Page 198 of Stuck With You
I inhale, my stomach squeezing tight. I’ve been looking for the right moment to have this conversation, but I’m beginning to think there’ll never be a perfect time.
“How would you feel about me marrying your mom?”
He blinks a couple of times, and I dip the wand into the bubbles, waiting. My heart pounds, knowing I need this little boy to want this as much as I do.
One side of his face scrunches. “Can you move all your stuff to our house?”
My shoulders stiffen, realizing I didn’t think through all the questions that might be tossed at me. “Maybe. We’ll live together here or wherever your mom and I think is best.”
His eyes fall to the ground, and I can’t interpret the look on his downturned face. I sit beside him, and Frankie scoots backward, falling into my lap and blowing on the dripping wand.
Carson’s drill zips another screw into the playset while Ollie picks at the green grass.
“Does that mean you’ll be our d-dad?” His voice is soft and tentative.
My body relaxes a little. “If you want, or I’ll be whatever you want me to be. I’m not going anywhere. I just want to make it official with your mom. We’ll be a family.”
“Daddy,” Frankie says, trying to stick the wand in the tube. “Daddy, bwow.” She looks up at me and grins, her little nose curling up.
My chest swells with her words.
Ollie giggles. “She called you Daddy.”
I watch him, so undeserving of that title, but I will never take it for granted. “What do you think, partner?”
He shrugs, climbing to his feet. “You can be my dad. I want to be a f-family.” He says it so nonchalantly.
My body sags, clearly seeing I’ve been stressing about nothing. Now, I just need Sarah to marry me.
“Can we play catch now?” Ollie pats the ball into his glove.
“Ol, throw me that ball,” Trig hollers. “Maybe those two can actually get your swings up sometime today.”
“Wait, Ol.” I stop him, and he turns. “What we talked about is just between us for now, ok?”
He frowns, and his head drops to the side. “Is this like Mama’s s-secret about the baby?”
I stare at him as his eyes grow wide.
“Oopsie.” He grins, his shoulders hunching up to his ears. “S-s-sorry.” He turns, running toward Trig and throwing the ball.
I can’t move. My heart might have stopped beating. I look around, wondering if anyone else heard what I just heard.Baby?
“Looked pretty serious over here. How did it go?” Carson’s boots stop beside me.
I glance down at Frankie, who is blowing spit more than bubbles.
She twists, holding it up to my lips. “Daddy, bwow.” That word strikes me square in the chest as her cheeks puff out with air.
“Not good?” Carson asks, sounding concerned.
My heart finally kicks back into rhythm, and my skin prickles with heat. I lift Frankie, handing her to Carson and climbing to my feet.
He scoops her up. “Well, hey, little darlin’. You want to help me hang these swings?”
I charge toward the house.Baby.What the hell? Maybe this is a joke, or he misunderstood.
My heart pounds with each step, and I rip the back door open, stepping inside.
