Page 58 of Wake Me Up
I’m not a man who believes in much, but she and I? We were written in the stars—I know it.
“I know so,” she says sweetly. “Good night, Tripp.”
I pat the side of her head that’s untouched and wink. “Night, Aves.”
Standing up, I walk out of her room, closing the door halfway—because that’s how she likes it. When I turn to go downstairs, Cash is standing in his doorway, looking at me.
“Did you mean that?” He watches me as I step toward him. “What you said about loving my mom? Did you mean that?”
His expression is somber, and dread fills my gut, as I’m afraid he’s disappointed.
“Yeah, bud. I … I did mean it.” I exhale shallowly. “But I hope you know me spending time with you wasn’t just about your mom. I genuinely believe in you, Cash. And I’ve loved getting to know you. I hope this doesn’t change that.”
“Are you going to get married?” The question shoots out of his mouth, putting ice in my veins.
In this moment, an image of her and me at city hall, getting married,flashes through my mind. I hate that we’re keeping a secret from her kids. We need to tell them; they deserve to know the truth. I can’t tell Cash right now though. Freya and I need to do it together—if she wants to, that is. These are her kids, ultimately making it her choice.
“Would you be okay with it if we did?” I say, avoiding the question. “If one day … it came to that?”
His stare sends me into a fucking panic that he’s going to say no. And the longer he’s silent, the more freaked out I am. But finally … he shrugs, a teensy smile tugging at his lips.
“Well … duh,” he utters, grinning. “But if you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”
Holding my hands up, I chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Moneybags.”
“Night, Tripp,” he says, walking forward and giving me a half hug.
“Night, bud,” I murmur before he turns and walks into his room.
It takes me a second to get out of my daze, but eventually, I rush downstairs, where I find Freya on the couch in the living room.
Plopping down beside her, I lean back and sigh. “Freya?”
“Yeah?”
“We need to tell the kids about the whole marriage thing,” I whisper gruffly. “I don’t want to start my relationship with them on a lie.”
“Oh …” she squeaks. “Okay.”
“Yeah,” I utter, swallowing. “Tomorrow?”
“You have a home game tomorrow,” she whispers, moving closer to me. “I don’t want you to be distracted.” She pauses, staring at me, as if she’s deep in thought. “We could tell them right now, you know. I’m sure all three are still awake.” Her eyes look down. “To be honest, I’ve been afraid that it’ll somehow get leaked that we got married and they’ll find out from someone else anyway.”
I sigh, putting my hand on her thigh. “Do you want me to go get them?”
“No time like the present, right?” She smiles through a shrug, but nerves vibrate through her body.
Pressing a kiss to her lips, I stand. I’m nervous as hell, but she’s right. At any moment, it could become public knowledge that we tied the knot. I’d rather be up front and honest with her kids—especially since I know they are all okay with us being together.
“So, you’re, like … husband and wife?” Cash whispers blankly, staring at us both.
“Like … married?” Cane adds in, swallowing.
“Yeah, I think that’s what they both just said, Dumb and Dumber,” Aviana mumbles, shaking her head at her brothers before propping her chin up on her hand and smiling at us. “So … you were saying?”
Freya glances nervously at me. It’s not like we can tell them the truth as to why we got married in the first place. They may tell someone, and then we’d be at risk of getting in trouble. So, instead, we choose a different approach.
“For adult reasons that I can’t really tell you, Tripp and I decided last month that we should get married. We would have told you, but it was very complicated, and I didn’t want to cause any distress to you three.” Freya’s eyes fill with tears, and her body trembles. “You three are my whole life, and I would never ever,everwant to do something that hurt you. That is the only reason why we kept it to ourselves.”
