Page 116 of War

She smiles. “Hi, husband.”

“Did you have a good day?” I press a kiss to the spot to one side of her lips, loving the feel of her skin there as she breaks into a smile.

“Yes. Did you?”

“I got to spend the day watching my guy play hockey, and now I have my wife in my arms, so what do you think?”

She shakes her head, brushing her lips against mine. “You’re a smooth talker, Daddy War.”

I scoff out a laugh. “Not you too.”

“It’s a great nickname,” Bray calls from the living room.

Ava shakes with laughter, the sensation vibrating through me.

“God, I love that sound.”

Her eyes soften. “You going to tell me what’s going on with Bray?”

“You going to tell me what you and Trish talked about?”

She shrugs, but that smile remains. “I want him to stay with us,” she whispers.

I kiss her lips. Fuck. I love this woman so goddamn much. It’s incredible, how in sync we are in so many ways. It’s the best feeling in the world, knowing that I have someone on my team.

“Come on, guys. Dinner is ready,” I holler. Then, with one more kiss to Ava’s lips, I head for the table.

Scarlett’s been crying on and off all day, so I’m not the least bit surprised when Ava sets her on her lap rather than putting her in her highchair. Our girl snuggles into her mama’s chest, uninterested in eating and rubbing her eyes like she’s just about ready for bed.

“So you’ve got a break coming up next week,” I say to Brayden.

“Me too.” Josie pushes closer to the table, her face lit up, demanding attention.

Her constant state of elation hits me straight in the heart. She’s been through so much, yet she never stops smiling. “I know, fighter. I noticed that Brayden has four days off from hockey, and it turns out that I do too.”

Ava peers at me, a furrow in her brow. “Oh yeah?”

Brayden shrugs, stabbing his fork into a too-big bite of chicken. “Since we don’t have school and a lot of kids will be out of town with their families, we don’t have any games scheduled.”

I arch a brow at Ava in silent communication, and when she responds with a tip of her chin, I move forward. “What would you guys think of coming to my game in Orlando, then heading to Disney for a few days?”

The squeal that Josie lets loose startles Scarlett, but Ava calms her with a gentle kiss. “Shh, it’s okay, my little love.”

Bray eyes me, swallowing audibly. “I saw my mom at the game today. Is this like a goodbye trip? I’m going back to live with her when we get home?”

He’s so skeptical. Fuck, do I get it. Time and again, he’s been let down by the one person he should have been able to rely on. It makes sense that he’d think Trisha wouldn’t put him first this time, and though I wish he could trust us completely, I can’t blame him for worrying that maybe I didn’t really mean it when I said he will always be welcome in our home.

“If you want to go back to Boston with your mom, we can talk about it and figure things out, but if you’re comfortable here,” I reach for Ava’s hand and squeeze it, “we’d really like for you to stay.”

Brayden’s attention drops to our hands on the table, and without looking up, he says, “I’m comfortable here.”

On the ice, he’s incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes pro one day. But right now he is very much a kid who is unsure of just about every aspect of his life.

He reminds me so much of myself it hurts.

“Good. Because this home wouldn’t be the same without you,” I tell him.

“I agree,” Ava says, her smile wobbly but her eyes bright.

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