Page 67 of Pucks and Likes

And smiling.

Always smiling, like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Must be fucking nice.

“Stop thinking so hard, mami.” His words are soft but demanding. His eyes stay on the road, and that smile stays in place. He squeezes the hand he’s been holding since we got in the car to head to his mom’s.

“Maybe you should let me wear that ring so she won’t be so mad,” I suggest, and he doesn’t even spare me a glance.

“Will you keep it on?”

“What?”

“Will you keep the ring on?” he asks, finally looking over at me.

“While we’re here?—”

“No. Forever,” he announces, like he’s telling me the weather. I just gawk at him, unsure how to answer. “Exactly. Don’t ask for things you’re not ready for. And also, let me make it special when I ask, okay?” He scoffs. “Impatient ass.”

My eyes narrow. “I’m trying to make this easy for you.”

“It’s already easy,” he says with a shrug. “‘Mom, this is my future wife, and hey, she’s pregnant. Isn’t she gorgeous as fuck?’”

“Please don’t say that.”

He chuckles. “That’s how I’ve planned it.”

“Oh my God,” I groan as he turns into a neighborhood. I look out the window, taking in the manicured lawns and beautiful all-brick homes. “Did you grow up here?”

He shakes his head. “No, I bought this house for her when I signed with the Assassins.”

“She lives alone?”

“Yup,” he says as he turns onto another street. “My brothers live about ten minutes away in different directions.”

“Your brothers are Santiago, Mario, then Hugo?” I ask out loud, just to be sure.

He nods happily. “You’ll meet them at the game tomorrow with their wives. Santiago’s wife is Venessa, and they have one girl, Mila. Hugo is married to Ise with two girls, Kallie and Elaine, and then Mario is married to Alma, no kids yet.”

I say the names over and over, and then I realize something. “Our baby will be the first boy.”

Alex smiles proudly. “He will.”

I feel my smile burst over my face. “Maybe lead with that to butter her up.”

He chuckles. “I don’t need to butter her up,” he says, pulling into the driveway of a white brick ranch-style home with black shutters and door. When he puts the car in park, he leans over, kissing my lips. “She’s gonna see how I look at you and know you’re it.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Please give me an ounce of your confidence.”

His lips curve sinfully. He kisses me again, running his tongue along my lips, and I open eagerly for him. His kiss is deep, thorough, and searing as he draws a soft moan from me when he pulls away. “There you go. Have all my confidence.”

I wish it were that easy.

I grin, though, unable not to. His smile is infectious, sweet, and so damn hot. He gets out, coming around to let me out just as I notice the front door open, and a beautiful woman in her fifties steps out of the house. She is my height, plump, with dark black hair and darker eyes. Her face is weathered, lined with wrinkles that I’m sure are from raising four boys by herself. Still, though, she’s beautiful, and Alex favors hers fully. I’m breathless at the sight, or maybe it’s from how happy her eyes are when they fall on her son.

Her love is bright, beautiful, and I know I’ll love my son the same.

I already do.

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