Page 90 of Stick Play

“It’s what I want. Believe me, it’s what I want. I think I knew it was what I wanted from the first time I met you. I was scared. Coach told me no more drama, and you had a daughter to protect, and we all know how much she frightened me.” That brings a grin to her face. “I never thought I could be a good role model for a little girl. I never had any maternal guidance.”

She cups my cheeks. “I know, Ash. I also know that you are amazing with her, and she loves you as much as I do.”

I blink, trying to wrap my brain around this, when another thought—a huge thought—hits. “Can I be Zoe’s father?”

She laughs. “Yes, if that’s what you want.”

My heart is pounding so fast, I’m not sure I heard her correctly. “I can adopt her?”

“Of course, you can, Ash.”

I hug her again, her warmth and love curling around my heart. “Our family…You, me, Zoe, Dad, Maria, Elena, Lucas and Josh. It’s going to be so big.”

“It’s everything I ever wanted,” she says quietly, inching back to cup my cheeks.

“Me too, but I also don’t think it’s big enough?”

She arches a brow. “No?”

I grin and kiss her again. “I think we could add to it.”

“I’d love that, Ash, and I know Zoe will too.” She laughs. “Just tell me you’ll use the wishing stones and not make us eat lumpy pancakes for months.”

“It’s why I bought them.”

“Should we go tell the others?”

I’m about to say yes, when something else occurs to me. “You need a ring.”

She pulls another box from her pocket. “This was Grandma’s engagement ring, and again I know it’s not conventional, but this is the one I want to wear.”

I take it from her, and look at the small diamond, and while I’d like to buy her the biggest one in the store, this one couldn’t be more perfect for her. She holds her hand out. “Will you be my wife, Gina?” I ask. “Will you and Zoe move in with me and make me the happiest man in the world?”

“Yes,” she answers, and I pick her up and spin her around.

“Now we can go tell the others, and I know just how I want to do it.”

“Oh?” She angles her head and I grin at her.

I grab her hand and we head upstairs. We say hello to Dad, who is watching me carefully. I can’t seem to keep anything from that man. “Where’s Zoe?”

“I’m in here,” she calls out, and we walk into the kitchen to find her drawing a picture.

She jumps up and hugs me when I enter the kitchen, and I kiss the top of her head. Before she sits back down, I pull Gina into my arms, and give her a kiss. Zoe’s eyes go wide.

“Mommy!” she shrieks. “You’re kissing Ash.”

Gina breaks the kiss and laughs. “I am, and I think you know what that means.”

She shrieks and jumps up and down. “Ash is going to be my daddy!”

I drop down to one knee and take her hand. “Zoe, will you be my little girl?”

“Yes!” I pull her to me and hug her, and she’s shaking so hard, unable to contain her excitement, it makes me laugh.

“All my wishes are coming true,” she yells and grabs the picture with everyone in it. “This is my family.”

Dad comes into the kitchen, a big grin on his face. “Grandpa, my wishes are coming true.”

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