Page 30

November

“ A re you sure about this? You don’t have to watch them, I can tell the girls I can’t come,” I tell Bennett over my shoulder as he helps me into my jacket.

“Of course I’m sure. I’ve got this.” He swats my butt and I turn to wrap my arms around his neck.

I stare up at him to see if he’s placating me but am met with nothing but sincerity.

Outside of my grandparents, I’ve had a hard time trusting anyone to watch Gunner and Gemma.

Which is my own thing I’ve had to work through in therapy and probably why I’ve greatly lacked in a personal life.

For the past five years I’ve been Scarlett Carlisle, guardian to my two younger siblings.

It became my entire identity. These past couple of months with Bennett have quickly shown me I’m able to be so much more than that.

Taking this leap of trust with him is another step in rediscovering myself.

Placing a kiss on my forehead, he reassures me. “ I’ve got this . Where are you ladies going again?”

“We’re just getting facials and then maybe pedicures if the kids are doing okay while we vote on what our first book will be.”

“You know, Little Red, you don’t have to leave the house to get a facial,” he says with a lopsided smirk.

“Oh my god, stop!” I squeal before covering his mouth.

“What? The kids didn’t hear me. They’re upstairs—Gemma is in her room and Gunner is in the craft room.” He brings me in for a kiss and I turn to give him my cheek.

“Did you just cheek me?” he asks as he begins tickling my sides.

“Mercy!” I gasp out. “Please! Mercy!”

Bennett stops his tickling but leaves his arms wrapped snugly around my waist as he leans down to whisper, “You know how much I love hearing you beg, Scar. If you keep that up, you’re never going to be able to leave our house.”

Our house.

He grasps my chin and brings his lips to mine.

God this feels so real—so effortless. The past few weeks together have left me so confused on where we currently stand. Some of the things he says, some of the things we do, don’t feel like this is simply for convenience’s sake anymore. Having him officially moved in has shifted things between us.

I don’t travel with the team for every away trip, thankfully, so I’ve been able to keep the kids’ routines steady, while also giving Bennett the space he swears he doesn’t need.

And the time spent away from each other isn’t anything I’ll complain about. He’s done a great job of making sure my needs are met even when he’s not here, in multiple ways. He’s ordered meals, arranged for groceries to be delivered, and given me more FaceTime orgasms than I can count.

The only bad part about his travel schedule is that it’s made me realize how much I miss him. What’s the saying? Distance makes the heart grow fonder? Well, I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing yet if that’s true.

I can’t help but notice how things are straying away from just remaining physical with us. Bennett’s caring and protective nature that he seems to reserve for only those closest to him has now included me and my siblings, and that feels somewhat unsettling yet all too right at the same time.

“Alright, you better get going. We’ll see you later.

” Bennett peppers kisses along my cheeks and over the bridge of my nose, and I’m overcome with overwhelming gratitude for this man.

He’s taken my grandfather’s advice and made our friendship a priority over the past two months.

Not only that, but he’s been so patient and great with Gemma and Gunner, and such a great partner to me, that I’m not sure how I’ll ever be able to tell him how appreciative I am of him.

An hour and a glowing facial later, Kenna, Dakota, Alexa, and I are lined up with our feet soaking and massage chairs kneading away.

We’ve decided the first book club read will be the sequel to a novel that apparently each of us have already devoured: a friends-to-lovers romance called Meet Me in the Valley .

I’ve been dying to read it. The coolest part is that Dakota has become close friends with the author, and she’s going to see if she would join us virtually for our book club meeting.

“Have y’all decided what you’re doing for Thanksgiving yet?” Dakota asks the group as she mindlessly rubs her growing bump. I’ve decided she’s the cutest pregnant person ever.

“Well you and I are obviously spending the holiday together, and I’m so excited that you’re hosting this year.

Rowen is in the thick of a sleep regression, so I’d probably burn the turkey and put marshmallows in the corn instead of the sweet potatoes,” Kenna quips with her eyes closed and her head thrown back into the massage chair as her feet soak in the pedicure tub.

Dakota reaches out and gives Kenna’s hand a squeeze. “I figured we’d get the hosting out of the way this year so you can take on next year when we’re in the thick of the newborn phase. ”

Kenna opens her eyes and they have a sheen to them. “I’m so thankful to have you as my sister,” she tells Dakota before turning her head to me and Alexa. “So, what are you two doing for Thanksgiving?”

