Page 183 of If You Claim Me

We join Lexi, Fee, and her best friend, Cammie, in the stands. Everly flops into a seat and pulls Victor down beside her.

“Perfect timing!” Lexi cradles baby Ariel to her chest. “They’ve almost finished warmups.”

“Look at that sweet face.” Mildred slides into the seat next to her and rests her cheek on Lexi’s shoulder. “You’re pretty too, Lexi.”

Lexi laughs. “Do you want to hold her?”

“I would absolutely love to hold this sweet, tiny nugget of adorableness.”

Lexi passes Ariel to my wife, who coos at her.

Roman, who was talking to one of the coaches, comes over and wedges himself into the seat next to mine—they aren’t built for guys over six three—with a smirk.

“You gonna be next on the baby brigade?”

“Calm down, bro. We have to see some kids off to college first,” I murmur.

Understanding and compassion lights up his face, and he drops his voice to a whisper. “You get everything finalized?”

“We’re close.” Roman and Lexi have been helpful on this journey since Lexi is the legal guardian of her sisters, and Roman formally adopted them last fall. Now they’re officially his.

Everly’s head appears between mine and Mildred’s. “Fee and Cammie are going to the concession stand.”

I pull a twenty out of my wallet and pass it over my shoulder. “Please bring me the change, if there is any.”

“Thank you!” She kisses us both on the cheek and disappears.

Callie skates past, waving at us as she heads for her net, but then she circles back and stops in front of Victor. He smiles and taps the glass with his fist.

“How have I been so easily replaced?” I mutter.

Mildred grins and kisses my cheek as Callie skates away, pulling out some figure skating moves as she goes.

“She’s the only girl who ever loved me without even knowing me,” I lament.

“You’ll get over it.” Mildred nudges my shoulder. “Here, hold this adorable baby.”

I put out my arms.

“Push your sleeves up first, though.”

I do as my wife asks, then take Ariel into the crook of my elbow.

“Ahh, there’s the magic…” Mildred snaps several pictures, her eyes sparking with heat and full of promise.

I see our entire life writing itself for us; a home full of love and family, kids and grandkids and Terror reunions. I want it all. And I want it with Mildred at my side.

CHAPTER 54

DRED

“I’m so excited!” Everly is bouncing around us like Tigger with springs in her feet.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Connor tells me.

“Your giant hands are covering my whole face,” I assure him. “I can see nothing.”

“You love my giant hands,” he murmurs.