Page 28

Chapter twenty-eight

Emmett Foster

I walk out of my bedroom to the sound of Disney music and giggling. My lips lift into a smile. I tread quietly through the living room, where the music is playing on the TV. When I reach the kitchen, the sight that greets me is pure joy personified.

June is standing on a step stool near the stove next to Hazel. They’re making pancakes together. Hazel ladles the batter, then June puts a handful of chocolate chips on each circle. As they work, they take turns singing into a spray canister of olive oil. I lean against the pantry door and watch them.

“Miss Hazel,” June says.

Hazel stops singing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno." “Yes, sweet pea?”

“You aren’t going to leave us again, right? Your mommy is okay, so you can stay here forever.”

Hazel doesn’t answer for a moment. My heartbeat quickens as I wait for her answer. “I don’t plan on leaving, but I can’t promise that I’ll be here forever. That’s up to your dad.”

If it’s up to me, forever it is. The thought should be terrifying after everything I’ve gone through, but I’m done letting the pain of the past steal the joy of the present and future. Hazel deserves my confidence in her, in us.

“I’ll make sure to tell Daddy to never let you go,” June says like it’s the perfect plan.

Hazel laughs. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Why not?” June pouts.

“Because I’ve already made my decision,” I say, making them both jump in surprise.

“Daddy! Look, we’re making pancakes with chocolate chips.” June waves her arm over the griddle, almost knocking into Hazel spooning out the batter. Hazel acts quickly though, and avoids the collision.

“I see that. Make sure you watch where you’re putting your hands,” I tell her as I walk over to them.

“Yes, sir.” June goes back to sticking her hand in a bowl of chocolate chips. Each pancake is more chocolate than batter, but Hazel doesn’t correct her on how much she adds.

I kiss the crown of June’s head, then place my hand in the dip of Hazel’s waist and kiss her temple. “Good morning,” I say into her hair.

“Good morning.” Her voice is breathy and stilted.

“Did you sleep well?” I ask, not moving my hand from her waist.

“I did, did you?”

“Yes.” Once I stopped reliving every moment of our time outside.

I reluctantly move away from her to go get a cup of coffee. Raven doesn’t seem to be up and about yet. It’s one thing to sneak a kiss in front of a preoccupied five-year-old. It’s another to be seen by a teenager. I don’t know what or when Hazel wants to tell Raven about us.

Hazel must have already brewed the coffee, because there’s a full pot. I pull down a mug before pouring a generous serving. While I slept well, I didn’t sleep enough. I’ll need some caffeine to make it through practice. I wish I could stay home today, but there’s a game tomorrow night and I don’t have a good enough reason to miss.

“Okay, that’s all the batter we have,” Hazel tells June. “Why don’t you go wash your hands, then we can sit at the table and eat?”

“Yes, ma’am,” June chirps and hops down from the stool. She rushes out of the room, holding her chocolate-covered hands in the air. There’s a sink in here, but there’s princess soap in her bathroom, where I’m sure she’s headed.

I lean against the countertop and take a sip of my coffee. I can practically feel Hazel’s desire to say something hanging in the air. Instead of prompting her though, I give her space to talk.

“You said you made a decision,” she blurts and turns toward me. Her face is flushed. I’d assume it was from being near the heat of the stove if not for the adorably flustered expression she’s wearing.

“Did I?” I tease.

She gives me an exasperated look. I smile behind the rim of my coffee cup.

“Emmett, I’m spiraling over here.” She laughs, but I can tell her words aren’t too far off from the truth. “I know you said we’d work through it today and I don’t want to rush you, but I don’t know how to be, especially in front of other people.”

I set my mug down and hold out a hand. She takes it, letting me pull her to my chest. Immediately, she melts against me. I kiss the crown of her head. She lets out a sigh.

“This doesn’t solve things,” she says into my shirt.

I wrap my arms around her. “No, but it’s a nice way to be while we talk.” I rub a hand up and down her back. “Let’s start with the easiest people first. June loves you and has wanted me to have someone like you since she saw my friends start dating and getting married.”

“So we tell her we’re dating?” she asks.

“If you’d like, yes. And you can tell your sister the same if you feel ready to.”

Hazel tilts her head back to look up at me. “That means we’re dating, then.”

Her green eyes swim with questions. I realize I must not have made myself clear enough. In an effort to let her control the pace, I left her confused. I kiss the corner of her mouth.

“I’d like to be yours,” I say in a low voice. “And for you to be mine. If that means we’re dating, then that’s what we’ll tell everyone.”

I dip my chin and trace her cheekbone with the tip of my nose. She shivers in my arms.

“Is that what you want, Wildflower?”

She nods, then whispers, “Yes.”

“Good. Now, what else is bothering your beautiful mind?”

I trail my lips from her jaw to the spot below her ear. She draws in a shuddery breath.

“Not much of anything when you do that.”

My lips stretch into a satisfied grin. She smells extra sweet this morning. Edible . I kiss her, tasting her soft skin. Her fingers tangle in the fabric of my t-shirt.

The sound of little feet slapping against hardwood floors has Hazel tearing away from me. A bright red blush climbs her neck. She covers the spot below her ear as if I’ve left a mark.

“I washed my hands three and a half times!” June says as she skips into the kitchen. She also looks to have changed from her pajamas into a pink princess dress, complete with a tiara and a beaded necklace.

“Your hands must be very clean,” Hazel says, sounding off-kilter.

I smirk at her. She shoots me an admonishing look, but she’s smiling as she does.

“Can we watch TV with breakfast?” June asks as she reaches for a plate that Hazel already set on the counter. “I want to see if Uncle Miles won his game.”

I try to stay updated on all of my friends’ tournaments and games, but June might rival my dedication. She’s always asking when the next one is and if she can watch. She mostly just looks to see if they won, then gets bored with the rest, but I indulge her. The guys–and their wives–all love when she brings it up over the phone or in person.

“Sure, I’ll look up the tournament for you,” Hazel replies.

“Thank you,” June says sweetly as she piles a stack of pancakes on her plate.

Hazel helps her with the syrup and tells her to go to the living room and she’ll bring her milk in a minute. June walks out, and Hazel’s glancing up at me with trepidation once more.

“June asking about TV reminded me. What are you going to do about the media?”

“I’ll call Brock over breakfast and get his thoughts. It’s probably going to be a little chaotic for a couple of days,” I say, because I want to be honest with her. “But like I said last night, we can get through it. If I need to, I’ll give June a talk about school and what to say to people.”

Hazel sighs. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Me either, but she’s a smart kid. She’ll understand if it does, and I’ll make sure her teachers know to watch out for her in case any kids try to bother her.”

“If the media drags June into this, I’m going to hate them as much as you, maybe more,” Hazel says sourly.

I chuckle. “That’s my girl. You’ll have to keep that fire if you’re sticking around.”

“I meant what I told June,” she says, her voice more confident than before. “As long as you’ll have me, I’ll be here.”

My throat tightens at her declaration. I cross the distance between us and press a fervent kiss to her soft lips. She kisses me back with the same passion. Though neither of us says the word aloud, it’s felt in the all-encompassing nature of our kiss.

Forever .