Page 82 of The Forever Game

“It’s okay,” I tell him, then switch to Spanish. Compared to Liam, my Spanish is stilted and slow. I’ve been learning ever since Liam and I started dating, and I’ve gotten so much better. I’m basically fluent, but I still can’t speak as quickly as my husband.

The boy watches me as I talk to him, his nose wrinkling, then his little teeth starting to show when I tell him what a good older brother he obviously is.

“Such a big boy, taking care of your little sister,” I tell him in Spanish. “She is so lucky to have you.”

He gazes down at Lucia, leaning over to give her a kiss on the head. She topples sideways and the pillow catches her, but I reach out and steady her with my hand.

“Do you think you’d like to come back to our place?” Liam asks. “Rachel and I would love to look after you guys. We have a great house with a big yard. Rachel bought a bunch of toys yesterday, including a train set.” He points at Carlos’s train. “And we’d love to have you come stay. We can look after you guys.”

Carlos looks past Liam’s shoulder to the social worker standing behind us.

“That’s right, Carlos.” She bends down with a kind smile. “These are the people I was telling you about.”

He looks back to us, his gaze darting between the two of us before finally nodding.

I give him a relieved smile, then ask, “Is it okay if I pick up Lucia?”

He nods again, and I reach for his little sister. The girl comes to me willingly, and I laugh as she bounces against me, her little legs flailing. I kiss her soft cheek and breathe in her baby scent, my heart overflowing when I picture walking into our house with these two. They are going to fill it with so much energy and life and love.

Even if we don’t get them forever, we have them for now, and I am going to love them like they’re my own.

It won’t be hard. I can feel it in my very soul.

These two are meant to be with us.

And Caroline’s right… I need to have some faith.

Liam and I are childless. Carlos and Lucia need parents.

It’s meant to be.

Liam stands, bringing Carlos with him. His smile is rich with joy and excitement, and I can’t help matching it.

“Shall we take these two home?”

“Yes.” I grin, giving him a quick kiss before heading out to the car with a happy cherub in my arms.

CHAPTER31

LANI

Thanks to not prebooking anything and then having flight delays, Asher’s surprise took a lot longer to come to fruition than he expected. We arrived in Vegas at like three in the morning, and he was frazzled and frustrated by the time we finally booked a hotel room.

As soon as I saw the Vegas lights out the plane window, I knew his plan, and I was so there for it.

But not at three o’clock in the morning.

Once we checked into the hotel, I drew us a bath, massaged his tense body, and then made love to him, the water splashing out of the tub as I sat on his perfect cock and rode him until he was crying out my name and exploding inside me.

Now I’m walking down the Strip, the hot summer sun trying to melt my skin off as we prepare for our spontaneous wedding. Asher’s already bought me a dress that is to die for—fitted white silk covered in sparkles and draping to the floor. I told him a Vegas wedding didn’t need a fancy dress, but he wouldn’t have it any other way, and I wasn’t about to pass up the gorgeous gown. I’m sure I’ll find an excuse to wear it again sometime, right?

All I need to do now is shower this sweat off my body, redo my makeup, and slide into the limo Asher has ordered for us.

My something blue is my sapphire engagement ring.

My something new is the dress.

And now I just need to find something old and something borrowed. I stupidly stress about it as I’m doing my makeup, and Asher must notice my tension as he’s zipping up the gown.

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