, good choice!" "She was getting a little tired, so Cane was going to make sure she got upstairs, and I told her I'd bring her a Popsicle in a few minutes," he says stoically before walking behind me and wrapping his arms around my body. I'm swooning inside that he's so attentive with Aviana, but my brain gets filled with dirty thoughts when he drives his face into my neck before walking us into the food pantry. He kisses my neck, making me giggle, but soon, heat pools between my legs. One of his hand snakes down my body and between my thighs, making me have to swallow a moan. "I want to fuck you so bad," he growls into my ear before nibbling my lobe. "You're so fucking sexy." Though a whimper escapes my lips and I can't stop myself from pressing my ass into his hardening cock, I know I'm just pissing into the wind because we can't fool around in a house I shared with my husband. Nor would I do it with my kids being just upstairs. He cranes my neck with his hand so that our lips meet before giving me a long, deep kiss. "Guess I'd better go get Ave that Popsicle, huh?" He wiggles around behind me, grinding his hard length against my ass. "Fuck ... I'm so hard right now." "I can feel it." I giggle against his lips. "Soon, I'll be able to help you out with that." I press one last kiss to his lips before I spin around and pat his chest. "But not right now. Avy is waiting." Sitting on the edge of Aviana's bed is a strange feeling because I feel like I've known this kid for her entire life. There's a comfort between us-one that even I don't understand because out of the three kids, I've spent the least amount of time with her. I read a chapter of one of her favorite Junie B. Jones books, trying not to let it show just how invested I am if this annoying girl gets in trouble or not. Avy's head is shaved in spots, but not so much that it can't be hidden, and it's so nice to see her smile like she means it again. The surgery and recovery took a lot out of her, but the past few days, she seems to be feeling her best. When I reach the end of the chapter and put the bookmark in, she relaxes her head back into her pillow. "Just a few more days, and I can watch TV again." My lip turns up. She's basically had a countdown for when she can watch television again, but between all four of us, we've done what we can to keep her busy. "Is it?" I tease her. "I thought it was another two weeks." "Not funny, Tripp." She sighs, looking me over. "Can I ask you a question?" I grow nervous. Because of the way her eyes are staring at me, I just know this isn't going to be an easy question. "Go ahead," I utter. "Not sure if I'll have an answer, but I'll try my best." "Do you love my mom?" she blurts out, almost cringing after, but not doing anything to take back her question. I guess I should have known this was coming. I mean, the way I've been acting, who wouldn't pick up on what a goner I am for her mother? Looking down for a second, I think about how the hell I'm going to say this. I don't want to lie. Besides, what would even be the point in that? So, I decide to be as honest as I can while still being graceful. "Yeah, Avy, I do." The second the words leave my mouth, I'm afraid I should have talked to Freya first. But what the hell was I supposed to do when the most adorable seven-year-old was looking at me with her surgery battle scars and big brown eyes like her mother's, asking me something so big? "Is that okay?" I ask her, praying she'll say yes, but not even knowing what I'll do if she says no. Everything Freya does is for her kids, and while they've seemed okay with me being around, what if I've overstayed my welcome and they aren't comfortable with it now? "Yes," she says, keeping her expression straight and making me edgy as hell. "I like having you around. So do Cash and Cane. I can tell." She shrugs. "Besides, Mom loves you too." "You really think so?" I whisper, knowing this all moved much faster than Freya and I anticipated, I'm sure. But since day one, since the first second my eyes landed on her ... I felt something. It kept pulling at me, and the universe kept dropping her back in my path. I'm not a man who believes in much, but she and I? We were written in the stars-I know it. