“Yes, ma’am,” they all called before crawling off him. That’s when Quinn came over and kicked him in the good knee. But still, Jordie fell off the couch very dramatically, acting as if he was dead.
“Don’t mess with us Adlers!” Quinn called then in his sweet little voice, and Jordie had to hold in his laughter as he hung his tongue out of his mouth.
“We won!” Shelli exclaimed and they all cheered.
But then he jumped up, taking all five of them in his arms and lifting them into the air over the couch in case one fell out. “You can’t kill me! I’m a zombie!”
Their screams were delightful as they squirmed against him, each of them falling out of his arms and hitting the couch with a thud. He went to jump on them when Elli stopped him.
“Please don’t kill my children, I need someone to care for me when I’m older,” Elli said and he nodded.
“You five are lucky,” he said and they all grinned up at him, giggling.
“Lunch is ready,” she said and Jordie shrugged.
“This giant is hungry,” he said, but he didn’t get far before all of them were wrapped around his legs and his middle. As he dragged five little Adlers to the kitchen, he couldn’t help but think of Kacey.
And the baby she lost.
They lost.
And how he really wanted another chance to not only have her as his, but to make another baby.
It was a dream that he felt in his soul. One he had to make a reality.
After lunch, they all gathered in the living room, the boys playing while the girls started on the hair on his head.
“You’re gonna wear it all day, right, Uncle Jordie?” Shelli asked.
“Promise.”
“Pinkie, I do?” she asked, holding out her hand, and he took it, cupping it before she took his pinkie and wrapped it around hers.
“Pinkie, I do,” he said, and she grinned before going back to work.
“You don’t have to,” Elli called from where she was cuddled against Shea, looking blissfully happy. Shea looked like a man who had hit the lottery over and over again, and Jordie couldn’t wait to feel that kind of bliss. To have his wife in the crook of his arm, their kids on the floor, and maybe a dog chasing his tail.
A life worth living for.
To stay sober for.
“I don’t mind,” he waved her off as he cringed from where one of the girls pulled his hair too hard.
“Better you than me,” Shea commented and Jordie grinned. “I want to cry every time they get ahold of me.”
“Daddy is tenderheaded,” Posey informed him.
“But Momma calls him bullheaded,” Shelli added. “And a crybaby.”
Elli grinned as Shea kissed her temple. They had their problems, but no matter what, they had each other. Jordie was green with envy at that moment, but it was all his fault. He could have had all this, but he wouldn’t take ahold of it when it was offered.
“Did you enjoy church, Jordie?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I think I’ll keep going if you guys don’t mind.”
“Of course not, we’d love to have you.” Elli beamed.
“Well, that is, unless you trade me,” he added with a grin and she smiled.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” she said as a promise. But it was a business, so he didn’t put too much stock in her words. “I’m actually in talks with your agent right now. I’m sending over my offer sheet Wednesday.”
“Really?” he asked, his heart hammering against his ribs. He hadn’t expected that, or asked for it. His contract wasn’t up until October, but he was more than ready to sign on again with the Assassins. He didn’t want to go anywhere else.
“I believe in you,” she said softly, and then her eyes started to tear up. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
“All of us are, keep it up. A year will be here before you know it,” Shea added and Jordie smiled.
“Thanks, guys. And yeah, I’m excited to hit that. In the group—ow! Shelli, honey, that hurt,” he said and Shelli dropped her head down.
“Sorry.”
He chuckled as she went back to work and he continued, “In the group I’m in, I’m the only one not at a year.”