Alexa beams and does a little shoulder shimmy. “I’ll be on the sidelines reporting for one of my favorite games of the year—the NFL Thanksgiving matchup.”

That makes Dakota squeal and clap excitedly. “My brother is playing that game. I still can’t believe that after spending nearly his entire career in Denver, he decided to sign a two-year contract with Minnesota.”

“Tell me about it. It sent shockwaves throughout the league. But, off the record, of course, aren’t you excited to have him so close?” Alexa leans forward and asks her.

“Of course, but I think with how close he is to retirement, it was shocking that he decided to make the deal he did in order to be closer to his niece and nephew,” Dakota admits.

“Aw, that’s sweet. Wait, who is your brother?” I ask, unaware as to who they’re talking about.

Alexa turns in her oversized massage chair to face me with wide eyes. “You didn’t know that the famous author has a famous future hall-of-fame quarterback brother?”

When I shake my head, Alexa says, “Brody Meyer.”

It’s my turn to stare wide-eyed at Dakota. “I know nearly nothing about football, and even I know who Brody Meyer is. Holy shit!”

“Alexa, oh my gosh, do you think you’ll get to interview him?” Kenna asks her.

Dakota and Alexa both shake their heads in unison and now I’m confused.

“No, my brother, unfortunately, doesn’t do interviews during games. He’s even added it to this contract that he can’t be penalized for refusing an interview before or during games,” Dakota explains. “He’s weird about that after an interview gone wrong earlier in his career.”

“Yeah, and I’m typically in charge of interviewing the visiting players post-game anyways,” Alexa adds.

“Ah, bummer! Well, we’ll be watching and wishing you luck,” Kenna tells her.

“Do you go to a lot of your brother’s home games?” I ask Dakota, biting back a moan that wants to slip free when the nail tech begins massaging my feet.

“As many as I’m able to, though I haven’t been to any of his holiday games since the twins were born. They love going with us to watch uncle Brody whenever they can. What are y’all doing, Scar?”

I let a half-contented and half-frustrated sigh slip free.

“Well, this has been a point of contention because Bennett’s father refuses to celebrate the holiday on any day other than Thanksgiving.

So we’ll be spending the early afternoon with his family, and having a late dinner with my grandparents.

Honestly, it’s my first time bringing a significant other to a holiday, so juggling between families is new for me. ”

“For Bennett too, I’m sure. I don’t think in all the years I’ve known him that he’s had a serious relationship,” Kenna tells me.

“What are y’all doing with your free Saturday next weekend?” Dakota asks. “The guys don’t have a game, they won’t be on the road, and they have a late home game Sunday so Coach said they could have the day off.”

“Really? I guess I hadn’t noticed. Some days I can barely remember what day of the week it is lately,” Kenna admits, covering her mouth as she yawns.

“Well if you’re all free, maybe we could do a Friendsgiving at our place,” I suggest before I can think better of it .

“Wait, that would be amazing! We’ve never done that before. We could do a combination Friendsgiving slash engagement party slash housewarming party for you and Bennett!” Kenna sounds far too excited for someone who was just yawning, and now I’m immediately overwhelmed.

I’m also second-guessing if Bennett will think I’ve overstepped by inserting myself into his friend group. Becoming friends with the ladies is one thing, intruding on his friendships with his teammates is another.

Before I can think of a way out of it, Kenna’s phone rings and Griff is on speaker telling her he hopes she’s having fun and to take her time, but asks if she wants him to thaw milk for a bottle or if she’d prefer to nurse Rowen.

“I’ll be home in probably fifteen minutes, we’re just finishing up. If you can hold off the hangry little guy, I’d prefer to nurse him, but I get it if he’s being a gremlin,” Kenna says into the phone.

“My little man? He’s never a gremlin,” Griff says with a chuckle. “Oh, the guys are also over with the kids, and we just ordered food so tell the girls if they want to join us for lunch, they’re more than welcome.”

“Which guys are there?” she asks him.

“Carse, Jax, and Benny,” he says simply.

His answer sends alarm bells ringing through my ears. Shit, I typically don’t leave Gunner with Gemma alone for very long just because I worry she’ll have sugar issues and Gunner is too little to know what to do.

I pull up my text thread with Gemma and send her a quick message.

Me:

Hey, how’s everything going?

Gemma:

Great . . . just like the three other times you’ve asked.

Me :

That’s good! Doing anything fun?

Gemma: