Page 102 of Never Stop

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean? Because the way I heard it was because I don’t share her blood, I don’t care about her.”

I reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. Then I cupped her face. “I said what I did in the heat of the moment. Cheyenne is your daughter. I don’t care if you didn’t give birth to her. We’re a family.”

“But you think I don’t care some kid likes her.”

“When I said you didn’t understand because she wasmybaby, I meant it in the sense that she’s my little girl. Like I’m thinking I should go get a gun permit now.” I tried to smile to lighten the mood. It didn’t work.

“But youareright. Cheyenne isn’t mine.” Tears started to fall from her eyes again, soaking my hands. I didn’t move them. Instead, I leaned closer and kissed her lips, tasting the salty sheen.

“Cheyenne became yours the moment you told her you used to play softball.”

Brooke finally let out a small chuckle. “Not like that.”

“Do you think I care she doesn’t carry your blood?”

We stared at each other until she finally spoke. “No. I just wish…”

“You wish what?” I wiped her tears again, this time grabbing her hands in her lap instead of her face.

“I wish I had my own. I mean, I didn’t think I was ready—”

“Let’s do it.”

Brooke drew her head back slightly. “Wait, what?”

“Baby, I see the way you treat Bailee. You treat her like she’s Cheyenne’s age. And I remember the day you found out Nicole was pregnant. I felt it radiating off your body. You do want your own.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, but after we got back from our honeymoon, I told Nicole I wasn’t ready.”

“Well, that was like a month ago. And who cares? We’re ready now.”

“We are?”

I smiled. “Well, we’re not getting any younger.”

She groaned and threw herself back flat on the mattress. “I literally feel my eggs shriveling up at that comment.”

Placing my hands on either side of her, I hovered above her. “Thirty’s the new twenty.”

“I’m thirty-one,” she corrected.

“So you had a birthday a few months back. You’ll still be a MILF to me.” I grinned down at her.

“Even when I’m as big as a house?”

My lips met hers as I couldn’t resist her cuteness any longer. “You’ll just have to be on top all the time.”

“Ahh,” she groaned and tried to push me off of her. “You always think about sex.”

I stood. “We’re talking about making babies here. Of course I’m thinking about the way it’s done.”

“I’ll get my IUD out soon then.”

We started to walk toward the door to head back to the kitchen. “We can practice while we wait, right?”

“Only when you hit home runs.”