Page 36 of Blinded By Forever
I park the car and help the boys out. We make our way across the yard. Jaclyn looks up as we approach, her face softening the second she sees me.
“Hey, fighters,” she says, Easton drops into her lap without hesitation. Junior sits beside her, still talking about his footwork and how he almost knocked a bag over.
His words, not mine.
I press a kiss to Alex’s head as she stands and walks over to Carter.
I sit beside Jaclyn. “You should’ve seen him. Kid’s got a wicked jab.”
Jaclyn smiles. “I’m glad but just so we’re clear, if either of them comes home with a black eye, I’m blaming you.”
“Fair enough,” I chuckle before pressing a kiss to her cheek.
She turns her head and connects her mouth with mine.
The world goes quiet when we kiss.
Me and her both smile into the kiss, like we can’t get enough of each other.
River toddles over and crashes into my arms making me disconnect my mouth from Jaclyn’s.
I pull her close and kiss the top of her head. “Hey my little princess, how was your night?”
“I played with bubbles, Daddy!” she squeals and I can’t help but smile down at her.
She looks just like her mom.
I need to be careful with her, that's for sure.
I turn my head and look over at Carter.
He nods once and I know it’s his way of saying he sees me, respects me, and is proud of me and the life I built even though I put him and Alex through hell.
Jaclyn leans her head against my shoulder as the sky turns a cotton candy pink behind us, the sounds of the kids filling the air like music.
For the first time in weeks, I don’t feel torn between two worlds.
I only want one.
This one.
Nineteen
Jaclyn
Ten Years Later
The house is warm,glowing and loud with familiar chaos.
Junior leans back in his chair, running a hand through his dark brown grown out hair, his college hoodie wrinkled like he hadn’t unpacked it since his flight. He looks like my baby still, the one I would hold when I would feel alone and cry when I was living in New York. He is taller now, and has put on muscle from working out.
He has taken on fighting like his father and plans on being a champion just like him, too.
Junior told us he has a girlfriend back in college. He would have brought her over but she’s with her family this year.
He’s growing up so much from the boy I raised and I couldn’t be prouder.
“You are not cooking next year. We’re ordering in.” He points a fork at me.
