Page 163 of Pucking Strong

“And we didn’t even kiss,” I say over him, squeezing his hand. “Yes, I’m seeing more and more how unfair our rushed wedding was for everyone on all sides.”

He sits back. “Right. Well, I assured her I’m not leaving. Not—like, that I’m not leaving her,” he quickly amends. “I made a vow to her as much as you, and I’ll not break it, Henrik. And I may have …” His words trail into silence as he bites his bottom lip again.

I feel his anxiety spike, and I sit forward. “What, mitt hjärta?”

He lets his breath out. “Okay, I may have said something. It was in the moment, and it felt right, but I don’t wanna feel like I crossed any lines. I mean, you don’t make kids promises you can’t keep.That’s, like, rule number one. And IknowI should have checked with you first—”

“Teddy, just tell me—”

“I told her I love her. I told her in English and in Swedish. God, Hen, it was eating me up not to say it,” he adds with a groan. “She needs to know how serious I am. Karolina’s my little girl now too. She’s mine, and no one is gonna say shit that will make her doubt my intentions to stay in her life.”

“I’m not mad,” I assure him, one hand on his thigh.

He raises a dark brow. “You’re not?”

I shake my head, smiling with relief. “No, I’m glad.”

It’s not as if I didn’t know. Anyone can see the way they are together—laughing and singing and making jokes. In those moments of play, he reminds me the most of Petra. They’re so different in personality in all other respects. But loving Karolina brings out the best in both of them. Teddy is just the sort of joyous, fun-loving parent Karolina deserves.

I’ve been finding my own way into parenting, shifting from being the morbror she only saw on video calls and holidays to being a daily fixture in her life. Ours is a quieter kind of love, the love of stillness. Arms to hold her, words of comfort to share. She goes to Teddy when she wants to laugh and play. She comes to me when she’s tired, when she’s sad and grieving, when she needs the world to stop spinning quite so fast.

Both kinds of love are worthwhile. And Karolina deserves nothing less. I smile, glancing at Teddy. We really do make a good team. “She’s a very blessed little girl,” I say, giving his thigh a squeeze. “To earn your love is a gift not to be taken for granted.”

He inches closer. “Hen, I …”

“What?”

He swallows, his nervousness now like an aura around him. “I said it in haste to you before … at the restaurant. I kind of threw it at you, actually. Classic, Teddy, right? My emotions get the best of me, and I sort of just blast everything I’m feeling, like a firework.”

I can’t help but smile. A firework. It’s such a fitting analogy for my Teddy. He burns hot, spiraling in the air, bursting in akaleidoscope of colors. He’s everywhere at once, requiring all my senses to fully take in his radiance.

“But Idofeel that way about you,” he goes on, a giant blush on his freckled cheeks. “I mean, I still do. I did then, and I do now. But I definitely should have finessed it better. I can’t just go around blurting those things out. To Karro or to you. I need to be more measured, more controlled, more—”

“Teddy.” I squeeze his thigh again and he stops, my breath held tight. Still smiling, I lift my other hand and brush my fingertips down the locs on his shoulder. “Never make yourself smaller. Not for Karolina, and certainly not for me.”

He flashes me that nervous smile. “You gotta admit, I’m a lot. Especially for Swedish people.”

“You are just enough. You’re my partner, my husband. And you’re Karolina’s fiercest guardian. We’re lucky to have you, Teddy. I for one mean to continue earning the trust you’ve put in me. I will put you first—”

“And I’ll putyoufirst.” He scoots closer, his hand covering mine on his thigh. “You and Karro. I mean, this can work, right? It’s crazy. How this all started is so crazy. It’s no wonder people gossip about us.”

“Let them gossip.” My anger still threatens to peak at the thought of someone saying cruel words where Karolina or Teddy can hear. “They mean nothing to us.”

He nods. “Yeah, they don’t matter.”

“Nothing matters but this.” I take his hand, placing it over my heart.

He splays his fingers, his body relaxing as he sinks closer to me. I reel him in, one arm around his shoulders. Yes,thisis what I want. Everything else can be fixed. This may have all started in a haze of grief and panic, but that now feels like another life. Our families will forgive us. The press will ignore us. So long as I have Teddy, it will all be fine.

In this moment, I just want him close to me. I want him sharing my air. I want tobehis air. Pulling him to me, I kiss him, my lips parted and seeking. He hums with relief, as if he too is starving formy affection. I cup the back of his neck, breaking our kiss. “I believe you promised me a reward for my good behavior today.”

He grins, his hands braced on my chest. “I did, didn’t I?” He leans closer, kissing me again. “You were such a good crab for me, baby. So patient.” Kiss. “So helpful.” Kiss. “And I can’t believe you actually let us paint your face like a rainbow tiger.”

I huff. “That’s what has you most surprised?”

“Attending the Rays’ annual Boo-tacular Trunk-or-Treat doesn’t seem like your jam,” he says with a shrug.

I let a glare seep through my contented expression. “You should be more impressed with how I made no comment while you made plans to stroke my teammate from head to toe. Thrice over.”

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