Page 130 of Knight Life In Vegas

Oh god. Don’t fucking cry.

I did anyway, dropping to my knees and pulling both of the boys into a hug.

Ollie patted my cheek. “Why you crying?”

“Just happy, kiddo.”

“Oh, okay.” Apparently that was his cue to wriggle out of my arms and go running over to the edge of the arena to make sure Beau had been watching his lesson the entire time.

Charlotte was teary-eyed as she kneeled next to me. “Sammy, you’re calling Dylan Dad?”

“Is that bad? They’re all acting like the dads on TV.”

“You can call me anything you want, Sammy,” I insisted.

Charlotte kissed Sammy’s forehead. “I just worried you would always miss your dad in New York. Not everyone has room in their hearts for more parents.”

“I don’t evenknowNew York Dad,” Sammy confessed. “The TV dads are always there and ours never was. I know you didn’tsaythe ones living with us were ours, but?—”

“They’re yours,” Charlotte promised. “Ours. It’s all still new and I didn’t want you to feel pressured to accept them.”

Sammy looked me right in the eye. “I like them. Everyone’s nice to us. Do you love Mommy? The TV dads always love the mommy.”

“I definitely love your mom,” I replied. “And you and your brother.”

Sammy looped his arms around my neck. “I know. I gotta go brush my horse.”

Without another word he bolted away, leaving me emotionally decimated on the arena floor.

Charlotte kissed my cheek and pulled me close. “I knew the boys didn’t have many memories of Andrew, but I hadn’t realized how bad it was. I don’t even know if Ollie has any at all.”

“We’ll make a million new ones with our pack.”

“Mommy!” Sammy yelled across the arena. We turned, seeing Chico helping Sammy back onto Sassafras. “Dad says I can ride for five more minutes. Is that okay?”

Nervous excitement and weepy happiness tripped down the bond from Chico and Charlotte, tangling with my own.

“That’s fine, honey,” Charlotte called back.

“I’m not emotionally equipped for children accepting me as their dad.” I hiccuped and Charlotte pulled me closer.

“I’m so relieved,” Charlotte whispered.

“Definitely good they like us, considering there’s no take-backsies on a bond.”

“In fairness, you guys are very hard to not like.”

Eduardo picked Ollie up where he was still telling Beau about every detail of his lesson, tossing the six-year-old over his shoulder. “Come on, little man. You can tell Beau all about it while you brush Sugar Snap.”

“Can you help me, Daddy?” Ollie asked while upside down.

Eduardo’s stuttered swell of emotion whacked all of us in the chest. “You bet I can.”

“They’re all stealing my Dad Thunder,” I said with a laugh. “I’m gonna have to comfort myself with being the first one Sammy called Dad.”

“It’s not a competition.” Charlotte laughed and pulled me into another kiss.

“I’m always in competition to be the favorite.”

---