Page 123 of The Way We Win

She climbs onto the bench, getting behind him. She leans her stomach against his back, pumping her arms over his head. “Aus-tin! Aus-tin!”

He doesn’t even seem to notice. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Need a ride home?”

“Nah, I don’t mind walking. It’s not that far.” He stands, and Kimmie is still on his back with her arms around his neck.

She scoots higher, and he holds her legs. “We’re like Uncle Grizz and Auntie Liv!”

“I’ll let you know how it goes.” His expression is lighter.

“Here, let me help you.” I reach forward to take my daughter off his back. “Good luck.”

“Bye, Aussie!” Kimmie waves as he passes through the door.

He lifts a hand on his way out. “Bye, Peanut.”

“Austin’s going to marry me.” She sticks her little chin out, smiling as she watches him go.

“Speaking of that…” I walk over to sit on the bench again, putting her on my knee. “What do you think it means to get married?”

“It’s what the princes and princesses do.” Her brown eyes are wide, and she’s very serious. “The prince takes the princess’s hand, and they get in a royal coach, and the birds fly all around, and everybody waves, and they drive to his castle where they live happily ever after.”

It’s not too far away from what really happens.

“Actually, when you marry someone, it means you love them so much, you want to spend the rest of your life with them.You make them part of your family, and you become part of theirs.” She looks up at me, nodding, and I smile, sliding my hand over her little head. “How would you feel if I asked Miss Allie to marry me?”

She blinks several times, tilting her head to the side. “Would Miss Allie and Aussie come to live with us and would we all be happily ever after?”

“Miss Allie would.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “Austin’s going to college. He wants to play football, and he’ll have his own house wherever he decides to go.”

A smile lifts her cheeks. “Just like you, Daddy!”

“Pretty much.” I rub her back. “And Uncle Zane and Garrett and Hendrix.”

“I like Miss Allie. She says I’m her best helper, and she thinks I’ve got the legs to be a cheerleader.”

My chin pulls back, and I huff a laugh. “She does?”

“I told her I’d be a good cheerleader because I’ve got the legs for it, and she said I’d be the best cheerleader.”

“Gotcha.” Standing, I take her hand as we walk to the house. “So you think it would be okay if I marry her?”

“Would she be my mommy?”

A dry ache twists my throat. These conversations are not going how I expect today. “Would you like her to be?”

Her little lips twist, and her nose wrinkles so much like Dylan’s as she breaks into a smile. “I think that would be okay! You always smile when Miss Allie’s around.”

“I do?”

“Uh-huh.” She points at my face. “Just like that. I think you should ask her to marry you.”

I pull her in for a hug. “I think I will.”

29

Allie

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