Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“You changed the play, baby.”
“What?” I ask, laughing.
“You changed me, too, and how I see the world around me, the way I see friendships, and my found family. You changed me to my core, and I love you for it.”
“I love you, too.”
Together, we get ready, stealing kisses and innocent touches, before picking up more pizza than we can all eat and going back to Nick and Carrie’s to ice some birthday cupcakes, and to let my family get to know the man who has completely, irrevocably stolen my heart.
Chapter Nineteen
Foster
* * *
Today has been a good day. The sun is shining, not a cloud in sight, and we’re all here. The guys, our families, and I are all celebrating. It’s the Fourth of July, but really, we’ll take any excuse to get together. I’ve always been here for these get-togethers, but today feels different. Today, I’m not just here as an extra person, the guy who tags along. I’m Foster Vaughn, friend, brother by choice, uncle, and most importantly, hers.
I’m Eden’s.
She’s what’s different. She makes my life better.
“Una Fosser, up!” Camden demands, and who am I to say no? Placing my drink down on the ground next to me, I lift him onto my lap. The guys and I are sitting out in the yard, while the ladies are up on the patio. We’re split into groups, but we’ll all end up joined again at some point. The guys and I took off to the garage after we ate to look at Baker’s new set of golf clubs, while the ladies opted to sit and chat, much like we’re doing now—only they’re smart and sitting under the porch, out of this scorching-hot July sun.
“Whatcha got there, little man?” I ask him.
“Dis,” he says, holding up a glow necklace. Sloane bought a big pack of them. Camden and Coral have each had one in their hands all day.
“Nice.” I hold my hand up for a high-five, and he slaps his tiny palm against mine. “Do you want to wear it?” He nods, and I help him slide it over his head. He giggles and looks down at his chest before giving me a big grin.
Coral, who is sitting on her dad’s lap, reaches for Camden, and he takes her hand. “Fellas, we might have a match on our hands,” I tell them.
Reid narrows his eyes at Baker. “Your son better watch himself,” he says, and we all laugh.
“That would be cool, though, right?” Landry asks, looking down at Alexander, his nephew by blood, not just by choice, who’s staring wide-eyed, taking it all in. “If some of our kids ended up together?”
“When they’re thirty,” Reid mutters.
“Come on, Montgomery,” I tease him. “You can’t keep her locked away forever.”
He sighs, running his hands through his hair. “I know that, but damn, I’m going to have a hard time controlling myself when some young a—arse kid”—he catches himself—“breaks her heart.”
“We won’t let him,” Landry says. His tone is fierce, and it’s easy to tell that he’s thinking about his unborn child.
“What about you?” Knox asks. “That smile says things are going well with Eden?”
“If you classify me finding the love of my life as things going well, then yeah.” I shrug and chuckle because Camden mimics me. This kid is cute as hell.
“Well, all right, then.” Knox nods.
“You were right. You can say it,” I tell him with a smirk. “I know you’re thinking it.”
Knox holds his hands up in the air. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I’m just glad you finally found her.”
“Does this mean you’re going all in?” Reid asks. “House, kids, wedding rings?”
“Yeah, I don’t know that it will be in that order, but I’m all in. We’re all in,” I amend, because I need to remind those old insecurities that this time, when I drop to one knee, it will be different. I hope so anyway. Losing Violet was tough. Losing Eden? I wouldn’t come back from that. That’s the difference that Knox was trying to explain to me, and I finally understand. If he needs to gloat, I’ll let it roll off my back. He deserves to. He was right.
Camden wiggles to get down, so I place him on his feet, and Coral does the same. She toddles after him.
“Babe, she’s headed your way,” Reid calls out to Bellamy, who’s sitting on the patio with the rest of the wives—well, wives, plus Eden and Amanda. Eden will be my wife soon. I don’t know when I’ll ask her, but I’m going to, and I can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives together.
“Fucking stoked for you, man,” Baker says.
“Thanks. I’m sorry,” I say. “I know I kept a lot of my past from you guys, and it wasn’t because I didn’t trust you. It was that deep-rooted fear of rejection.”