Page 75 of Watch Me

Introductions were made, and Reagan and the girls were doing their thing while me, my dad, my brother, and Rhys watched one of the footballgames.

“So, Christmas,” I said during a commercial. The guys looked at me. “Given my time apart from my boys, I want to make this year a little special.”

“What are you thinking?” Rhysasked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Is Maddison going to be here for Christmas?” Dadasked.

I shook my head. “She’ll be in Colorado with her father for the actual holiday, but then she’ll stop here for a week before going back to school.”

“Where is she going to sleep?” Dad asked. “You’ll have the boys some of those nights, right?”

I shrugged. “The couch?”

“Or, maybe it’s time you find a new place?” Rhyssuggested.

“Trying to kick me out of your condo?” It was my sister’s, but since they were married, it was histoo.

He smiled. “Not at all, but your family is growing.”

My heart grew at those words. My familywasgrowing. “You’re right,” I replied. “Maybe at the start of the year we’ll look for our own place.” My gaze met my brother’s. He was grinning wide. “What?” Iquestioned.

He chuckled. “Remember when Jessica wanted to move in with you, and you did everything to prevent it at first?”

“Yeah,” I replied, remembering how I’d told her it was against my lease to have her move in when, in fact, she could have been added at any time. I even went so far as to tell her that she’d have to park her car two blocks away every night. I’d told her I needed time to make room for her clothes, which was true, and in the end, after a year of dating, we found a place together that was big enough for her stuff andmine.

“You’re barely back together with Reagan and yet you’re ready to make things permanent,” Carterstated.

“Do you know who you’re talking about?” Iasked.

“Reagan, of course.”

I leaned forward on the couch I was sitting on. “MyReagan.”

He grinned, and I knew he was fucking with me.

“So, you going to ask her to marry you? You are, aren’t you?” Rhysasked.

Smiling, I replied, “Yeah—yeah, I am.”

“Want me to set it up for you to do it during intermission at a Hawks game?” Rhys asked. That was how he’d proposed to my sister. And while that would be epic, I didn’t want to copy him. I needed my own way. I wanted it to be special—something that was only for Reagan andme.

“No, thanks.” I shrugged and leaned back again. “I’ll think of something.”

“Well, if you need my help, let me know,” Rhys said. “I’ve got ideas.”

I glanced at my dad, and he smiled. “It’s good to see you getting what makes you happy.”

I’d never admit it to anyone, but I had settled for Jessica. Sure, I loved her—especially since she was the mother of my boys—but I never loved her on the level that I lovedReagan.

“You have no idea,” I replied.

I stepped away from the table, an exciting game of Uno in full force, and pulled my ringing phone out of my pocket. “Valor.”

“We got another murder,” Shawnsaid.

“Same MO?”