Page 181 of Blackwood

She’s safe. She’s smiling. After everything she just did. After everything we all just went through. She should be wrecked, but somehow, she’s right here stronger than ever. And now, she’s got family back in her corner.

Uncle Jack showed up like a ghost from the past and changed everything. They’ve had lunch a few times, catching up. She told him about her life and I can tell it’s been good for her.

It was hard on the guy, especially since his wife died a few years back. I don’t know the whole story, I don’t need to. All I care about is that she’s got another family member back.

He knows about why Henry can’t come to her performances. Vince and all that shit. It killed him. Apparently, he and Henry are still pretty tight. Jack was hurt that Henry never told him about their reunion at Bella’s high school graduation, but he understood in the end.

He is the reason for all the NYPD presence at the field tonight. Something about protecting his Sugar Bear, which is adorable.

Tried to call her that the other night while I was balls-deep and feeling sentimental. Let’s just say she throat-punched me mid-orgasm.

Lesson learned.

Cade’s beside me, drink in hand, and looking just as obsessed as I feel. I glance over at him. He catches me looking, lifts his chin in that quiet way he does, and interlocks his fingers in mine.

She finally breaks from the crowd, waving to a few more people yelling her name like she’s the goddamn quarterback instead of the girl who’s about to steal the halftime show. She gives a little finger wave and a wink to some frat guy in a Wexley jersey, then rolls her eyes when he stumbles into his friend trying to blow her a kiss.

My fucking girl.

She makes her way toward us, hips swaying, that show-day glow still clinging to her skin. Then she drops herself right onto my lap. One arm around my shoulders, the other hand still clutching a Sharpie like she’s ready to sign my damn soul next.

She kisses me. Not a peck. Not some PG, camera-safe shit. No, this is slow. Teasing. Deep enough to make my pulse glitch and my brain short-circuit. By the time she pulls back, I’m already gripping her thighs, trying to remember what oxygen is.

She looks at me like she knows exactly what she just did. The little tease. Eyes lit up, smile wicked and sweet all at once.

I drag my hands up her thighs and over her waist. “You kiss every fan like that, or am I just the lucky bastard in the front row?”

“Just you,” she whispers, smirking. “Though one kid said if I kissed him, he’d get his dad to buy me a beer.”

I bark out a laugh, tilt my head, and give her a look that saysdon’t test me.

“Tempting offer,” I say, sliding my hand a little higher. “But if his old man shows up with that beer, he’s losing a few teeth.”

She grins. “Jealous much?”

“Always, baby,” I admit, grinning back. “It’s part of my charm.”

She turns her attention to Cade and before the poor bastard can even say hi, she leans in and kisses him too, like she’s grounding herself in him.

Cade grips the edge of his seat as if he’s not sure if he wants to stay upright or drag her ass straight into his lap. Can’t say I’d blame him if he did.

“Hey,” she says, brushing her nose against his like they’re the only two people here. “Missed you.”

“Not possible,” he breathes back.

And I swear, the guy fucking melts. Right there. Right in front of me. His whole face softens like she just flipped a switch inside him.

Bella lights up instantly as Savannah and Clay slide into the row behind us. Savannah wraps her arms around Bella’s shoulders from behind and gives her a tight squeeze.

“Sweetheart, that outfit is dangerous,” she teases, flicking the end of Bella’s burgundy crop top. “One more inch and half the student section would’ve passed out.”

Bella grins, tossing a wink over her shoulder. “Just wait ‘til you see the other ones. Rico went crazy for tonight.”

Clay huffs out a low laugh. “And here I thought this was a football game, not a fashion show.”

“There’s a little bit of that too, Dad,” Bella jokes, nudging her knee against mine.

She says it so easily—Dad—like it’s always been his name. I’m not mad. Not at her. Clay and Savannah gave her a home when no one else did. But it still hits somewhere low in my chest. A quiet reminder that she’s woven into Cade’s world in a way I’ll never be.