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findnøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know so," she says sweetly. "Good night, Tripp." I pat the side of her head that's untouched and wink. "Night, Aves." Standing up, I walk out of her room, closing the door halfway-because that's how she likes it. When I turn to go downstairs, Cash is standing in his doorway, looking at me. "Did you mean that?" He watches me as I step toward him. "What you said about loving my mom? Did you mean that?" His expression is somber, and dread fills my gut, as I'm afraid he's disappointed. "Yeah, bud. I ... I did mean it." I exhale shallowly. "But I hope you know me spending time with you wasn't just about your mom. I genuinely believe in you, Cash. And I've loved getting to know you. I hope this doesn't change that." "Are you going to get married?" The question shoots out of his mouth, putting ice in my veins. In this moment, an image of her and me at city hall, getting married, flashes through my mind. I hate that we're keeping a secret from her kids. We need to tell them; they deserve to know the truth. I can't tell Cash right now though. Freya and I need to do it together-if she wants to, that is. These are her kids, ultimately making it her choice. "Would you be okay with it if we did?" I say, avoiding the question. "If one day ... it came to that?" His stare sends me into a fucking panic that he's going to say no. And the longer he's silent, the more freaked out I am. But finally ... he shrugs, a teensy smile tugging at his lips. "Well ... duh," he utters, grinning. "But if you hurt her, I'll hurt you." Holding my hands up, I chuckle. "Wouldn't dream of it, Moneybags." "Night, Tripp," he says, walking forward and giving me a half hug. "Night, bud," I murmur before he turns and walks into his room. It takes me a second to get out of my daze, but eventually, I rush downstairs, where I find Freya on the couch in the living room. Plopping down beside her, I lean back and sigh. "Freya?" "Yeah?" "We need to tell the kids about the whole marriage thing," I whisper gruffly. "I don't want to start my relationship with them on a lie." "Oh ..." she squeaks. "Okay." "Yeah," I utter, swallowing. "Tomorrow?" "You have a home game tomorrow," she whispers, moving closer to me. "I don't want you to be distracted." She pauses, staring at me, as if she's deep in thought. "We could tell them right now, you know. I'm sure all three are still awake." Her eyes look down. "To be honest, I've been afraid that it'll somehow get leaked that we got married and they'll find out from someone else anyway." I sigh, putting my hand on her thigh. "Do you want me to go get them?" "No time like the present, right?" She smiles through a shrug, but nerves vibrate through her body. Pressing a kiss to her lips, I stand. I'm nervous as hell, but she's right. At any moment, it could become public knowledge that we tied the knot. I'd rather be up front and honest with her kids-especially since I know they are all okay with us being together. "So, you're, like ... husband and wife?" Cash whispers blankly, staring at us both. "Like ... married?" Cane adds in, swallowing. "Yeah, I think that's what they both just said, Dumb and Dumber," Aviana mumbles, shaking her head at her brothers before propping her chin up on her hand and smiling at us. "So ... you were saying?" Freya glances nervously at me. It's not like we can tell them the truth as to why we got married in the first place. They may tell someone, and then we'd be at risk of getting in trouble. So, instead, we choose a different approach. "For adult reasons that I can't really tell you, Tripp and I decided last month that we should get married. We would have told you, but it was very complicated, and I didn't want to cause any distress to you three." Freya's eyes fill with tears, and her body trembles. "You three are my whole life, and I would never ever, ever want to do something that hurt you. That is the only reason why we kept it to ourselves." "So ... did you love each other when you got married?" Cane asks the question, and I can feel Freya tense up beside me. Freya and I glance at each other, as if trying to send a secret message and decide what the hell to say to that. Pulling in a deep breath, Freya sighs. "It's complicated, baby. But ... no. When we first got married, Tripp was just kind enough to help out our family by agreeing to be my husband." "What about now?" Cane throws back. "Do you love each other now?" The corner of Cash's mouth turns up in a knowing smirk, and Freya's hands clasp together. "Well ..." "They do," Aviana chimes in. "Tripp told me so. At least, he told me he loves Mom." She shifts her eyes from her mother's to mine, wiggling her brows. "And helllllo ... it's pretty obvious Mom loves him back." I don't know whether to hide behind one of Freya's many throw pillows or smile because this is all happening so fucking fast, and I just hope the kids really are okay with it. Freya fights a grin, sweeping her gaze over her kids. "Okay, it's officially way past your bedtime. So, does anyone have any more