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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

T he tension I’d felt before I walked into Vivian’s birthday party got worse when I met Thatcher’s proclaimed “boy.” He’d never called anyone his best friend when we were growing up. That title was mine, but I can tell Banks Tellerman is important to Thatcher. He was my replacement for the time I was away, and I’m unsure how I feel about that.

Should I reclaim that title or maybe go for a new one?

Baby mama or his…

Telly didn’t really talk to me much. He was kind, was “pleased” to meet me, but when his eyes set on Arwen, he was just as much of a goner as his “boy.” Since he hadn’t come with anyone, he hung with the kids, and that made me happy. He may not be mature, but at least he is some sort of an adult. As I tried to watch Arwen and Telly, I was pulled into conversation after conversation, answering the same questions. Where have I been, and are Thatcher and I finally together.

Everything was decent, fun even, for almost an hour.

But then the nervousness comes roaring back in waves as Dart Miklas walks into the party with his gorgeous, thick wife, a little boy on her hip and a pregnant belly the size of a soccer ball. I instantly tense up and chance a glance at Thatcher. He hasn’t left my side the whole time, unless it was to tend to Arwen. We had to explain a few times to everyone that Arwen communicates with her hands, which the kids were sweet about immediately. I almost sobbed when Vivian took Arwen under her wing and started “talking” for my baby. While I’m sure Vivian guessed the whole time what Arwen was saying, I was still thankful for the little girl.

She’s a good egg, just like her parents.

I was just beginning to feel comfortable, like I belonged, but seeing Dart has me as still as a statue. I try to focus on what Chandler is talking about, but all I hear is ringing in my ears. It isn’t until I feel lips by my ear and that rough timbre of his voice that I let my whole body relax against his. “Are you okay?”

When I turn my head to meet his gaze, our lips are so close. Either of us could lean in to taste the other, but we don’t. And not because I don’t want to. Fuck, do I want to. It’s that I’m worried if I kiss him, I won’t stop. And when I say I won’t stop, I mean, I’ll climb his sexy ass like a tree and gobble him right up like he’s got the best-tasting fruit on his limbs.

Which would totally not be appropriate for this G-rated party.

Or appropriate for the fact that there is not supposed to be a we , but that hasn’t been the case since we walked in. His hand has stayed at my back, his body turned to mine, and when he isn’t talking to someone or chasing Arwen, he’s making sure I’m okay.

God, he makes me feel crazy.

As I gaze into his eyes, I remember what we said. Communication. I inhale deeply, letting it out in a whoosh, which must tickle his lips because he smiles the kind of smile that settles deep in my gut. Ignoring my needy core, I whisper, “Dart is here.”

He doesn’t look away, his face doesn’t change, and he continues to look at me. “And?”

I search his gaze for any kind of sign he’d be pissed. “I was worried it’d upset you.”

Thatcher shakes his head. “Why would it?” he asks, bringing his hand up to tuck my hair behind my ears. The bill of his hat hits me in the forehead, but he doesn’t move it. That is saved for when he wants to kiss me. “I’m the one with you in my arms, and I made the most gorgeous little girl at this party. He is a teammate, nothing more.”

His words have my heart soaring in my chest as I gaze into his brown depths. “He never meant anything to me,” I admit, holding his gaze. “I was just sad.”

His brows come together in a furrow. “About what?”

I press my lips together, unable to look away. Am I really doing this? “That morning, I had tried to make a move on you. You looked so damn good on the couch in nothing but shorts, with your leg up, and I wanted you pretty desperately. So, I came up behind you and started rubbing your shoulders, and when you responded well to my touch, I leaned in to lick your ear, and you pulled away.”

I hadn’t ever wanted to admit that, but here I am. Communicating in the middle of a Paw Patrol party. His eyes narrow a bit, and I watch as he remembers. He lets out a harsh breath, then leans even closer, our lips now only a hairbreadth apart as he whispers, “I pulled away because I was in so much pain, and I assumed I was making up what you were doing. It all felt so damn good, and my cock was tenting my shorts. When I noticed you were that close, I moved so you wouldn’t see how much your touch affected me.”

My eyes widen, and heat burns through me under his gaze. “Really?

He gives me a lopsided grin. “Audrina, there isn’t a moment when you don’t have me tenting my pants.”

My lips curve, and I look down between us because I’m a glutton for punishment. He presses his lips to my forehead and lets out the most tortured noise. I’m momentarily speechless at the sight of his bulge, and when I lift my head once more, his lips are there for the taking. “Impressive.”

He scoffs, his eyes dancing with mine. “What’s impressive is how hard you make me when we’re in the middle of a kids birthday party.”

I can’t help but grin at him, but then my grin turns to a frown. “Why do we suck at talking about how we feel? We can talk about anything, even hard stuff, but why is how we feel about each other so taboo?”

His shoulders fall, his eyes burning into mine. “For me, it’s that I wanted you so badly, I was scared if I admitted it, you’d blow me off and I’d lose my best friend.”

Tears burn in the backs of my eyes, and I nod in agreement. “Exactly.”

His eyes are pure black as he reaches up, turning his bill to the back of his head, his hair tumbling out of the opening as he presses himself even closer. I can feel his body heat, see his heart in his eyes, and all I can do is hold my breath as he says, “Yeah, but that’s not the case anymore.”

“No?”

“No,” he tells me, stroking my jaw. “I don’t want you as my best friend anymore.”

I’m breathless as I somehow manage to say, “Because you replaced me with Telly?”

He smirks, his eyes sparkling with need. “Yeah, because I want to upgrade you to mine .”

I part my lips, and he watches the motion before leaning in to capture them, but because fate likes fucking with my emotions, our daughter slams into our legs. We part, and I look down to see tears in her eyes. I move away from him, bending down to pick her up as he signs, What’s wrong?

I fell down the stairs outside and scraped my arm, she signs as big fat tears fall down her cheeks.

Oh no , I tell her as Thatcher inspects her elbow. It’s okay, my love. We’ll get you all fixed up.

I don’t miss the look of pure heat in Thatcher’s eyes as he agrees, “Yes, we will.”

Damn word.

“I got Band-Aids! And pain juice!” Vivian wails as she comes toward us with peroxide and, go figure, Paw Patrol Band-Aids. She hands them to me and tells me, “She was running so fast, and I think she didn’t see the steps. I tried to catch her. I’m so very sorry.”

I bend down so that I’m at eye level with Vivian as my darling girl wails in my arms. “You’re too sweet. Accidents happen, and it’s not your fault,” I tell her, and Thatcher rubs Arwen’s back.

She beams up at him as he says, “Thank you for keeping an eye out for her.”

“She’s my best friend,” Vivian says, so sure of herself, it brings tears to my eyes. “Mommy says you always love your best friend forever and forever. My mommy’s best friend is Auntie Jaylin, and they love each other very much.”

Her words hit me square in the chest, and like a magnet, my eyes snap to Thatcher’s. He’s watching me, still rubbing Arwen’s back, and his voice is rough as he says, “Yeah, your mommy is a smart woman and very right. The love for a best friend is one of the greatest loves on this earth, especially when it can grow into something more.”

I’m speechless, but Vivian isn’t. “Something more?”

His eyes don’t leave mine as he says, “Yeah, you’ll know what I mean when you’re older.”

I’ve never seen such truth in a person’s eyes—until my best friend of a lifetime looks at me as more than just a friend, but as everything to him.

Crazy thing is, I really do enjoy the title more than that of baby mama…