Page 46 of Lost Lyrics

“Do that to me.” Josh bounced up the bed and wedged himself between Ava and me. “I want airplanes.”

“Alright.” I placed Charlotte down. With a pounce, she made her way over to Ava and cuddled against her chest.Wow!That...stole my heart.

I raised Josh into the air. He stretched his arms wide, and I swayed him from side to side. He flew like a plane, complete with roaring effects.But damn! He was twice the size and weight of Charlotte.

“You’re getting too big.” I lowered him down.

He flung his arms around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Then he rolled toward Ava. “Mommy?” he whispered at a close-to-normal volume. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” She nodded as she swept her hand over Charlotte’s long blonde curls.

He leaned over to Ava and spoke into her ear.

Tears welled in Ava’s eyes. She smiled a beautiful smile, then nodded. “Well, maybe we should ask Cole first.”

“What’s that?” I shuffled onto my side.

Josh sat back on his haunches beside our legs. Charlotte slid off Ava’s chest and stretched out between us, hogging half my pillow. Having moments like this, with family, was something I’d never thought I wanted. Now I couldn’t imagine life without these three people. I didn’t want to contemplate existing anywhere without them.

Josh swiveled to face me. He pouted. Deep furrows etched his brow, and seriousness washed over his face. “Cole, can Mommy and I stay here? Like...every night?”

My breath hitched. My heart hit the roof. Every cell in my body hollered,‘Yes!’...but I played it cool. “As in, you’d likethis to be your home? Every day?”

“Yes.” He nodded once. So sure of himself.

Was it wrong I wanted to leap to my feet and jump on the bed with the kids?Fuck no.“I would like that very much if your mom is okay with it.” Hope filled my chest. “Ava?”

Tears shimmered in Ava’s eyes, but the biggest smile covered her face.

My heartbeat skipped around the room. “Is that a yes? Will you finally move in with me?”

She reached for my hand and entwined our fingers. “Yes, Cole. We’d love to move in with you.”

“Yeah!” I leaned over Charlotte, clutched the back of Ava’s head, and drew her lips to mine. As I breathed her in, kissed her, and drew her sweet scent into every cell in my body, I couldn’t help but grin. “About fucking time.”

She cupped my cheek and nodded. “This...our kids. You. Us. It’s what I want. Everything’s aligned. The time is right. I love you, Cole.”

Josh and Charlotte scooted to the end of the bed and bounced around on their hands and knees.

Fuck it.

I rose to my feet on the mattress and drew Ava to stand. As we held hands with the kids, we jumped up and down and around in a circle. Ava’s smile stole my heart all over again. “Woohoo!” I cheered. “We’re going to live together.”

“Yay. I have a sister.” Josh clapped.

“And I have a brother,” Charlotte cheered.

A tear slid down Ava’s cheek. I kissed it away. “I love you. So freaking much.”

“I know. This is so surreal. I’m so happy.”

“We’ve got it good.” I sank onto the bed with Ava and took her hands in mine. The kids continued to run around us. “We’re a family. I’ve always had Tia and the guys. But this...here withyou...and the kids...is the best feeling ever.”

“I didn’t know love like this existed until you came along.”

“Neither did I.”

“Daddy?” Charlotte flung her arms around my neck, cuddling me from behind. I loosened her hold. I didn’t need to be strangled. “When can we get a baby sister?”

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