Page 37 of Wake Me Up (New England Bay Sharks #5)

M y house is filled with laughter, and that somehow makes it seem more colorful in here. Even warmer, too, as the sound of an intense game of Go Fish goes on at my dining room table.

“No, I do not have a lobster,” Tripp says, peeking over his cards at Aviana. “Go fish, my friend.”

Aviana rolls her eyes at him, huffing out an exaggerated breath, but it’s obvious she’s having fun playing the Maine edition of Go Fish with Tripp and her brothers that he brought home to her today. The doctor said card games were allowed during recovery—just no screen time for now.

I watch them off and on from my kitchen as I put away the leftover spaghetti we had, which I hadn’t even had to make because Tripp did. Having him here seems to bring a great comfort to my entire house, and the boys laugh harder than I think I’ve heard them laugh in years.

Five years, to be exact.

We got home a week ago from the hospital, and my in-laws left town, but Tripp has been here whenever he hasn’t been at the arena.

Aside from at night, when he goes home. We’ve snuck a few kisses here and there when no one is around, but we’re only ever alone for a few minutes now and then.

But right now, seeing him with all three of my kids … it’s doing things to me.

Everything with the insurance so far seems to be moving along, but every time I walk to our mailbox, I’m terrified there will be a denial letter in there for me.

The first time I voiced this concern to Tripp, he told me not to worry about it because even if the insurance decides not to cover it after the fact, he’ll pay the bill.

I got a little pissed at him when he said that, so luckily, he hasn’t mentioned it since.

The last thing I want is for him to feel like I’m using him for his money.

When the kids begin to leave the table, Tripp walks toward me, and I bite down on my lip and blush. When he’s around, I don’t feel like the mom who always wears loose-fitting clothing and who barely has enough time to brush her hair. I feel … desired. And that’s just from one simple look.

“Avy won … again,” he drawls, clearly amused. “At first, I thought the boys were letting her win, but when they got pissy, I remembered … they hate to lose.”

“They sure do.” I look back at the dining room and around the area, noticing it seems to be just me and Tripp now downstairs. “I think she really liked that Maine edition of Go Fish. So, good choice!”

“She was getting a little tired, so Cane was going to make sure she got upstairs, and I told her I’d bring her a Popsicle in a few minutes,” he says stoically before walking behind me and wrapping his arms around my body.

I’m swooning inside that he’s so attentive with Aviana, but my brain gets filled with dirty thoughts when he drives his face into my neck before walking us into the food pantry.

He kisses my neck, making me giggle, but soon, heat pools between my legs.

One of his hand snakes down my body and between my thighs, making me have to swallow a moan.

“I want to fuck you so bad,” he growls into my ear before nibbling my lobe. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

Though a whimper escapes my lips and I can’t stop myself from pressing my ass into his hardening cock, I know I’m just pissing into the wind because we can’t fool around in a house I shared with my husband. Nor would I do it with my kids being just upstairs.

He cranes my neck with his hand so that our lips meet before giving me a long, deep kiss. “Guess I’d better go get Ave that Popsicle, huh?” He wiggles around behind me, grinding his hard length against my ass. “Fuck … I’m so hard right now.”

“I can feel it.” I giggle against his lips. “Soon, I’ll be able to help you out with that.” I press one last kiss to his lips before I spin around and pat his chest. “But not right now. Avy is waiting.”

Sitting on the edge of Aviana’s bed is a strange feeling because I feel like I’ve known this kid for her entire life. There’s a comfort between us—one that even I don’t understand because out of the three kids, I’ve spent the least amount of time with her.

I read a chapter of one of her favorite Junie B.

Jones books, trying not to let it show just how invested I am if this annoying girl gets in trouble or not.

Avy’s head is shaved in spots, but not so much that it can’t be hidden, and it’s so nice to see her smile like she means it again.

The surgery and recovery took a lot out of her, but the past few days, she seems to be feeling her best.

When I reach the end of the chapter and put the bookmark in, she relaxes her head back into her pillow. “Just a few more days, and I can watch TV again.”

My lip turns up. She’s basically had a countdown for when she can watch television again, but between all four of us, we’ve done what we can to keep her busy.

“Is it?” I tease her. “I thought it was another two weeks.”

“Not funny, Tripp.” She sighs, looking me over. “Can I ask you a question?”

I grow nervous. Because of the way her eyes are staring at me, I just know this isn’t going to be an easy question.

