Page 107 of War

AVA

After five away games andten days apart, I’m running around the house like a lunatic trying to make sure everything is ready for when Tyler walks through the door.

“Mama!” Scarlett cries out from the floor as I rush past her. She’s got her arms out, making grabby hands.

I stop in front of her and boop her nose. “Do you want pizza, my little love?”

“Pizza for me.” She points at her chest proudly.

I laugh. “Yes, baby girl. Pizza for you.” With a kiss to her head, I pick her up and head for the kitchen. “Can you sit in your seat so I can finish up?”

She frowns.

“Josie,” I holler. “Can you come sit with sissy until Da—Tyler is home?” I blow out a breath. Shit. I almost referred to Tyler as Daddy. When I’m talking to Scarlett, that’s not an issue. In fact, it’s becoming a habit, but Josie still doesn’t call him that. She doesn’t call me Mom, either. And even when Scarlett does, it’s obvious it’s confusing and uncomfortable for Josie. She’s scared to get her hopes up, so I’ve tried really hard to avoid the word when talking to her.

Scarlett, naturally, doesn’t know the intricacies of the situation,so she finishes the word for me, then repeats it over and over. It’s her favorite word because Tyler is her favorite person.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” she sings, banging her hands against the tray on her highchair.

I run my hands through her hair. “Yes, little love. Daddy’s coming home.”

When the sound of gravel crunching catches our attention, she kicks her feet and points to the door. “Daddy home.”

Josie bolts down the stairs, her focus determined. “Tyler,” she shouts as she throws the door open and runs out into the cold.

Smiling, I shake my head and move in that direction too. It’s hard not to get emotional as I stand at the window and watch Tyler open his arms to our girl and carry her toward the house, wearing a big smile. The night we came up with this crazy plan, he promised he’d always come running back to these kids. And the way they run to him just as desperately is heart-wrenching. He doesn’t see the love they have for him. All he wants is to give them everything. What he doesn’t realize is thatheis everything. To them. To me.

And just like he runs to us, we’re always going to run to him.

“Daddy,” Scarlett calls when he slips inside the house with Josie in his arms and his travel bag slung over one shoulder.

He drops the bag but keeps a tight hold on Josie as he heads toward her little sister. I wait my turn as they get their hugs in.

As soon as he spots me in the corner, he smirks. “You going to keep creeping over there like a little stalker, wifey, or you going to come give your husband a hug?”

“That all you want?” I tease as I shuffle toward him.

He kisses both girls one more time before setting them down and reaching for my hand. Roughly, he tugs, causing my sock-covered feet to slide across the hardwoods. “You know it’s not all I want,” he murmurs as he pulls me into his chest and rests his head on my shoulder. He breathes me in the same way I’m doing to him. “Ten days was too much,” he mutters.

Nodding, I squeeze him tight. “Too long.”

He straightens, towering over me and hiding me from the girls. Then he presses his lips to mine. “Fuck, I missed you.”

“Same.”

“Wish you and the kids could travel with me.”

With a palm to his cheek, I kiss him again. “One day.”

“Where’s Bray?”

I nod toward the stairs. “Showering after practice. He should be down any minute for dinner.”

Chin lifted, Tyler surveys the kitchen. “And what are we having for dinner?”

“Something very special.” Grinning, I shimmy my shoulders.

“You cooked?”

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