Page 70 of The Forever Game

And that made me pull Rachel into my arms and hold her close while she slept. My touch stirred her, and she turned her head to kiss me, her ass nudging back and inviting me to wake her up with a little loving. I knew she was exhausted, so I kept it simple, sliding into her from behind while we lay on our sides. I caressed her body and enjoyed her reckless groaning, working her clit while I rode her. She orgasmed just before me, her inner walls clutching me until I spasmed inside her. She milked me dry, and we drifted right back to sleep, my hand tucked beneath her boob and her body secured against mine.

I can’t lose her, but what I wouldn’t give to have those times we make love result in something more. I wish I could give her everything she wants. Not that she’ll be able to get that with another guy either. Her body doesn’t seem capable of growing a baby, no matter how hard we try. It hurts me, too, but I get the feeling she’s more heartbroken than I am. As long as we have each other, we’ll be all right…

But what if I’m not enough?

You are.

And logically, I know this is true, but I’m not feeling it this morning, and it’s making me a grumpy ass.

I just wish there was some way I could make this adoption thing happen faster. Rachel’s ready for a kid now.I’mready for a kid now. Watching Casey’s face when he announced the birth of Lyla was golden. I want that. I want to be a daddy.

“Liam.”

“What?” I bark, then instantly wince. “Sorry.” I clear my throat and spin in my chair, trying to put on a smile. “What’s up?”

Officer Reed stares at me, her eyes narrowing. “You okay?”

“Yep.” I nod, trying to make my smile wider.

“All right, well…” She shakes her head, obviously not believing me as she walks over with a manila folder. “I just need you to double-check this accident report from Friday and sign it off for me.”

“Oh, yeah.” My stomach sinks, thinking about those poor kids. Social services came to collect them. The baby was sleeping, and the little boy had softened to quiet whimpers against my chest by the time the woman arrived. She was sweet and kind, coaxing Carlos into her car. He seemed scared, but I spoke to him in Spanish, assuring him everything would be okay.

Watching his little face peering through the glass with that worried frown was a killer. I just hope they can make it back to family soon. People they’ll feel safe with. People who can help them heal.

“Do you know if they got hold of the family?” My pen scratches across the paper as I sign my name.

“Yeah, it’s heartbreaking.”

I pause, my pen frozen in midair as I forgo my next signature and glance at her. “What do you mean?”

“They’ve only got three grandparents and one uncle who all live in El Salvador. They don’t want the kids back.”

“What?” I rush my signature, botching it, before slapping the folder closed. “Why?”

“They insist they’ll have a better life staying in America. Both kids were born here, so they’re citizens, and the family doesn’t want them being sent back home.”

“So, what’s going to happen to them?”

“They’ll be placed in foster care.”

“And that’s better than being with family?” I balk.

“I know.” She shrugs. “I can’t decide how I feel about it. I mean, on the one hand, you’re like ‘come on, they’re family,’ you know. But then I guess you could be thinking, ‘wow, what a huge sacrifice they’re making for these kids.’ They’ll definitely have more opportunities here than there.”

“Not if they’re stuck in a foster system where they get bounced around.”

“Well, the family is obviously hoping some lovely people will adopt them, but…” She shakes her head with a sad frown. “As we well know, that’s not always the case.” She sighs. “There are so many great foster parents out there, but there are also some horrible situations. It’s so unsettling for little kids, you know? I just hope these two have a success story, especially with the trauma they’ve already faced. Whoever they end up with is going to be dealing with their pain. It’s a big ask, but there are a lot of bighearted people out there, and we just have to hope these kids end up in a home that can nurture them, you know?”

Officer Reed tucks the folder under her arm and walks away from the desk I’m using. My heart is pounding for reasons I can’t explain… until my slow-ass brain finally clicks. I snatch the phone off its charger.

Rachel answers after three rings. Her voice is quiet, and I can tell she’s tired and probably feeling kind of melancholy after everything that happened yesterday. She would have given anything to be holding a precious little girl in her arms.

Well, maybe she can.

“Hola, cariña.”

“Hey. How’s your shift going?”

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