Page 76 of Girl Going Nowhere

I inhale sharply, staring at him.

He sits beside me on the couch, his leg brushing mine and staying there. “Because it does. Always has.”

We stare at each other, the food getting colder with each passing second.

His hand moves closer to where mine rests on my leg, interlocking our pinkies.

The warmth soaks into me, sending shockwaves through my body that cause my heart rate to spike.

“Tomorrow,” he says. “I’ll make reservations at Mingo at seven thirty to give us time after work.”

I blink.

Blink again.

Then, quietly, whisper, “Okay.”

EPILOGUE

Blake

It’s been sixmonths since the boys helped me move into my cramped two-bedroom apartment. My parents even gave me some of their old furniture and have visited us a few times for dinner and playdates at the park across the street.

While the space is small, I love being surrounded by new memories. Pictures that have been taken of Maia and me hang on every wall. A few older photos of my family and me rest in picture frames on the shelves that Brodie helped my dad hang up in the living room. The kitchen, while dirty with unwashed dishes piled in the sink and sauce stains on the stove from last night’s supper, is well-used from the routine I’ve gotten into on my own.

I never thought I’d survive as a single mother, but the support system I still have has made the difference.

An arm hooks around my waist, pulling me into a muscular chest. “What’s on that pretty mind of yours?” Brodie asks, nuzzling his face into my neck.

I relax into his hold, sinking into his body and letting him hold us up. “I’m thinking about how peaceful life is.”

I can feel his smile against my throat. “I told you it would get better.”

Snorting, I turn and drape my arms over his shoulders. “As if it was that easy,” I muse, rolling my eyes.

After four more cheating allegations came out against Dover, including another child confirmed to be his after more DNA testing, he and his team released a statement about his retirement from the MLB. It was only a matter of time before more women spoke up, and it felt like justice somehow when he finally announced he was finished with baseball. All while his wife stayed by his side despite the evidence of her husband’s infidelity.

I feel bad for her.

But that’s not my problem.

Brodie kisses my temple. “Do you still want to go out with Finn and Dante tomorrow night?”

Hearing their names together fills my chest with joy, causing me to smile warmly. “Of course. As much as I love having this place to myself, I miss seeing them. I think Maia misses torturing them with her sticker and nail polish collection.”

He grins. “I’m sure Dante misses it too.”

I laugh. “So… Maia is down.”

Brodie hums, walking us into the bedroom. “I noticed. Have anything in mind for the night? A movie? Maybe a midnight snack?”

I gasp when he forces me to sit on the edge of the bed, dropping to his knees and spreading my legs. I’m barely covered in my skimpy sundress, and when he sees I’m lacking panties, his eyes flash.

“Depends. Is the snack me?” I ask, biting my bottom lip when his hands snake up my inner thighs. I get wetter the closer they get to my core.

Brodie’s lips start following the path his hands are taking, causing a shallow breath to escape my lips. “Baby girl, your pussy is my favorite meal of the day.”

And he shows me exactly how much he loves it by hauling my legs over his shoulders and devouring me until I’m quaking under him. He sucks and licks and fucks me with his mouth in every way possible while I claw at him.

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