Page 50 of He Saved My Boy
Shaking my head, I laugh at the memory. “It wasn’t always this way, trust me. But between Dani and Damien’s kids, the old rope swing just wasn’t enough.” I point to the original swing that used to entertain us for hours. “Though Jules wouldn’t let us take it away. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she came to visit once this monstrosity of a play structure was complete.”
There are four swings hanging from twelve-foot posts in the middle, a tall straight slide, and a twisty slide coming from both ends they have to climb either a series of platforms or a rock wall to get to. “When Jules started gymnastics, she asked for a bar to twirl on. Before I knew it, my dad had put one in for her. When we were kids, we spent our days exploring the woods next door, but Mom wanted to be able to see her grandbabies play, and with Damien being an engineer, he went a little overboard.”
“I think it’s great.”
“Look at me, Davis,” Connor says from the top of the twisty slide as he jumps inside it. “Wheee.”
Teagan slides up beside me and hip-checks me as she tucks her arms around herself just as a gust of wind picks up. “I think you have a fan.”
“I think it’s the other way around. He’s an amazing human being, and I love spending time with him. Thank you for letting me be a part of his life.”
Teagan’s quiet for a moment, then slowly turns to me.
My heart crashes into my chest when I see unshed tears forming in her eyes.
Shit. What’s wrong now?
Replaying my words, I still can’t figure out what I’ve said to make her react this way. Reaching for her cheek, I brush a tear away with my thumb. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she says through a smile.
“It’s not nothing, or you wouldn’t be crying. What’s really wrong?”
Teagan reaches up to caress my face, and warmth spreads throughout my body. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I just love that you view him as a gift.”
My throat feels tight when I admit, “He is… and so are you. I’m falling in love with you both and for the first time in my life—everything feels complete.”
Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops then she sputters, “But… but we just… met.”
Leaning in, I press a finger to her lips. “It’s okay if you’re not there yet. You don’t have to say anything.”
For a long moment, we just stare at one another. Then I lean in and kiss her tenderly to show her just how serious I am. When I pull back, we’re both breathless.
Locking eyes with her, I get lost in their beauty and right then and there, everything clicks into place, and I throw down a challenge I’ll keep for the rest of my life.
“But fair warning—You’re it for me.”
Teagan
Two Years Later
As I walk outof Davis’s family’s house on Anderson Island carrying a birthday cake, I realize he’s made good on that promise. It wasn’t even four months later, and he proposed to me right here in this very yard in front of his entire family and mine.
Of course, he’d brought me here under the guise of a family barbecue. He’d invited my parents so they could finally meet his, and I had no clue a proposal was coming. He had planned everything perfectly. He even involved Connor as well as members of his family. He’d never admit it, but I’m sure his sister Dani had something to do with it, too.
Connor and I quickly bonded with his siblings and their families during that first Rainier Renegades game we attended. We’ve been getting together about once a month to let the kids play and spend time with one another. They’re ecstatic that Davis is back in Washington and want to make up for lost time.
That time, we’d decided to all meet up at the Island since Luke was done with his season and their grandparents were back from their trip to Arizona. I’d been over at Dani’s, helping her do something for her website, while Davis and Luke brought the kids over here to play with everyone.
Eventually, he’d called to say dinner was ready, so we returned to eat with the family.
When I walked into the backyard, everyone including the kids had gone silent. Which was weird. The Fallon family is big and loud andneverquiet. Then I spotted Davis and Connor standing at the far edge of the yard. Without a word, his entire family formed two long lines in the yard. Each of them had knowing smiles, and some had things in their hands.
Reaching for my hand, Dani squeezed it to get my attention. “Um… Davis asked me to give you this.” She handed me a piece of paper. Confused, I took it and immediately knew what was happening. It was a postcard. On the front was a picture of Tilly’s, the B&B where we met.
Dani whispered, “There’s a message on the back. Make sure you read it aloud.”
Sure enough, in Davis’s handwriting, there was a message:
