Page 123 of My Ex's Brothers

But maybe…maybe being an uncle isn’t so terrible.

And maybe a pregnant Amelia wouldn’t be so bad, either.

If she is…

I hope it’s Dane’s. Lord knows he’d be the perfect father.

When I get back home,Dane and Amelia are in the kitchen. Tripp’s dancing with Lyla while Dane and Amelia are side by side, cooking.

It’s weird because before she came here, this house was so quiet. We all kept to ourselves mostly, content not to be in one another’s way.

But now…

Now since Amelia and Lyla arrived, the house is never quiet. It’s loud, energetic, and warmer than it’s ever been. I know it’s because of her. Because she brings out the best in us. In Dane, Tripp, and me.

I grab her from behind, kissing her cheek. “Hey, baby girl.”

She smiles. “I start my job next week. On Wednesday,” she says with a smile.

“Are you still going to the game?” Tripp asks.

She nods. “Yes, I’ll get out at three.”

“Sweet!” Tripp says as he bounces Lyla on his hip. “We can drop little princess off after I pick you up, and head to the arena.”

Dane serves the plates, and my stomach is immediately protesting for me to give up touching mygirlfriendand eat. We all sit around the island, even little Lyla, and devour our dinners, and I think nothing could beat this. Our situation, however unorthodox it is, works. It’s not easy by any means, and I don’t think it ever will be. But these are the moments that are worth it.

After dinner, I help Dane clean up while Tripp and Amelia head to the couch to watch a movie. “You hear from Dex?” I ask quietly.

Dane shakes his head. “Mom and Gary said he hasn’t shown up to their house since. Riley called looking for him, though. Hasn’t heard from him in weeks.”

I watch Lyla giggle as Tripp blows against her tummy, making sounds that make her squirm and laugh.

“You think he’ll be back?” I ask.

Dane shrugs. “Probably not. I’m sure he’ll find some other team to play for since apparently the Stingrays let him go two weeks ago.”

“Well, if he comes back, we’ll be ready. Lawyer’s building the case.”

Dane nods. “You ready for this game in two days?”

I shake my head. “Not really. I mean, I’m looking forward to it, but?—”

“When are you going to retire?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. “When are you going to retire?”

Dane shrugs again, looking at me with a curious expression. “Honest answer?” he says.

I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

“I think this will be my last season.”

My eyes widen. Holy shit. “Can I ask why?”

He looks straight at Amelia. “Because I want more time with the people I love. We’re going to have to travel and I just…want to be here. With them.”

The way he says the words is so firm, so true, it’s hard to deny the truth in them.

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