Page 48 of Maximus (Gold Team #4)
“I’d never let a friend swing. I’ll take his back but Thad’s gonna be pissed. Emerson’s gonna lose her shit, which is gonna make Thad lose his. The whole situation is a clusterfuck and it doesn’t have to be. He should’ve told Thad—at a minimum—that Autumn was living in Annapolis.”
“Dec has his reasons. Trust him.”
“Trust him? Fuck, he needs to learn to trust us.”
“True story, but he has a good reason for keeping his personal life private. You of all people should understand when someone screws you over, in a way that is so heinous your only option is to protect yourself.”
Well, fuck me, Tex had a point.
“I’ll take care of Declan.”
Some of the tension left Tex’s shoulders and he relaxed back into his chair.
I glanced around his inner sanctum—the epicenter of information that had saved my ass and countless lives and I took a moment to take it all in.
Tex valued his privacy and protected his personal life to the nth degree.
It was an honor to be welcomed into his home.
“’Preciate the invite. Means a lot to Eva and the boys.”
“Invitation’s always open.”
“’Preciate that, too. As fun as it is sitting in here staring at your ugly mug, whatever your wife’s cooking is calling my name.”
“Mel’s one hell of a cook, but I don’t think my wife’s cooking is what’s calling your name.” He chuckled.
Nope, it wasn’t. Eva was. In the week and a half since she’d been home I still couldn’t take my eyes off of her, I needed her within arms’ reach at all times. Thankfully, she either felt the same way or was willing to humor me. I didn’t care which one it was, I just wanted her close—always.
“I miss mornings like this,” Melody said, and with her coffee mug in hand gestured to the boys. “Enjoy happy mornings while you can. Once they become teenagers it’s all sass and attitude when you wake them up.”
Liam and Eli had been up bright and early, which was a little shocking considering last night they’d stayed up late with Akilah and Hope. Tex and Melody’s daughters were great with the boys and had entertained them for hours while we’d sat outside and waxed lyrical.
Tex and Melody had a good life, a great marriage, after all the years they’d been together the love they shared still shone bright. Being around them had filled me with certainty. They were proof there was such a thing as a long, happy, healthy marriage.
“So I’ve heard.” Eva’s beautiful smile never failed to take my breath. “Though I think they’re extra excited they got to help you with the chocolate chip pancakes.”
Eva leaned closer and my arm went around her shoulder, tucking her to my side.
“Everything okay?” I whispered.
“Perfect.”
“Good.” I kissed the top of Eva’s head and breathed in the flowery scent of her shampoo.
I’d almost lost her—lost my chance at happiness.
It would be a long time before the nagging thought burned out, one day the fear and crushing panic would dissipate, but I’d never forget those twenty-seven hours.
They’d always be a constant reminder of how fragile life is, how in a split-second everything can be taken from you.
A warning to never to take Eva and my boys for granted.
“Thanks for letting us come up and spend the night.” Eva sniffed and cuddled closer to my side. “You’ve done so much—”
“Eva…” Tex cut her off, never comfortable with gratitude.
“No, Tex, let me finish. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us.
First you saved my boys and gave them back to me, then you believed in me when no one else did and helped me get on my feet so I could give my kids what they deserved.
Then you gave us the best gift—Max. So, thank you, for saving us in every way. ”
I was having difficulty swallowing the boulder in my throat and the stinging in my eyes was intensifying with every second that ticked.
“You’re welcome, Eva.” Tex cleared his throat and leveled his intense gaze on me. “But I didn’t give you the gift. I gave it to Max.”
Fuck, yeah, he did. A gift so bountiful I’d treasure it always.
“I just have to say,” Melody croaked. “I have the best husband in the world.”
“Damn right you do.” Tex declared with way too much seriousness, and the women dissolved into laughter.
It had been a damn good visit but we had to get on the road.
“We should start packing up the boys,” I told Eva.
“Yeah, you’re right,” she sighed.
“Come up anytime. We loved having you,” Mel invited.
“We’ll be back,” Eva promised.
An hour later we’d said our goodbyes, passed out hugs, handshakes, and wrestled the boys into the car—a task that was only accomplished because Hope had buckled Liam and Eli into their seatbelts.
“You ready?” I asked Eva as she waved to Tex and Melody still standing on their porch.
Her pretty eyes came to mine and damn if they weren’t shining with happiness.
“So ready.”
Eva rolled up onto her toes and brushed her lips against mine. It wasn’t the time nor the place but I couldn’t stop the rush of excitement that accompanied her touch .
“Might get bumpy. Life’s full of curveballs and surprises. But no matter what, Eva, I swear I’ll be by your side.”
Eva stared up at me and graced me with one of her megawatt smiles that blazed a trail of love that haywired my brain.
“Bumps, curveballs, surprises…By your side I’m the strongest I’ve ever been—bring it.”
My fierce, strong woman was cute as fuck. With our eyes locked, my thundering laughter surrounding us, our kids waiting for us in the back seat, and good friends standing nearby, I crushed my mouth to hers and didn’t give the first fuck people were watching.
Best kiss ever.