Page 84 of Molly

“Penny. I saw you guys talking. It looked heated. What’s up?”

She shakes her head. “Oh nothing, same old thing. Don’t worry about it. We’re fine. Well, as fine as Beckett and I will ever be.”

I shake my head and turn my focus to Ryan. He’s standing by the trampoline with his brothers. Jordan is holding Grace, looking like the proud daddy he is. She looks just like Lauren with her head full of honey blonde baby hair and bright blue eyes. She’s so chubby and squishy my ovaries literally hurt from looking at her.

While they’re all talking and laughing amongst themselves, Ryan’s watching Emma like a hawk, of course, beer in hand. He’s the definition of a helicopter parent. I swear, if I let him, he’d wrap that little girl in bubble wrap and never let her leave the house. Even though he’s ridiculous, it melts my heart.

“Ryan, love, can you come and grab another slab of beer out of the kitchen for me?” I call out across the yard. He turns his head, and a grin breaks out on his face. He walks towards me, lifting his beer to his lips.

“Penny! Penny! What the fuck is this?” Beckett yells from inside the house. A moment later, he storms out with a piece of paper in his hand. I can’t make out what it is from here, but he looks pissed.

Penny rushes over to him and snatches the paper out of his hand. She pushes at his chest until he eventually gives in, turns around and storms back into the house. I step forward, wanting to make sure Penny’s okay, but Ryan’s hand grabs my shoulder to stop me. “Let them figure it out, baby. They’ve needed to lose their shit at each other for a while now. Maybe it’ll help,” he whispers into my ear.

I nod, still unsure. As I turn my head to look up at him, Emma calls out, and his eyes go comically wide.

“Daddy, Daddy, did you see me jump?”

My heart feels like it literally explodes in my chest.

She called him daddy.

He stands frozen, his eyes staring straight ahead like his soul has left his body. “Ryan,” I whisper, spinning around and placing my hands reassuringly on his chest.

He takes a big breath, and a single tear slips down his cheek. His eyes move down to me, and the look on his face almost makes my knees give way. He gives me a watery smile, straightens his shoulders and turns around to face Emma. “I saw you Em, good job, baby girl,” he calls out, his voice breaking at the end.

I step forward and wrap my arms around his waist, burying my head in his back. “She called me daddy...” He whispers, placing his hand over my arm.

I nod my head, rubbing it along his spine. “Yeah, honey, she did.”

“Is that okay?”

I smile into his t-shirt. “You are her daddy, Ry.”

His grip tightens before he pulls my arms away from his body, spinning around to face me. He cups my face with his hand, rubbing his thumbs along my jawline. “I love you so much, Mol.” He blinks, and another tear escapes his ice-blue eyes.

I reach up and brush it away. “Love doesn’t even cover it, Ry.”

He nods, leaning down to place a soft, sensual kiss on my lips.

“Daddy, you’re not watching me!” Emma whines.

He chuckles against my mouth, pulling back to turn his head towards her, still holding my face.

“Go,” I whisper, “Our daughter wants your attention.”

He looks back at me, his eyes shining with emotion. He kisses me quickly before turning and heading back towards the trampoline. As he makes his way toward Emma, the guys all come up and pat him on the back, congratulating him quietly. I can see his chest puff out from here.

“Quite a man, my son,” Mark says from behind me, taking me by surprise.

I smile and nod, turning my head slightly towards him. “He is.”

“He loves you both something fierce.” He makes his way to my side and puts his hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“We love him the same way,” I reply quietly, tears forming in my eyes as I see Ryan pick Emma up and spin her around.

He nods, his eyes still on his son. “You’re a good egg, Molly Jackson. Damn lucky to have the two of you in our lives.”

I choke back a sob and place my hand on top of his. “We’re the lucky ones.”

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