Page 123 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers
It’s hard for me to look at her, hearing those words.
“I want you all in different ways because you love me in different ways, and I don’t want that to disappear.” She looks up at Tommy. “I don’t want any of it to disappear, but I don’t want to lie to anyone either.”
“It doesn’t have to disappear,” Russell says. “If you want to be withus…be with us.”
Tommy looks up at me and Russell in question. “What are you saying?” he asks.
“I think what Russell is proposing, Tommy, is that Nora doesn’t have to choose someone. She can have everything she wants.” I look from Tommy to Nora. “She can haveeveryoneshe wants, as long as we’re all on the same page.”
“Oh,” he says. He turns to Nora. “Is that what you want?”
Her eyes are cloudy, and she looks like she’s going to cry.
“Would you still want me if I said yes?” she asks, her voice shaking.
Tommy doesn’t hesitate to answer her. “If it’s what you want…and it means you still wantme…and some kind of future with me…then yes.” He sighs. “Because that’s all I want. You. So if this is how I get you?—”
“Oh, Tommy,” she cries as she pulls him close and kisses him. In front of me and Russell, and the entire stack of bleachers.
Russell pulls her from Tommy, and he lets her go. Russell places a kiss in her hair.
“Always knew he was smart,” Russell says with a wink. Tommy lets out a chuckle.
Then Russell and Nora turn their sights on me.
“How about you, Daddy?” Russell asks with a smirk.
I tense, because I didn’t think anyone else knew about my preferred title. But even though I expect to feel pissed or betrayed, I don’t.
In fact, it’s the opposite. I feel almost relieved, like another layer of my cocoon has shed.
I step up to Nora and grab her hand. I bring it to my lips to kiss. “Whatever my princess wants, my princess gets.”
She smiles, and my heart warms.
“So that’s it,” Tommy says. “We’re…good?” He looks between us. “All of us are…good?”
I settle my hand on his shoulder. “Yes, Tommy Boy, I’d say we are.”
Russell lets out a sigh as Nora falls into my arms with ease. “Well, in that case, we better get a move on because we have practice. Game tonight.”
“Right, game day breakfast,” Nora says.
“You should come,” Russell says. “To the game tonight.” He looks between her and Tommy. “Bring your boyfriend.”
Tommy’s eyes light up like the Fourth of July at that sentiment.
Nora smiles as they both get up. “I get out of work at five.”
Tommy helps her down from the bleachers. “I can pick you up if you want. We could grab some dinner first?”
Nora smiles. “That would be lovely.”
And as we walk back to the house, the sun shining and the birds chirping in victory, I think that this is shaping up to be the best day ever.
Because I finally have Nora, and my family, and nothing could be better than that.
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