Page 54 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)
HADLEY
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
A soft rustle coming from the baby monitor draws my attention as I settle back onto the couch with my chocolate biscuits. I glance towards the screen and smile.
Franklin is curled up on his stomach, his arms tucked under his chest like always. He’s fast asleep, one foot twitching now and then. The white noise hums steadily in the background, and I let out a quiet breath of relief.
Hopefully, we’ll get a full night’s sleep.
I reach for the throw blanket, tucking it over my knees as I focus on the television, where ESPN’s post-game coverage is in full swing. My heart is full as I stare up at the man I love.
Sweaty and flushed from the game, he’s standing courtside in his Shamrocks warm-up jacket, smiling sheepishly as the reporter holds a mic out to him.
“Another stellar game from our Aussie import, Nash Stone, coming off last season’s Rookie of the Year honours and starting his second season even stronger. Nash, what’s been the key to keeping up the momentum?”
He runs a hand through his damp chestnut curls, the same ones his nephew has inherited, and grins. My heart melts. That crooked, boyish grin still floors me. Every. Single. Time.
“Honestly? It’s not only about basketball anymore,” he says, shrugging. “It’s Hadley and Franklin. They keep me grounded and remind me what I’m playing for. It’s easy to lose your head in this world, but they’re my anchor.”
My throat tightens.
I don’t think he knows how much those words mean. Not only because they’re sweet, but because they’re true. We’ve built something here, something real. Something that came out of ashes and chaos and pain, and still somehow bloomed.
The crowd behind him erupts into cheers as the reporter wraps up the interview, and Nash gives one last grin before jogging towards the locker room, his name and stats line glowing beneath him.
I’m so proud of him and everything he has achieved this past year.
It hasn’t been easy.
A month after we arrived in Boston, Gabriel called to let us know his parents had been arrested and charged with several offences, including obtaining financial advantage by deception, reckless endangerment of lives, involuntary manslaughter and criminal negligence, coercive control, and abuse.
Unfortunately, Aziah was charged with sexual abuse and coercive control due to the nature of his relationship with his Chosen, Trista, and he was also jailed. The Sunfire Circle was disbanded, and Gabriel and his two younger brothers are now living in Sydney.
Two months after that, Levi pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murders, meaning Nash didn’t have to return to Australia to testify.
Tanner Crawley recovered from his coma and was charged with four counts of murder.
Both are serving life imprisonment. Paige is still living with her father, and she and Sawyer are planning to visit for Thanksgiving this year.
The Shamrocks were incredibly supportive when we arrived in Boston with Franklin.
Nash’s agent helped us get settled into our new apartment, which is conveniently located a ten-minute walk from the Auerbach Centre, where Nash trains, and a fifteen-minute drive from the TD Centre, where his home games are played.
Clay’s wife, Quinley, was a godsend with Franklin.
As he got older and I gained a little more freedom, she helped me launch a soap-making business online. It’s really taken off the past three months, and I’m so proud of my little venture. At least one good thing came out of my time in the Sunfire Circle.
For the first time in my life, I’m truly happy and content.
Nash gave me a photo of Zara to add to the locket I still wear around my neck.
I think of her, Madeline, and Annie every day.
They’ll never be far from our minds and hearts.
We tell Franklin stories about his mum every night. We want him to know her.
Turning the television down low, I busy myself with tidying the apartment while I wait for Nash to return home.
He finds me in the kitchen making a cup of ginger tea. Wrapping his arms around my stomach from behind, I lean back into him with a smile.
“Good game tonight, MVP.”
Nash grins against my neck. “Thanks, little possum. How are my girls?”
Twisting in his arms, I slide my arms around his neck and press my lips to his. “We don’t know it’s a girl,” I chastise him .
He rests his forehead against mine, offering me his signature cheeky grin. “It’s a girl. Trust me.”
I roll my eyes, extracting myself from his embrace and picking up my cup of tea. “We’ll love him or her regardless.”
“Of course we will,” Nash agrees, his magical fingers easing the knots in my shoulders as he follows me into the living room.
“But I’m telling you now, it’s a girl. I feel it in my bones.
” He picks up the baby monitor from the couch and places it on the coffee table before sitting down and pulling me onto his lap. “How’s our little guy?”
“Busy,” I smile. “He wore himself out running circles around the couch.”
“That’s my boy.”
Settling into his body, he pulls the throw blanket over us as I take a sip of my tea. “We’ll be able to tell people after our scan next week,” I tell him, knowing how eager he is to announce to the world we’re expecting our first child together.
We never shied away from telling the truth about Franklin—that Nash and I are raising his sister’s son. Her memory will forever live on in the little boy.
Nash’s hand slips beneath the blanket, finding mine. His thumb traces gently over my fingers before stopping at the ring on my left hand. The one he gave me four months ago, three weeks before we found out we were expanding our family.
He twists the ring lightly, not taking his eyes off me. “You know, I still can’t believe you said yes,” he murmurs, nuzzling into my neck.
I smirk. “You didn’t give me much choice when you cried.”
“Did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
He laughs softly, then kisses the tip of my nose. “I’m glad you did, though. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me, Hadley. I couldn’t imagine my life without you. ”
“I wouldn’t want to do life with anyone but you,” I tell him honestly.
He pauses before his free hand comes up to cradle my cheek. “I love you.”
My throat tightens, and I whisper back, “Love you, too.”
“For real?”
I kiss his lips. “For real.”