Page 96 of Up in a Blaze
Gasping, I clutched my chest and teased. “You are willing to walk away from your babies to pick Arlo up? The boy has crawled into your heart.”
A squeal escaped me when he pinched my ass. “Stop being a smartass or I’ll take you over my knee again.”
“Mon amour, you are just asking me to act up.”
His chuckle swept over my skin before he kissed my neck again. “Move aside before you burn everything.”
I huffed but handed the spatula over. Cooking was boring, and I did like watching Blaze do it a lot more than doing the activity myself.
Arlo walked back into the room, dropping his bag to the floor.
“You packed your homework?” I asked.
“Oui,” he replied with a smile.
My belly fluttered. He was such a sweet child. He and his brother. Both made our lives that much brighter. Even though I was Blaze’s ray of sunshine, we were now being blinded by the light these boys brought into our world.
“Breakfast’s ready. Sit at the table,” Blaze called.
I had already set the table earlier, so I walked to my spot, kissing the top of Arlo’s head as I passed.
My brows shot up when Sawyer stumbled into the room.
“Chéri, what are you doing up?” I looked to Arlo. “Did you wake him?”
He looked at me, away, then back. “No?”
Sawyer chuckled. “He did, but I told him to do it before I left for work last night.”
“Why?” I asked.
Sawyer took the seat opposite me as Blaze placed the tray of food down in the middle.
“Because this is important,” he said and then nodded at his brother.
Blaze sat at the head of the table asking, “What’s up, kid?”
Arlo blew out a breath and met Sawyer’s gaze. His brother nodded again, smiling softly. Arlo licked his lips nervously. “Well, I was hoping… I mean, if you’d both be okay with it, that is, if I can…. Would I be able to call Blaze, Dad, and you, Henri, Papa, like they do in France?”
My ears rang from how hard my blood pumped through my veins.
He wanted to call me Papa.
Me.
My eyes welled, and a sob escaped before I buried my face into my hands.
“Henri?” Arlo cried.
“Oui,” I whimpered. “I am your papa.” I grabbed his shoulder and tugged him against me for a tight hug. “I love you, Arlo.” I looked through my watery gaze over to his brother. “And I love you, Sawyer.” I kissed Arlo’s head. “Mon amour,” I sobbed.
I heard Blaze clear his throat. “Kid, it’d be an honor if you called us that.” I glanced back to see him swallowing thickly. “Fuck,” he clipped. “Kid, come here.”
I released Arlo, and he jumped up to go to Blaze, who scooted back on his seat and pulled Arlo onto his lap. Blaze wrapped his arms around Arlo, dropping his head down.
“Sawyer, chéri, are you really all right with this?”
Blaze lifted his wet gaze to look at Sawyer when the kid said, “He asked me if I thought it was okay. I do. Of course I do. In the years we had parents, they weren’t any good.” I caught Arlo shaking his head as his brother went on. “Not like you two. I was scared to believe you both could care about us in ways where… where we could become the family we have. But you’ve proved you care like that in so many ways, and you keep proving it with the love you show both of us.” He gave us a soft smile. “This is the best family we could ever have. We love you guys.”