questions before you all haul your little butts upstairs?" Aviana shakes her head, but Cane and Cash look unfinished with the conversation. They share a few indecisive glances with each other, but it's Cane who pipes back up. "Are you going to move in with us?" His eyes widen. "Or are we going to move in with you?" I signal Freya with a side-eye because I don't want to take this question, not when I don't have the answer. "Not right now," she answers. "It's sort of like Tripp and I have just begun dating, even though we're legally married." She sits forward. "So, think of it like this ... we still have a lot of steps before we move in together. Okay?" "If you're married, does that make you our new dad?" Aviana blurts the words out, and instantly, the boys tense up. I glance at Freya, as if silently asking for her permission to say something to them, and she must read me like a book because she gives me a subtle nod. "Look, you guys ... I know I'll never replace your father. I'll never want to either. He will always be your dad, no matter what. But if you give me a chance to be a part of your lives, I'll be forever grateful. And even though I'll make mistakes, I promise to always try my best." Again, the boys share a look before both of them give me a small grin and a nod of their heads. They don't say anything, but when they both come over to shake my hand, I stand up and take their hand in mine as relief washes through me. Once they both back away before turning around and leaving the room, Aviana is next to walk in front of me, and she throws her arms around my neck. "I'm so glad that you married my mommy," she whispers, squeezing me tighter. "Good night, Tripp." "Night, sweetie," I murmur just as she pulls away and heads upstairs, leaving just me and Freya in the silence. The silence doesn't last long, and soon, her body turns toward me, and she narrows her eyes playfully. "So ... you told Avy that you love me?" "I did." I bob my head up and down. "And you ... you meant it?" she peeps. "That you love me?" "Love you, in love with you," I utter, smirking. "Same difference, right?" I take her hand in mine, winking. "Avy says you love me too, FYI." She's full-on chewing her lip now, her cheeks turning an adorable crimson red. "Did she now?" Her eyes shift between mine, and she's silent. "Well ... she has always been good at telling the truth," she whispers. "And ... she's right." "Yeah?" I breathe out, my heart pounding in my chest. "You sayin' you love me, darlin'?" Her smile widens. "Love you ... in love with you. Same difference, right?" "I guess so," I drawl. Sliding my hand to her nape, I bring our mouths together, kissing her hard. I know I can't take her to her bed and show her how much I really do love her because that's a bed she shared with a man she thought she was going to spend her life with. So, I don't push it. Instead, I kiss her again before pulling back. "I wish you could stay." She seems conflicted. "At least for a while so I could help out with the situation going on in your pants, but I feel-" She stops, looking down. "I feel weird, being here, in a house I shared with Jamie. A house that holds so many memories with him, you know? Plus, it'll be our first time together." She cringes. "I'm sorry." I clutch her chin, pressing my lips to her cheek. "Freya, you have nothing to apologize for." I move my hands to hers, holding them. "I'll wait as long as you need. I'm all in when it comes to you." I kiss the corner of her mouth before I pull back and wink in an attempt to lighten the mood. "As long as I can sext you, I'll be a happy man." "Consider it a deal," she says sweetly, standing on her tiptoes and brushing her lips to mine. "Just so you know ... I'm not going back to work for at least another week, and tomorrow, my mom is coming over to stay with the kids while I run some errands. Will you be home? I'd love to come see you." Mischief covers her face. "And who knows? Maybe I'll even be naked." "Well, in that case, fucking right I will be home," I say, my cock twitching, just imagining her showing up naked at my house. Grazing her fingertips under the waistband of my briefs, she bites down on her lip. "In that case, see you tomorrow, big guy." I pull her against me, kissing her neck. "Yeah, and you can be reminded of how big I am," I growl against her flesh before dragging my tongue against her skin. She lets out a sound that's a mix of a moan and a giggle before she steps back. "I'll walk you to the door," she says, smirking. And as I follow her to the door, my brain can hardly function because all I'm thinking about is her coming to my house tomorrow. And I fully intend to take her to my bed.