Page 108 of Tight Spot

“You want kids?”

That came from Dawson, his voice a low rumble in my ear that made me stiffen with surprise. We’d talked a lot over the last week. He told me all about the conversation with his dad, how he’d blocked his sister’s number and swore he was never going to see her again. And how he and his dad were now talking. Not daily. But texts were sent. I’d been angry for him once I learned what his dad had said. And mostly hurt. It was no wonder why he wasn’t willing to trust me so easily and why he’d put a brick wall between him and others. He’d thought the man he idolized had abandoned him, but it was women in his life who had manipulated and lied to him.

But kids? We hadn’t talked about that. Or marriage. Or anything long-term and permanent outside Dawsons saying he wanted me for as long as I’d take him.

Forever. That’s how long I’d take him.

“Kids?” I asked, and the word sort of stuck in my throat.

“Yeah. Kids. You want them?”

I’d always wanted kids. Growing up the youngest of four had meant my house was loud and bursting at the seams even though my siblings had been older. Did I want that many? I couldn’t picture it then, not at my age, but maybe someday?

“Someday,” I said.

“How many?”

“You want kids?” I turned to face him. I’d assume he wouldn’t.

“Never thought about it until right now, but Davis and Cole look like they’re having fun.”

I chuckled and kissed him as I laughed. “You’d be a great dad.”

“You think?”

“Absolutely.”

“How many are you going to give me then?”

The number no longer mattered. Dawson said he’d bust his back to give me anything I wanted, and I’d do the same for him. “As many as you want.”

A shriek of happiness rang through the air, and I jolted away from Dawson’s lips on mine, the look in his eyes to see Maggie throwing her arms around Eden, swaying her back and forth so hard it was a wonder she didn’t break her back.

“You’re pregnant!?” she shouted, and Eden flinched from the loud noise in her ear. “That’s amazing!”

Eden laughed. “I was trying to wait until after your day, Maggie.”

“No way! We need to celebrate this! Davis! Did you hear?”

Davis grinned at his wife, holding Martha on his hip and Leah’s hand in his at his side. “Think the state of Tennessee heard you, honey.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and grabbed Eden’s hands, yanked her to the dance floor. “Let’s dance! Everybody!”

Dawson’s chair scraped back, and he had my hand in his.

As soon as we were on the dance floor, fast, loud, clubbing music going on, Dawson hauled me against his chest and forced us to move slowly. His hand was at my lower back, his other hand holding mine, and his lips were at my ear. “I want all of this with you someday, Hailey Parillo. A home. A family. A wedding and a honeymoon where we’ll spend all week acting out all your favorite sexy scenes.”

I laughed and kissed the dip in his throat. “Whenever you’re ready for it, I’m right there with you.”

EPILOGUE

HAILEY

Football was awesome. I barely knew the rules, but every time I’d been fortunate to see Dawson take the field so far, I was absolutely blown away with how incredible he was. How talented everyone was. And mostly, how insanely loud the stadium would get after a great play or a touchdown.

Misty was at my right, Meredith at my left, and both of them were holding on to my arms like I was their lifeline. The screams coming from our throats would leave me unable to talk correctly until Wednesday.

“That’s my man!” I shouted, throwing my head back to the vibrant blue Sunday afternoon sky.

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