Page 86 of Fool Me Once

“Thank you, sir.” I shake his hand. “I can’t take the credit for healing her though. She did that all by herself. I just stood by her through it.”

He pulls me against him with one arm and gives my back a pound with his palm. “You helped her more than you’ll ever give yourself credit for.”

Seconds later, he releases me and moves along to his daughter, and I let his words sink in. The truth is, I am a better man than the one who packed my truck up and left the love of my life behind. But Gemma made me become that man because that’s the man she needed when she came back to Maine.

Before she returned, I was sleeping around, drinking too much, and acting like I was invincible. Then, she showed up, and I knew that if I wanted my second chance, I needed to grow the fuck up and be the person in her corner she needed me to be.

Gemma Jones is the reason why I am the man that I am now.

Three Years Later

Ihold Sophie up closer to the TV, even though she’s only six months old and she doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. “Look, baby girl, there’s your mama on theTodayshow,” I whisper, kissing her chubby little cheek.

I stare at the screen in complete awe as I watch my wife and her business partner, Cameran Kade, finish up their interview, where they talked about the nonprofit foundation they’d created to help women who had been domestically abused. Then, I see a message from Cameran’s husband, Trent, come across my phone screen.

Trent: Those are two beautiful baddies we got ourselves.

Trent: How the fuck did we convince them to marry a couple of dumbasses like us?

Smith: Speak for yourself, Kade. I’m highly intelligent. Remember when I kicked your ass at family trivia night a few weeks ago?

Trent: Just because you know useless information that only comes in handy on family game night does not make you highly intelligent, Sawyer.

I send back a crying-face emoji, pretending he hurt my feelings, but we’re both professional athletes, and all of our friendships basically consist of us making fun of each other. Our wives have become close, which has brought Trent and me together as well. And not just because we both have an addiction to fresh ink on our skin, but because he’s a good guy.

Even if he still intimidates the fuck out of me most of the time.

I take a quick selfie of me and Sophie and send it to my wife, telling her how good she did and how proud we are. Also, I let her know that I plan to do some dirty things to her when she gets home tomorrow.

After setting Sophie in her seat, I find a Mickey Mouse showon the TV because, lately, she’s been obsessed with him, and I plop myself down on the couch, letting a yawn roll from my mouth.

Gemma was so nervous about today, but watching her during the interview, no one would have ever known that. She talked with such grace, and even on a screen, it was obvious how passionate she was about what she was doing. These two women genuinely want to spend their lives helping others; that’s not something that is easy to find these days.

As badly as I wanted to be there for her today, the baby has been fighting a fever for a few days and has been a total grump ass—worse than even Kolt. So, I told Gem to go with Cameran and enjoy herself. She’s always worrying about keeping our household running and taking care of Soph and me and everyone else around her. She deserved to relish in this moment and take time for herself. Besides, I’ll celebrate with her when she gets home.

Naked. With my tongue buried inside of her while she rides my face.

With Saylor at my side, I sit across from Cameran and her best friend, Anna. Just an hour ago, Cameran and I were on television, and now, we’re eating brunch like everything is normal.

It’s not, but that’s okay because it’s so much better.

“So, the new housing—when will that be open?” Anna asks, taking a sip from her spritzer. “It’s amazing what you guys are doing, by the way. Tell me more about it.”

“Thanks,” Cameran and I both say, smiling.

Cameran nods toward me to answer, and because I’m so damn proud of this project, I start blurting everything out with ease.

“Within five weeks, it should be open. It’s going to house up to a hundred people—including children because so many women who are escaping abusive relationships have kids and that only makes it all the more difficult for them to leave.” I know I’m talking a mile a minute, but I’m so passionate about what Cameran and I are doing. “We will also have a day care on-site;that way, the residents can find jobs to gain some independence. And we’re working with Casco Bay University to have access for our residents to go back to campus if they wish to do so or to get their degrees remotely.”

Cameran beams at me, obviously so proud too.

Years ago, I thought what I wanted was to have some fancy engineer degree. But that wasn’t my path, and that’s okay.

“You two make me sick. You’re too damn nice for your own good,” Saylor says, shaking her head. “You’re making me feel like a bag of dicks over here.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” I roll my eyes because Saylor is one of the most generous people I know.

She’s also now working as a hospice nurse, which has got to be the most compassionate job on this planet. I think when you do a job like that, you have to joke around a bit; otherwise, life would be so sad.

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