Page 140 of Restricted List

She returns my smile, placing her hand on top of mine gently. “And have you thought more about what I told you at Sage’s birthday party?”

I bite my lip, nervous to admit my feelings out loud. “I have. I kind of figured everything out when we went down to Florida.”

“Are you going to tell me what you figured out?” She looks at me expectantly.

I sigh. “Don’t say anything to him, but… I love him, Lo. I’m stupidly in love with your brother.”

Harlow squeals excitedly, causing Sage to join in even though she has no idea what’s going on. “You’re totally going to be my sister-in-law one day, aren’t you?”

My smile at the thought is involuntary. “I’m not opposed to the idea. But we’ve only been together for three months.”

“But you do want to marry him, don’t you?” she prods. Harlow is damn persistent when she wants to be.

“Yeah,” I say softly. “I’d love to marry Cole one day. When I picture my future five, ten, fifteen years down the road, he’s all I can see.”

“My brother has always been a happy person, but I’ve still seen such a change in him recently. His happiness now is contagious. He’s always smiling.” Her face turns more serious. “Thank you for being everything he needs, Rory. He deserves happiness. So do you. And I’m glad you guys found it together.”

I wipe a stray tear from the corner of my eye. “Don’t make me emotional, Lo,” I say with a watery laugh.

“No, you can’t cry, or I’ll start crying.”

Sage walks over to us in concern. “Wory sad? Wo sad?”

“No, Lovebug,” I chuckle, picking her up and pulling her into my lap.

“Aunt Harlow and Aunt Rory are happy, Sagie,” Lo says, mussing up the soft curls on her head.

“Otay,” Sage says, apparently satisfied with our answer. She slides off my lap and runs over to start dancing again.

“God, she’s so fu-... flipping cute,” Harlow says, correcting herself before she slips.

“Thanks. I made her myself,” a deep voice booms from behind us, causing us both to simultaneously jump.

“What the hell, Lane?” I yell, turning around to find a very amused Lane and two more amused men standing behind him. “Cole!” I shout, jumping off the sofa and running over to him.

Cole wraps his arms around me as Harlow joins Knox, and Lane walks over to his daughter. “You left your door unlocked, Starlight.”

“That explains how you snuck in. That and the loud music.”

“Make sure you keep it locked, Rory. I’d be heartbroken if something happened to you.”

“I promise,” I smile, standing on my tiptoes and pressing my forehead against his. “I missed you so much, Cole. I’m so glad you’re home now.”

“Me too, baby. Now I won’t have to be away from you again until Spring Training next year.”

“Planning to keep me around, Pierce?” I tease, grasping his shirt in my hands. “Sounds like someone sees a future with me.”

Cole just smiles at me, and I feel it settle over my heart. “Yes, I do. And I’ll be here as long as you want me around.”

Forever sounds good, I think to myself, refraining from saying it out loud. We haven’t said ‘I love you’ yet. I don’t know if he’s ready to hear that I want him around for the rest of my life.

“Not that I don’t enjoy catching up,” Knox says, popping mine and Cole’s little bubble, “but I’m only here right now because my girlfriend is here. And I’dreallylike to get her home now.”

“And why is that, hm?” Lane smirks, holding Sage on his hip.

Knox raises his eyebrow at him. “You really want me to tell you what I have planned for Lo in front of your daughter?”

“He’s not bothered by her brother being here, though,” Cole chuckles.

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