Page 25 of Falling for the Forward

Surprisingly, Charlotte is the only one of the girls who gets emotional during the ceremony. She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye and the gravity of all this sets in.

I’m not a bachelor anymore. I can’t fuck around with women I meet on the road and party with my single teammates. Even though Suki and I won’t be together forever, the girls and I will. I’m as close as I’ll ever get to being a dad--to three girls. Boys, I can handle, but girls?

As they grow into adolescence without their mom around, the roller coaster ride we’re all on will probably get more intense.

Bash pokes me as the officiant says, “You may kiss your bride,” while giving me a look that conveys it’s not the first time he’s said it.

I put my game face on, grinning at Suki as I gently cup her cheek and lean in to kiss her. Her lips are soft and she tastes like mint. I put my free hand on her hip and squeeze gently, eliciting a little moan from her.

Damn. Is she inexperienced? Or just nervous? I like the way she lets me lead, her eyes wide when I pull back slightly. In another time and place, I’d want to do more than just kiss her right now.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Carter Stanton,” the officiant announces proudly.

Everyone claps. Well, everyone besides Darling, who’s squealing bloody murder.

Coach Turner held him for the ceremony, and he’s eager to get rid of him. Once he’s back on the ground, Darling waddles over to the girls, his nose to the ground.

Bash hugs Suki and smiles broadly at her. “I don’t know what you see in him, but welcome to the family.”

She glances at me and smiles. “Thank you.”

The photographer takes more photos of me and Suki, and then a bunch more of us with the girls. It’s going to be weird seeing these photos later, with Suki and I giving each other tender looks even though we hardly know each other.

I feel a stab of guilt every time someone congratulates us. Suki seems genuinely happy. Her friends are thrilled. What if she’s catching feelings? If she falls for me, she’s going to end up heartbroken. If there’s anything I can do to prevent that, I will.

“Hey, can we talk alone?” I ask her.

She furrows her brow. “Right now?”

“Right now.”

Leo laughs from nearby and comes over to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, he just wants to consummate this thing. Won’t take him more than a minute, minute and a half tops, from what I’ve heard.”

I scowl, not in the mood for his antics. Suki excuses herself and follows me upstairs to my bedroom. Once we’re inside with the door closed behind us, I tear off the annoying as fuck bow tie and unbutton the top button on my shirt.

Able to breathe again, I sit down on the edge of the bed, unsure how to approach this conversation.

“So how are you feeling?” I ask tentatively.

She sighs softly, sitting down on the leather chair in the corner. “Glad the hard part’s behind us. What about you? You seem extra broody.”

I bristle. “I’m not broody.”

“You’re literally brooding right this second.”

“How am I brooding?”

“Your expression, your tone...it’s a whole vibe, and the vibe is broody.”

Dammit. I just signed up to have a woman giving me her commentary about me all the time.

I decide to just be straight with her. “Okay, look. You seemed really happy during the ceremony and I just want to make sure we’re still on the same page.”

She hikes up her brows. “The same page?”

“I’m not going to fall in love with you.”

Her immediate laugh is full-throated and it lasts longer than it should. I seethe inside over her amusement at what I just said.

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