Page 108 of Second-Rate Superstar

Dakota huffed out a small laugh. “It was going to hurt no matter what. I knew that going in.”

Sighing, I forced myself to look down at her, held tight against my chest. “But I could have made it better, prepared you more instead of ramming into you like a damn caveman who couldn’t control himself.”

She nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. In hindsight, it was a bad call. But the way you looked at me? The words you spoke? How desperately I needed you? I didn’t want to wait.”

We could rehash last night, going in circles around my guilt and her satisfaction. Or we could enjoy our last night together before I had to report to the Comets and we were forced to spend days apart while the team was on the road.

I chose the latter.

“Come sit with me?” I gestured to my recently vacated chair.

A tiny smile tipped up the corner of her lips. “I’d like that.”

Seating myself first, I pulled her onto my lap. Her weight was comforting, and I sank into it. With her head resting against my shoulder, I asked, “Did you at least have a quiet day with the kids out of the house?”

“Mmm,” she hummed. “Your mom dropped by.”

My head snapped to peer down at her, and she shifted to shyly peek at me. My mom meant well, but she could be a lot. And considering the two of them had never been formally introduced, I wasn’t sure how a surprise drop-in would go.

“Is that so?”

Dakota shrugged. “She probably hates me.”

“Why would you say that?”

Looking out at the lake, she sighed. “I didn’t take it easy on her for standing there and doing nothing when your dad tore into you.”

My fearless Firefly.

I nuzzled my cheek against her hair. “I bet that made her like you more.”

“I hate that the burden you carry is out of your control. It was determined before you were even born. It’s not fair.”

Tightening my grip on her, I whispered, “Life isn’t always fair.”

“Don’t I know it,” she muttered. When she paused momentarily, I could tell the wheels were turning in her mind. She was always thinking, processing. I loved that about her. “Can I tell you something?”

“Anything,” I vowed.

“If we ever have kids—”

I cut her off, gripping her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze. “There’s noifabout it, Firefly.Whenwe have kids.” Smirking as her cheeks pinkened, I prompted, “Now, you may continue.”

“Bossy.” She rolled her eyes, but I let out a laugh.

Everything was better when she was in my arms. I was a fool for staying away. No matter what came our way, I knew we would always find a way to fix it together.

Turning back to the lake before us, she said, “Okay.Whenwe have kids, I need you to know that if it comes down to it, I will choose them over you.”

Did she really think that was something I would fight her on?

“Baby, if Ieverfail our children, I would expect you to put them first.”

“It won’t matter how much I love you.”

She threw in that last point for emphasis, but my heart stopped beating. My mind raced, close to short-circuiting.

Dakota said,I love you. Did she mean it? Or was it a hypothetical like the discussion on children we wouldn’t have for many years? It was too much and not enough. I needed answers. I needed clarification.

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