Page 87 of Crew

“There’s no fence.”

“Not yet.”

“Crew, we have a four-year-old.”

“I already have a company lined up. Alarmed gate. Locking cover. The safest setup they’ve got.”

She didn’t argue. Just looked at the water and the yard. Then at me. “It’s too much house for the two of us.”

“You don’t have to fill it all right away.”

“I don’t need space like this.”

“But you could use it,” I offered gently. “You could have a home office. A guest room. Grady could have a room to paint or wreck ormake forts in. And there’s space for your parents to visit. Your sister. Whoever. Anytime.”

Her arms folded across her chest. “It’s a lot.”

“I know. But I’m not going anywhere. I just signed five more years with the Seawolves with a no-trade clause.”

“You did?”

I nodded. “Yeah, the extension’s locked in. No more questions about trades or contracts or what comes next. This is where I am.”

She turned back to where Knox and Grady were. “I don’t know …”

“I’ll take care of everything,” I added. “The Mortgage. Maintenance. Cleaning. You won’t have to think about it.”

“I’ve never lived like this.”

“Maybe it’s time.” She didn’t glance at me when she spoke. “If you’re sure this is the one you want to buy ... then okay.”

I exhaled. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

About Two MonthsLater

I wasthe first one up.

Outside, the sun was starting to rise. Inside, the Christmas tree lit Mallory and Grady’s living room in soft color.

I hadn’t slept much. Didn’t want to.

The stockings were full. Only a few crumbs left on the cookie plate. Gifts were stacked under the tree in uneven piles. Mallory had done most of it, but I’d added what I could. A few from Santa. A few just because.

Knox wandered into the kitchen a few minutes later, barefoot, rubbing at his eyes. He stopped beside me and reached for a mug.

“You been up long?”

“No, just got up.”

He nodded, eyes on the tree. “Kind of wild that we get to be here for this.”

“Yeah,” I said. “It is.”

We’d stayed the night in one of the guest rooms. The house had plenty of space, and this way we’d be here when Grady woke up. It was his first Christmas with me. My first with him. That wasn’t something I was going to miss. Ever.

Mallory came out not long after, a cardigan wrapped around her and her hair pulled back. “He’s still asleep.”

“I’m sure he’ll be up soon,” I told her.