Page 166 of It's Always Us

I link my arms around his neck. “Oh, yeah? I think I’ve thought about it a time or two. You did good out there.”

One eyebrow arches up. “That so?” I nod, holding his gaze. “It’s never meant more to me than it did today.” His eyes move to the stroller, checking on the girls, and then back to me. “You being here. Our family. Our life. Everything you’ve given me.” He pauses, staring so deeply into my eyes I have to swallow. “It matters so much more than this, but thank you for allowing me to do both.”

“I love you,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed with so much joy it creeps up my throat and into my eyes. I nuzzle into his neck as tears drip from my eyes.

His hands grip my thighs. “Baby, I know. I feel it every day.” His lips find mine, soft and sweet, but when I pull away, his smirk promises more to come.

He sets me down, and I link my hand with his as he grabs the stroller.

“Nice shirt.”

He smiles, lifting my hand and pressing his lips to the back of it. “The reporters dug it.”

I laugh, stepping closer and wrapping my free hand around his forearm as we make our way out of the stadium. “Of course they did. I bet the ladies loved it, too.”

Ugh. That grin. It kills me every time.

MARK

I lay Ellie in her crib gently, hoping she’ll stay asleep this time. These girls are spoiled being rocked every night, but I don’t care. I’m rocking them until they fall asleep, and maybe even longer.

Lex might kill me as the season picks up, and she has trouble getting them down, but I’ll suffer her wrath for this time with my girls. Makingthem feel safe and loved as they go to sleep is something I never had. I will do this for as long as I can.

I let the white noise machine work its magic as I close the door. Down the hall, I peek in on Bree. She’s sound asleep after a long night of dance classes that are quickly filling up our evening schedule. Dance is giving her what football has always given me. Freedom. An escape. A space to let all the pain and hurt go.

I turn off her lamp and brush her hair out of her face, hoping she knows how much Lex and I love having her here. She’s had to grow up quickly these past months, and she’s way more mature and adjusted than any ten year old should ever have to be.

I pull her door closed and march straight to the garage.

I open the door to Lex’s four-stall haven, where the Bronco sits jacked up off the floor. Country music plays low in the background, and Lex is on her back under the rear wheel well.

Metal clinks to the floor, and she groans. She scoots out from underneath and stands. Her hair is held back with a bandana, and she’s wearing a white tank and old jeans filled with holes.Damn. The sight reminds me exactly why I’m here.

“How’d it go?” She wipes her hands on a blue rag.

“Ellie needed extra Daddy time.”

She squats back down, peering underneath the truck again. “You’re getting nothing but silence when I’m up all night trying to get them to sleep.” She knows her silence is my Kryptonite, but I don’t care.

“I heard. I’m choosing to suffer the consequences. Your idle threats kind of turn me on.” I can hear her roll her eyes.

“Don’t forget Slade is coming out next weekend to help me.”

“Great,” I grumble. I like that guy, sort of, but I don’t have to like him working with Lex in this environment.

Her head swivels to peek at me over her shoulder. Her smile is blinding. “You’re gonna have to get over it. This little jealous streak you have about Slade. He’s like my brother.”

“Why isn’t he dating someone?”

She walks to me, her arms sliding through mine, propped on my hips. “Uh . . . maybe because he’s a jaded, old crab who had his big, crusty heart broken.”

“You make him sound like Mr. Krabs.”

She laughs and presses her lips to mine. “He kind of is, but I need his help pulling the engine. I can’t wait to get this baby up and running.” She untangles herself and moves to the workbench to grab another tool. “Besides, McGowen’s Aston Martin is being delivered this week. He can help me get a head start on that.”

“When will there be space for my Mustang?”

Her back is to me, and she stills. The smile that creeps across my face that she can’t see says, ‘Gotcha!’

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