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We corral the girls into the backyard and they rush straight to the trees to play hide and seek. I pull two chairs out into the sunlight and collapse down as I wait for Morgan to get settled.

Even bundled in a jacket, it’s freezing. But at least there isn’t any snow, yet.

“Do you want to start?” He asks as he runs his hand down his face and glances over to watch the girls for a few moments before he meets my eyes again.

“Where to start though? Is this moving too fast? What about Brittany? The girls? Your family? Your teammates and friends? Will this cause an issue, you actually coming out with us being together? Then there’s my past…

I just got out of a long-term relationship, you just finalized your divorce…

And there’s the fact that you don’t want any more children. Do I just donate my eggs?”

I press my lips together and stare down at my lap as I wait for him to reply. Was that too much? He always wants to know what’s on my mind, and there it is.

He clears his throat and I squeeze my eyes shut.

“I know that I have been a dumbshit over the last few months, but I want you. All of you. If you really want a child… I don’t know.

We can see how this move goes, depending on what’s going on with my shoulder.

I don’t give a shit about what anyone else thinks.

You’re it for me, Lillian. I want you. I don’t give a shit if my parents are unhappy about it.

Brittany doesn’t get a say in anything in my life.

“My parents don’t give a shit about me, only about what others think.

How successful I am. Who gives a shit? Truly?

I never imagined I would be happy again.

I never imagined even anything remotely serious.

Ever. I didn’t want to bring another woman around the girls, not after what their mother put them through. But then came you.

“You’re young, gorgeous. Intelligent. Empathetic, caring, and so damn kind and loving that I want to pinch myself half the time, wondering if you’re an angel. You put up with me. My girls. My life… and I want to be there for everything through yours. I want to hold your hand through it all.”

I bring my eyes up to his and don’t hide my tears. Just, what? Where did this man come from?

“Where do we go from here? Do I continue to take money from you to watch the girls? Do I get a job? Do I move out? I feel like I’m in this gross state of limbo and like I’m taking advantage of you.”

He rolls his eyes and scoots around in his chair, getting more comfortable. “Whatever you want to do. I won’t fight you on anything anymore. I apologize for fucking everything up. How stupid I was. How I didn’t trust you, didn’t ask questions before assuming.”

I nod and chew on my inner cheek. “So it’s all up to me?”

He smirks at me and winks before rubbing his hand down his thigh.

“It’s all up to you. I’m going to just breathe and go along with the flow.

I’ll help you find a job, if that’s what you want.

I’ll help you find a place that’s safe. I’ll support you if you just want to stay home with the girls.

I’ll hire more help. I’ll do whatever. You. Fucking. Want.”

I slowly blink at him for a few moments. This is Morgan, right? He didn’t get a personality transplant? Is this real life? I breathe in the cool, crisp air and tilt my head to the side, squinting my eyes at him as I relax my shoulders and hum.

“Okay, I want to get a job. But part-time so that I can be with the girls as much as possible. I can’t imagine them going from being home every day to some daycare or preschool facility.”

He slowly smiles. “Yeah? Why not just stay home then? What if I want to travel?”

I roll my eyes and try to hide my own smile.

“Because I’m not going to just live off of you.

It was one thing before we decided to try this thing out since I was just your little nanny.

I’d feel… I don’t know… awkward about it.

I don’t have debt or anything aside from my car and student loans, but I wouldn’t be comfortable with just being your live-in girlfriend and spending your money. ”

“Then marry me.”

I almost fall out of my chair and give myself whiplash as I turned too fast to glare at him. “What?”

“You heard me. Marry me. I’ll give you my damn sperm if that’s what it takes. Marry me and stay home. Tutor if you want. Teach when the girls are older.”

I blink at him, trying not to snort. “Just marry you? Just like that?”

He stands and saunters over to me, towering over me. The sun glints against his hair and surrounds him like a halo as he smiles down at me. “Fucking marry me, Lillian. I don’t care if I’ve only known you for a day, week, month, or years. You’re mine and I’m fucking yours.”

“You’re acting like we’re going to go do this right now. What about a prenup? Fuck, everything? You just got divorced, is this even legal?”

“No prenup. No bullshit. Give me a few minutes,” he jogs back up to the house as I sit here dumbstruck. I can hear the girls squealing from closeby, so I know this is real life, right?

I’m not dreaming?

I pinch my thigh and wince. Fuck. I’m not asleep.

What the fuck is going on? Are we really going to do this?

Am I going to say yes?

Should I?

Is he high on pain meds?

I stare up at the bright blue sky and watch my breath fog up towards the clouds. What in the world are we doing?