Page 132 of Love Me Fierce

Logan gives him a broad grin. “She’s yours, dude. You need to give her a name.”

Matty’s face stills and he gazes up at Logan. “She’s… mine?”

Vivian joins me, and links her arm with mine. I put my arm across her shoulders and kiss her on the temple.

“Yeah,” Logan says., his voice tense with emotion. “She’s yours.”

A tear spills down Matty’s cheek. “I promise I’ll take the very best care of her.”

Logan ruffles the top of Matty’s head. “I know you will.”

Matty reaches for him, and Logan drops to one knee so he can hug him back. “I love you, Logan.”

“Love you too, bud.”

The puppy squirms free.

“Let’s see if she likes water,” Mateo says. “Come on, Poppy!”

Logan tugs off his t-shirt. “Poppy, huh? I like that name.”

“Swim time!” Sepp calls out, racing through the crowd in his obnoxious turquoise hearts and pineapple trunks. He races into the water and dives.

Hudson is right behind him, along with Cam, his best friend Wilder, then Linden grabs Greta and races into the water and launches her off his shoulders. She plugs her nose and lands with a giant splash that gets everyone wet.

“You’re all nuts,” Vivian says.

I yank off my shirt and toe off my sneakers. “It’s worth it, I promise.”

She lifts her sweater over her head then slips out of her jeans, revealing a dark blue bikini that I’m going to be peeling off of her later.

I help her slide the waterproof cover over her boot, then I take her hand. Together we walk to the water’s edge. She tucks a stray curl behind her ear, her storm-blue eyes flecked with gold in the sunshine.

While all around us, it’s mayhem—shouting and splashing—I pull her close, so her body fits inside my embrace. “Thank you for being here today, for helping out. I think Logan’s having a pretty great birthday.”

“I loved that I got to be part of it. And your family has been wonderful. We had fun decorating and putting everything together.” She glances over her shoulder, where Mateo and his puppy are playing in the shallows, and smiles. “That was pretty sneaky of you, but…pretty sweet, too. He’s absolutely smitten.”

Kind of like me.

Unable to hold back any longer, I lean down to kiss her. Our lipsembrace, her warmth and her soft sigh weaving through the layers of my heart.

“Ready to get wet?” I ask, taking her hand.

She arches an eyebrow. “Ready to make me?”

I scoop her up and carry her into the water. She shrieks and tries to get free. We go down with a splash, the cold water wrapping around us.

Later, we warm up around the bonfire, the embers sparking into the thick night sky. We roast hot dogs and sing “Happy Birthday” to Logan and eat cake, the frosting turning our tongues blue. Poppy falls asleep in Mateo’s arms and Greta shows off her handstands and other tricks she’s quickly mastering. Family members say goodbye and drift up toward the driveway until it’s just me and Lind and our crew.

Vivian helps Mateo gather Poppy while I collect our towels and extra clothes. Greta and Logan follow, their still-wet flip-flops squeaking.

“Thanks for loaning us your lake,” I tell Linden. “I think everyone had a great time.”

He gives me a quiet smile. “It’s good to see you so happy.” He glances at Vivian’s retreating figure. “She’s good for you. She somehow manages to be a sweetheart while also not taking any of your shit.”

I can’t help my grin. “Sounds about right.”

“Excuse me!” a voice calls from the dark water.

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