Page 110 of War

I think he’s right. I think all along this was our story. Our destiny.

“My dad called while I was away.”

Surprise zips through me. Tyler and I talked and texted every day while he was gone, and he never mentioned it. “Oh yeah?”

“I know it makes no sense that I still want to talk to him, that I still seek his approval.”

Heart aching, I squeeze his hand. “He’s your father.”

“Right.”

“You don’t ever have to explain yourself to me. Loving someone even when it hurts is natural.”

Shoulders sinking, he sighs. “I told him they aren’t welcome here if Dory can’t treat my family the way she would treat Xander’s. I won’t have my kids believing they mean less than other people do. So much of my life has been shaped by my childhood. By the way I tried to squeeze myself into a box in hopes that by molding who I was, they’d love me. I won’t let our kids do that.”

“I’m proud of you,” I whisper, emotion pricking at the backs of my eyes. “What did he say?”

“He said I have one hell of a wife and that my kids have one hell of a mother. He’s sorry he didn’t find a woman who cared for me the way you so obviously care for my kids.”

Tears well, but I blink them back. “He did?”

Tyler pulls me into his chest, hugging me close. “And he already told Dory the same thing. She will no longer be part of his family if she can’t love the people who matter to him.”

“Ty,” I whisper, so completely shocked by this turn of events.

Chin tucked, he smiles down at me. “It was the first time he ever picked me. And it’s because of you. Because you stuck up for me.”

“I’ll always stick up for you.”

Angling down, he brushes his lips against mine. “Thank you for the pizza tonight. And for letting me teach you how to skate. This is exactly what I needed.You’reeverything I’ve ever needed.”

His words heal parts of me, and I’m not even sure he knows it. Going for lighthearted is the only way I can keep myself from tearing up. “I like when you teach me things.”

He chuckles. “Oh, wifey. I’ll gladly teach you something new every day for the rest of my life.”

Beaming, I hold out my glove-covered little finger. “Pinky promise?”

FORTY-TWO

TYLER

“It’s criminal,really. We’ve had this hot tub for almost a month, and I haven’t gotten you naked in it.”

I laugh at my wife’s comment. Who knew Ava would be the one trying to defile me? Steam dances around us as we relax in the bubbling water. “Feel free to take off that suit and come sit on me.”

Ava eyes me mischievously. “Is this going to be another one of your lessons?” Dipping under the water, she swims across the small space and resurfaces in my arms.

Squeezing her hips, I try to remind myself to breathe. This woman is so goddamn beautiful sitting in my lap, dripping wet, wearing one of those smiles that steals my breath each time I see it. For so long, they were rare, at least around me. A small tilt of her lips when one of her friends would tell a funny joke. Like she knew her mouth should make that motion, but the expression never truly hit her eyes, where sadness always reigned.

Now I see it in her every feature.

Ava’s happy.

And I feel like a goddamn king for being even a small part of the reason she emanates joy.

“What kind of lesson were you thinking, wifey?”

Rolling her hips over my rock-hard cock, she moans. “There’sso much I’ve never done. I’m sure you could figure out something to teach me.” She drops her head back, exposing her neck.

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