Page 128 of War

This man has the uncanny ability to be exactly where he needs to be. It’s rare, finding people like Beckett Langfield. People like Tyler Warren. Or maybe it’s not. As I pull back, I realize I’m surrounded by a sea of people who have shown up time and again for me, for Tyler, for our family.

Hannah, Sara, Brooks, Lennox, Aiden, Gavin, Fitz. Even Daniel.

I suck in a lungful of air, trying to steady my pounding heart, and meet my mother’s eyes. She’s standing behind Beckett, with tears staining her cheeks. She’s got the same red hair as me and the same green eyes. Andrea’s green eyes. Though hers are dull from the years of heartache she’s endured. Her face is heavily lined and so damn wary, like she’s not sure if she should insert herself in this moment.

“Mommy.” I crumple in her arms, unable to support myself under the weight of the last twenty-four hours. The excitement from Disney, the flight, the news from Beckett about naming the theater after my sister, the phone call that changed everything, Tyler’s heartbreak, my running, the desperation to figure out how to stand back up again and fight for our family that consumed me. Then there was the last half hour, where I sat and listened to the judge recount all my crimes and then watched as my husband stood up for me.

I release my mother and clutch my husband’s hand. “This is my mother,” I say. Then, turning back to my mom, I add, “Mommy, this is my husband.”

Tyler wraps his arm around me, as if he knows I need his strength.With a kiss to my forehead, he holds out his other hand. “Tyler Warren. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, I know your name,” my mother says, giving him a genuine smile. “You’re the boy who brought my girl back to life.” Then she wraps her arms around us both.

When she releases us, I peer up at Tyler. “Now what?”

Humming, he squeezes my hips. “I don’t know about you, but I really want to pick the kids up from school early and just hold them. And you.”

“I’m not sure how Bray will feel about that.”

Tyler chuckles. “Too bad. The kid’s going to have to deal with a man hug or two tonight. I’m all sorts of needy right now.”

“Aw, Tyler Warren, did you miss me?”

His eyes soften and the smile falls from his lips. Hands cupping my cheeks, he shakes his head, brushing his nose against mine. “You have no fucking idea, Vicious. Please don’t ever leave me again.”

His words sober me. “I’m so sorry I ran.”

“All that matters is that you came back.” He presses his lips to my forehead. “And you’re not leaving again.”

“Never.”

Blue eyes twinkle as his lips tip up. “Pinky promise?”

A rush of relief washes through me as he holds up that finger that has become such an important symbol for the both of us.

I loop mine through his and kiss our joined hands. “Pinky promise.”

FIFTY-ONE

TYLER

“Don’t you dare,”Aiden hollers as Brooks leaves the goal wide open.

I throw my head back and laugh when my center falls to his knees, dramatically pouting over Brayden’s goal. We’re on the pond, playing the Langfield brothers—minus Beckett—versus Bray, Hall, and me.

If we win this game, then Aiden can’t sing during practice for a week. We’re not crazy enough to stop him before games—hockey players are superstitious as fuck.

Brooks, clearly on board with less singing, has been diving from the goal each time we get close. Hall is playing goalie for our team, but thanks to Gavin passing the puck to me instead of Aiden every time he gets it, Hall hasn’t had to do much work.

From the snowy sidelines, the girls cheer, Josie and Sara being the loudest. We picked the kids up after court and came straight home. Millie ordered pizzas, and Beckett and Ava’s mother stopped to pick up drinks on the way here, giving us a few minutes alone before we checked the kids out of school early.

I’ve never seen a smile as big as the one Josie broke into when she spotted Ava. My wife tried to keep her emotions in check, but as our girl hugged her like she thought she’d never see her again, we were bothblinking back tears.

Josie knows that the adoption isn’t finalized yet, but that’s the extent of her knowledge. And I’d like to keep it that way. Until it’s a done deal, I don’t want her to worry or get her hopes up. But on days like today, I have to fight the urge to hold her tight and tell her we’ll never let her go.

Ava appears with a bundled-up Scarlett in her arms. Her mother follows, and Millie and Vivi trail behind.

“Best of three games?” Aiden says, drawing my attention.

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