Page 144 of Broken Dreams
I know that better than anyone. A house is just a house, but a home is what you make it. It’s the people, not the location. Addison and I are building a home together. Two people who love each other and are merging a family.
“I know you’re right.”
“I know I am too. Jett is beyond happy to be living here with us. All he talks about is how he can’t wait to move in with his Elodie and his Addison. His. Not mine. His.”
She smiles at that. “He’s my heart too.”
“And me?” I ask playfully.
“You’re getting there.”
I step forward, grabbing her, and she giggles as I tickle her. “Getting there?”
She pushes back, her eyes full of humor. “Fine. You’re my whole world.”
“That’s better.”
“And what about me? What am I?”
The humor in the mood leaves me as I want her to know the words I’m going to say are the truth in every way. “You are the reason I breathe. You’re the stars, the sky, the moon, the planets, and what we don’t even know exists. You gave me a reason to open myself to love again and instead of running away . . .” I take her hips in my hands, pulling her close to me. “You gave me something to run to.”
Tears fill her eyes, but her lips turn into a smile. “That...was beautiful.”
“No, baby, you’re beautiful and what you’re trying to do for Jett is beautiful, but he is going to love you no matter what his room looks like because you love him.”
She lets out a sigh. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
Addison kisses me softly. “Now, go move the dresser so I can get the room perfect.”
I shake my head, knowing this is a battle I won’t win.
We work for the next fifteen minutes, arranging, rearranging, and then re-rearranging again until Addison is happy.
“Daddy!” Jett barrels into the room. “I have an airplane in my new room!”
I scoop him up and nod. “You do.”
“I sleep here all da time?”
“You do. This is your room,” Addison says, coming up behind us, her hand resting on his back. “Do you like it?”
“I lub it!” He practically leaps out of my arms into hers. He wraps his arms around her neck and buries his face there.
She looks over at me, her smile bright, and she squeezes him. “I think he likes it.”
I chuckle. “I think so too.”
Addison closes her eyes and kisses the top of his head, and my heart becomes hers just a little bit more.
* * *
“Oh, this is good,” I lie as I try to choke down the chili. This has to be the worst thing I’ve ever tasted.
“Yes, great,” Asher says, nearly gagging as he does. I don’t know how the hell Mrs. Parker won last time because this is terrible. Addison must’ve been drunk or just lost all her tastebuds by then.
“The other two weren’t that bad, definitely better than this one,” I whisper to my brother.
