Page 103 of Play the Game
“How does that make you feel?” Cece asks the question in a way that makes me think she already knows the answer.
I’m surprised to realize the answer comes easily. “Sad,” I say immediately. “But I’m also okay, I think. More than I ever have been before.”
Pam smiles, taking my hand. “Love will do that to you.”
I nod, glancing up when Cooper walks behind the couch, handing me a mug of what looks like a pumpkin spice latte and kissing my head before walking back into the kitchen. “He makes everything easier. I didn’t know it could feel this way. Easy and fun and like this is what I’ve always been looking for…I just didn’t realize it.”
Jo sniffles and laughs a little when we all look at her. “Sorry, I’m just really happy. You make Cooper happy, and I really love you, and I love love, I just love this whole family.”
“You love everything,” Hannah says, linking her arm through Jo’s and smiling at her sister.
Jo shrugs, flopping back against the couch. “Big sis tells nolies. But I also know what it feels like to have a shitty mom and to find a family of supremely unshitty people to love you exactly how you are. I’m just saying I get you, and I’m glad you’re here.”
“Same,” Amelia says, blowing Elliot a kiss when he sticks his head out of the kitchen and looks at her, almost like he can’t go more than a certain amount of time without laying eyes on his girl, and god, the romance of it all. “Ten out of ten recommend finding your people and then living in the same house as them, frat house style but, like, the adult version.”
“Well, check, I guess,” I say, smiling, because after last night and this morning with Cooper, and being with these women I love so much right now, I realize that for the first time in my adult life—maybe even my entire life—I’m happy. Really, truly, I’ve found my place and my people happy. When Cooper leans out of the kitchen and catches my eye, winking and flashing me a grin, my entire body warms, like the coziest blanket in the entire world just fell right on my lap with a side of, I kind of want to jump his bones because,glasses, Jesus. It’s a baffling and wildly appealing combination of emotions.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to feel,” Cece says, and my head shoots up, meeting her eyes. “It’s how you feel when it’s right and forever.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “You’re spooky, Cece, you know that?”
She grins at me. “I do, in fact, know that.”
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Pam says, turning to me. “But it’s okay if you’re not, and if that day ever comes, you come to me. If you need a little mothering, I’m here. If you just need a friend, I can do that too. You’re one of my children now, and all my children get exactly what they need. I’ve been told I’m a pretty good mom.”
“Who told you that?” Jordan asks, handing Jo a mug of coffee and pressing a kiss to her lips.
Pam swats him on the back of the head. “Little shit. Just for that you’re on cleanup too.”
Jordan grins, dropping a kiss on her head. “Whatever you say, best mom ever.”
“Fucking right, I am,” Pam says, crossing her arms with a satisfied look on her face.
Our laughter is interrupted by a knock on the door. Jo grins, popping up to answer it, and two seconds later Chris and Rio are strolling into Cooper’s living room.
Surprised, I get up off the couch, which is a little more of an ordeal than it used to be because, thirty weeks pregnant, and throw myself at both of them, feeling comforted down to my toes at the feel of my brother’s strong arms around me. “What are you doing here?” I mumble into Chris’s shoulder.
Chris presses a kiss to my hair. “Your very bubbly friend tracked me down after you left last night and got my number. She texted me first thing this morning with this address and told us to get the fuck over here.”
“She was worried about you,” Rio whispers, running a hand over my hair. “I think you really found your people, Ev. I’m happy for you.”
I unwrap myself from them, turning to Jo. “Thank you,” is all I can manage through the tightness in my throat.
She smiles softly. “I thought you should have your whole family with you today.”
Cooper comes out of the kitchen and kisses me, then hugs Chris and Rio. Pam introduces herself and within thirty seconds she’s claimed Chris and Rio as her own, and orders us all to sit down for breakfast.
“You okay?” Cooper whispers, covering my hand with his on the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pam smiling at us, and I can’t help but smile back.
“I’m good,” I say, leaning my head against his for a second. “It’s a really good day.”
Cooper turns his head, brushing his lips over my cheek. “When I’m with you, they’re all good days, Rhodes.”
I lean my head against his shoulder thinking that I may not know what the future holds, but for right now, everything is just about perfect.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
EVAN
