Page 77 of Every Single Vow
“The parking lot isn’t,” I mutter.
“Dakota!” Arizona waves a hand. “Can we ride the avalanche?”
“Sure.” Arizona and Heather dart out of the gate and onto the next ride.
Slipping Dakota’s hand in mine, we walk through the crowd, passing Trace and Laiken as she videos him on the mechanical bull.
“You know. I never thought I’d get to be at this carnival holding your hand,” she says, her voice full of emotion. “And here we are. Married.”
I tug her to me. “The Ferris wheel?”
She glances around. “Ivy!”
Ivy turns to face us with Maddox at her side.
“Can you keep an eye on the girls while we ride the Ferris wheel?”
“Of course!” She waves.
I’m already yanking Dakota to the line, giddy as fuck that I’m about to make out with my wife like a fifteen year old teenager with a crush.
The elderly man opens the gate, allowing us to filter out to the carts. We take our seat and drop the latch.
“I always love when we get to the top,” she admits. “The view is something else.”
The clank of the machines and the happy screams of the children below sound as we begin to ascend. My arm rests on the cart behind Kota’s back as we watch the distant crowd.
“I love you, Cooper,” she says quietly, looking out over the carnival.
“I love you, too.” My fingers gently caress her shoulder.
She turns to face me, her expression serious. “I know you didn’t sign up for this. That you married me to help me. And yes, I know you love me, but this is big. If I get custody….” She clears her throat. “I don’t want to force you into something you’re notready for. Being a parent. To someone that’s not even your child is a huge responsibility.”
“Hey.” I grip her chin lightly. “I know exactly what I signed up for.”
“Do you?” She asks. “You’re ok with teenage hormones? My cleaning sprees. Mean girls. Tears. School dances. Training bras, because we know that’s coming next.”
I can’t help the laugh that expels from my chest. “You think I wasn’t there to experience every single one of those things with you?” I give her chin a slight shake. “I’m practically a professional at this point. I love the chaos, Birdie. And I love you. Which means, I love all the parts of you. And that little girl is a part of you. So yes, I know what I signed up for.” Her eyes glisten as I lean in closer. “And make no mistake, baby. When I offered to marry you, I wasn’t just doing a good deed. Being a good guy. I saw the chance to make you mine. To show you just how much love you deserve. So, if a life with you and Ari is what you are offering me? Then yes. Sign me the fuck up.”
Her laugh echoes around us, her head dropping to rest on my shoulder. “Cooper Mayson you do have a way with words.”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “Now, if you’ll stop second guessing everything, I want to kiss my wife on a Ferris wheel.”
Chapter fifty-one
Dakota
“Did you see me?” Trace asks, his face lit up like the Fourth of July. “Rode that bull a full eight seconds.”
“You did?” I ruffle his hair. “I bet you scored more points than Parker,” I tease.
“No one gets more points than Parker,” he says as he adjusts the huge belt buckle on his jeans.
“Is there a reason we are bringing uphim?” Laiken asks.
I lift a brow, waiting for her to continue. Which she doesn’t. Laiken can be as closed up as they come. She thinks I don’t see that something obviously happened with her and Parker at some point in time. But she hasn’t disclosed a single detail. She justrolls he eyes or changes the subject when his name comes up.Interesting.
“He’s riding in the championship next weekend.” Trace fist pumps. “Gonna kick some ass.”
