Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Like I did at brunch, I feel like maybe I’ve found another seat I didn’t know was waiting for me.
I glance sideways and catch Atlas watching me instead of the game. Not pressing, not demanding. Just that quiet, anchoring steadiness.
This morning, I chose to show up. Right now, it feels like I’m being shown where I belong.
CHAPTER 17
Atlas
I’m lacing up my sneakers, mind already halfway to the arena where I’m going to meet the guys for a workout, when Maddie’s voice calls from the living room.
“Atlas—can I ask you something before you go?”
I step through the archway to find her on the rug with Grayce, who’s doing her determined crawl toward her stuffed lion. Maddie looks at me, her blue eyes serious.
“What’s up?” I say, leaning on the doorframe.
She bites her lip, a move that doesn’t make me think about kissing her at all. “I was thinking about moving some things around in the kitchen. The spice rack is a nightmare, and the plates would make more sense in the cabinet by the dishwasher. But—” She hesitates, glancing toward the baby before finishing. “I don’t want to step on your toes.”
“Step on my toes?” I ask, confused.
She glances around. “Yeah. I mean, this is your house. I don’t want to make moves you won’t like.”
My chest tightens as I understand her concern. I fold my arms, steadying myself so I don’t cross the room and shake the doubt right out of her. “Maddie, it’s our house. You live here. You raise Grayce here. You don’t have to ask permission to move a damn plate.”
Her brows lift, surprised.
I soften, take a step closer. “Change whatever you want. Paint the cabinets pink if it makes you happy. This place isn’t mine for you to borrow. It’s your home too.”
Her throat works, eyes glassy, and she nods like she’s storing the words away someplace safe.
My eyes flick past her to Grayce and widen. “Maddie… look,” I whisper.
She turns.
Grayce grips the couch cushion, in a standing position like she was at the park. Her legs quiver, face scrunched in fierce determination as she glances at Maddie, then at me, as if she’s asking for permission. Maybe looking for support?
Before I can cheer her on, she lets go.
Once again, we hold our breath as she sways, and then… she takes one step.
Her arms flail, but her other leg moves forward. Another step.
Then a third step.
You can see the realization on her face that she’s done something monumental, and a sliver of shock passes through her eyes. I watch as she considers her options—go forward or fall down.
She takes another step.
Maddie and I cheer so loud, she startles, entire body jolting with eyes wide before plopping down on her butt. She stares at us, stunned by her own gravity.
“She walked!” Maddie’s shout cracks high, her hands flying to her mouth.
“She walked!” I shout, the words tearing out of me like a goal call.
Maddie starts clapping, hopping on her toes like she can’t hold the energy in. Grayce stares at her with round eyes.
I don’t even think—I grab Maddie by the waist and spin her once, both of us laughing too hard to breathe. When her feet hit the ground again, we’re still tangled close, her hands braced on my chest, my grip firm at her hips.
The laughter ebbs, but the closeness doesn’t. We’re nose to nose, breathless, hearts pounding with the same wild rhythm. Her eyes lock on mine, wide and shining, and the whole world shrinks to the air between us.
I don’t think. I move.
My mouth finds hers.
It’s soft for a second but then her lips part, and heat roars between us—hungry, desperate, like we’ve been waiting weeks instead of seconds. My hand fists in her hair, hers grip my arm, anchoring herself as much as me.
Grayce squeals, followed by a bubbling laugh, and we break apart. I glance to see our kid crawling for the stuffed lion again.
“What the hell was that?” Maddie blurts, and I turn to face her. My gaze goes between her and Grayce, who now looks up at us.
I don’t answer Maddie but go to our daughter and pick her up. I set her down in her bouncy chair, give her a teething ring, then turn to Maddie. I grab her hand and pull her to the hallway so Grayce doesn’t see or hear this. Not that she’d understand it.
Maddie pulls her hand away and spins on me. “I repeat… what the hell was that?”
I swipe a hand over my mouth, voice rough. “A kiss.”
“Yeah… a kiss.” She puts her hands on her hips. “You kissed me.”
“Yeah,” I say evenly, not willing to be the one at fault here. “And you kissed me back.”
Her cheeks flush hot. “That was—it was the excitement. Grayce walked. We were just caught up.”
I should let it go. Hell, I should walk away right now. Instead, I take two steps and cover her mouth with mine again. This time it doesn’t start soft. It’s volatile from the start, full of the truth I’ve been biting back. She stiffens for a fraction of a second, then melts, kissing me back with equal fire.