“Go ahead,” I utter. “Not sure if I’ll have an answer, but I’ll try my best.”

“Do you love my mom?” she blurts out, almost cringing after, but not doing anything to take back her question.

I guess I should have known this was coming. I mean, the way I’ve been acting, who wouldn’t pick up on what a goner I am for her mother?

Looking down for a second, I think about how the hell I’m going to say this. I don’t want to lie. Besides, what would even be the point in that? So, I decide to be as honest as I can while still being graceful .

“Yeah, Avy, I do.” The second the words leave my mouth, I’m afraid I should have talked to Freya first.

But what the hell was I supposed to do when the most adorable seven-year-old was looking at me with her surgery battle scars and big brown eyes like her mother’s, asking me something so big?

“Is that okay?” I ask her, praying she’ll say yes, but not even knowing what I’ll do if she says no.

Everything Freya does is for her kids, and while they’ve seemed okay with me being around, what if I’ve overstayed my welcome and they aren’t comfortable with it now?

“Yes,” she says, keeping her expression straight and making me edgy as hell. “I like having you around. So do Cash and Cane. I can tell.” She shrugs. “Besides, Mom loves you too.”

“You really think so?” I whisper, knowing this all moved much faster than Freya and I anticipated, I’m sure.

But since day one, since the first second my eyes landed on her … I felt something. It kept pulling at me, and the universe kept dropping her back in my path.

I’m not a man who believes in much, but she and I? We were written in the stars—I know it.

“I know so,” she says sweetly. “Good night, Tripp.”

I pat the side of her head that’s untouched and wink. “Night, Aves.”

Standing up, I walk out of her room, closing the door halfway—because that’s how she likes it. When I turn to go downstairs, Cash is standing in his doorway, looking at me.

“Did you mean that?” He watches me as I step toward him. “What you said about loving my mom? Did you mean that?”

His expression is somber, and dread fills my gut, as I’m afraid he’s disappointed.

“Yeah, bud. I … I did mean it.” I exhale shallowly. “But I hope you know me spending time with you wasn’t just about your mom. I genuinely believe in you, Cash. And I’ve loved getting to know you. I hope this doesn’t change that.”

“Are you going to get married?” The question shoots out of his mouth, putting ice in my veins.

In this moment, an image of her and me at city hall, getting married, flashes through my mind.

I hate that we’re keeping a secret from her kids.

We need to tell them; they deserve to know the truth.

I can’t tell Cash right now though. Freya and I need to do it together—if she wants to, that is.

These are her kids, ultimately making it her choice.

“Would you be okay with it if we did?” I say, avoiding the question. “If one day … it came to that?”

His stare sends me into a fucking panic that he’s going to say no. And the longer he’s silent, the more freaked out I am. But finally … he shrugs, a teensy smile tugging at his lips.

“Well … duh,” he utters, grinning. “But if you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”

Holding my hands up, I chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Moneybags.”

“Night, Tripp,” he says, walking forward and giving me a half hug.

“Night, bud,” I murmur before he turns and walks into his room.

It takes me a second to get out of my daze, but eventually, I rush downstairs, where I find Freya on the couch in the living room.

Plopping down beside her, I lean back and sigh. “Freya?”

“Yeah?”

“We need to tell the kids about the whole marriage thing,” I whisper gruffly. “I don’t want to start my relationship with them on a lie.”

“Oh …” she squeaks. “Okay.”

“Yeah,” I utter, swallowing. “Tomorrow?”

“You have a home game tomorrow,” she whispers, moving closer to me.

“I don’t want you to be distracted.” She pauses, staring at me, as if she’s deep in thought.

“We could tell them right now, you know. I’m sure all three are still awake.

” Her eyes look down. “To be honest, I’ve been afraid that it’ll somehow get leaked that we got married and they’ll find out from someone else anyway. ”

I sigh, putting my hand on her thigh. “Do you want me to go get them?”

“No time like the present, right?” She smiles through a shrug, but nerves vibrate through her body.

Pressing a kiss to her lips, I stand. I’m nervous as hell, but she’s right. At any moment, it could become public knowledge that we tied the knot. I’d rather be up front and honest with her kids—especially since I know they are all okay with us being together.

“So, you’re, like … husband and wife?” Cash whispers blankly, staring at us both.

“Like … married?” Cane adds in, swallowing.