Page 117 of Power Play

Xander and Bella sit to my left. Her green eyes meet mine, and she smiles warmly. With how much time I’ve been spendingwith her, planning the interior design of my flower shop, we became close. We are friends, and not inviting her family to Maya’s birthday felt wrong. Besides, with them here, Michael has Isla to play with. He’s already seven, and he isn’t that keen on spending time around kids who are younger than him.

Why are kids always in such a hurry to grow up? I’ll never understand that. Even though I was like them when I was small.

Next to Xander is Colton. They are really good friends, and I know for a fact that Clay has been jealous a few times—he’s not ready to share his best friend with others. He said I was being ridiculous when I pointed it out, but with how red the tips of his ears got, I knew I was right. Colton is so different from how he was when I first met him in college, sometimes I’m still amazed by his growth. Growth that wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for his wife.

As this thought crosses my mind, Ava rounds me, holding a pouting Meghan in her arms. She’s already one year and six months old, and she’s giving Michael a run for his money. Because, by the looks of it, Meg is going to be the wild child of this family—not her big brother.

Two strong arms wrap around me from behind, and I let my body relax into him. His scent floats around me, making a smile blossom on my lips. My fiancé.

God, it feels so good to call him that.

“Maya’s gift will be here in forty minutes,” Clay whispers in my ear.

I glance over my shoulder, meeting his smiling eyes. “Then we better ask the kids to join us at the table, no?”

“You stole my line.” He kisses my nose and takes a step back, then lightly slaps my ass. “I’ll get them. Go sit down.”

And I obey because that’s what I love doing the most.

“Maya, sweetheart, come here,”I call out. She stands up from the grass, where she’s been sitting on a blanket with Michael and Isla, and strolls to me. Her light blue dress with twinkling little stars makes her look like a princess. She asked me to do her hair exactly like mine: two little braids on top of her head, while the rest streams freely down her shoulders. She needs a cut, but I haven’t been successful in getting her to agree.

Behind her glasses, her eyes shimmer with undisguised excitement. After she recently announced to Clay and me that her new favorite color is blue, we got her blue glasses, and she clearly loves them more than her old ones. Or maybe it’s because she’s used to them, and wearing glasses doesn’t bother her anymore. Her right eye is doing so much better, but from what we’ve been told, I don’t think she’s going to stop wearing glasses anytime soon. Which is fine. Whatever is good for her.

“Are you ready to see your gift?” I ask, crouching to her.

The way her face lights up with pure joy makes my heart sing. I’m so unreasonably happy lately…sometimes I worry I don’t deserve it. Hell, I always worry that I don’t deserve such happiness and love…but the man by my side takes any chance he gets to tell me that I’m worth it and that he loves me.

If two people are meant to be together, eventually they will find their way back to each other.

And I’m so glad I found my way back to him.

“Yes!” Maya jumps up. Her giggling is jubilant.

Our guests start to gather around us, curious about the gift Clay and I got her. A gift I had no choice but to agree to. Hopefully, with Maya being three years old now, it will be easier, and she will help like she promised.

“Happy birthday, Princess!” Clay proclaims, stepping out of the house and drawing everyone’s attention to him. I hear gasps and whistles and also laughter. But I keep my eyes on Maya, watching how her expression changes. Her features soften, happy tears brimming her eyes. “This little lady is for you.”

Maya rushes to Clay the moment he kneels. She hugs him tight, kisses his cheek, and only then does she reach for the little dachshund puppy in his arms. It looks exactly like Willa. Sandy in color, with long fur and black beady eyes. I already love this little puppy. Her tiny tail wags back and forth when Maya takes her in her arms and presses her to her chest.

“Can I have a dog too?” Michael asks, and I glance at him. He’s staring at Colt with his eyebrows pinched together, his lips smacked into a pout.

“We have a cat.”

“I’ll tell Meg to ask for a dog for her birthday in six months.”

Colt rolls his eyes, unimpressed by his son’s tactics. “The answer will be the same.”

Chuckling to myself, I focus my attention on Maya. Isla, Meghan, and Ian are by her side, petting the little puppy with bright smiles on their faces.

“What’s her name, Maya?” I ask. Then I add sternly. “Not Willa, please.”

Her lips split into a grin. “Daisy. Like flower.”

I smile back. “Daisy it is.”

My eyes meet Clay’s, and emotion overwhelms me. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and it’s all because of him. My little girl is loved and happy, and she finally has a real dad in her life, one who loves her immensely.

Clay came into my life when I didn’t expect much, when I was just hoping for a fun first year of college. And he stayed no matter how hard I pushed him away. He waited for me, not knowing for sure if we’d ever be together.

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