“Good,” he said with a nod.
“You’ll be a great dad again one day, Benji. That’s for sure,” she said. She wasn’t sure why she’d said that. She just knew it, though. She prayed that one day was with her, but there was a chance it wouldn’t be. She hated that she still thought like that, but maybe she was just one fucked-up chick. Who knew? But, Benji, he grinned at the possibility.
“I hope so. Which, by the way, you’re down for more kids, right?”
She laughed, making a face. “Whoa, what?”
“Whoa, what, what? You’re the only one I’m making babies with.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?”
“You. How many?”
She giggled. “I don’t know, crazy!”
“Really?” he asked and she shook her head, her laughter subsiding. She had always thought she would have a big family like her mom did.
Swallowing hard but feeling completely silly, she said, “No, I do want more kids.”
“Like five more.”
“Jesus take the wheel. Benjamin, are you insane?”
That had him laughing from the gut. “Okay, four.”
“One more.”
“What? Two more,” he persisted and she laughed.
“How are we planning kids when, one, we aren’t married, two, we aren’t even living together, and three, we haven’t even proclaimed our love for each other,” she asked.
When he went to say something, she stopped him. “And if you are in love with me, do not—and I repeat, do not—do that over the phone.”
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
Fair enough?
She glared. “Great. Now I’m going to analyze that.”
He laughed. “As long as you’re smiling, you can analyze anything you want.”
Grinning ear to ear, she and her heart couldn’t handle it. This was too deep, too serious, and she just couldn’t right now. “Fine, lower that phone so I can analyze what’s in your pants.”
His cheeks reddened a bit. “Who’s the perv now? Pervie McPerv.”
Leaning on the pillows as she laughed, she knew she would never love anyone the way she loved Benjamin Paxton.
Now she just had to tell him that.
In person.
When Benji saw his house, he was nearly bouncing in his seat.
It had been thirteen long days without Lucy’s kisses and Angie’s hugs.
He was ready to be home.
To be with his girls.
The Assassins did great, winning seven of the nine games they played on the road. The defense was getting their shit together. The boys were finally playing as a team, and while he was proud of them, he just wanted to be home. He wanted to see Lucy; he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her he had loved her from the moment he saw her. He wanted her to know that he would stand beside her and support her through all the shit with Rick.
He wanted her to move in.
Marry him.
Have his babies.
Crazy, yes, as fuck, but he didn’t care. Lucy Sinclair was his soul mate.
The love of his life and nothing could ever change that.
Was there guilt? Yes, but he was going to have to deal with that because God gave him Lucy and Angie. Maybe as a reward for cleaning up and being a decent man. He wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t letting them go. He hoped, prayed that Ava and Leary were up in heaven, happy for him, and he hoped one day he would get to see them again and apologize for everything. But until then, he was going to live the greatest life he could with Lucy and Angie, honoring their memory in the process.
Pulling into the driveway, he could see the lights were on downstairs. He saw Lucy moving through the living room, and a grin pulled at his lips. She had said the design was done, and while he was excited to see it, his only concern was her. Getting out of the car, he left his bags and all but ran to the front door. Before he could open it, she did, her face so bright and happy, he couldn’t speak.
He reached for her, pulling her against him as his lips crashed into hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him hard, their hearts beating together as one. Nuzzling her nose in his neck, she whispered, “I needed this hug.”
“Me too, baby,” he said roughly against her shoulder. “So fucking bad.”
He squeezed her once more and she smiled against his neck as she hugged him back. He just felt right.
He was home.
Pulling away, she grinned up at him. “Now, before you take me up against whatever surface you can find, please let me show you this design. I’m so proud of it.”
He eyed her. “Will you be naked at the end?”
“No, but that’s because I need you to focus,” she added when he groaned.
“Can’t we bang for a couple hours and then come and look at the design? Thirteen days, Lucy. Thirteen.”
“Can we not talk about banging where the neighbors can hear you?”
“No,” he said bluntly and she laughed.
“Dork! I get it and I want you, but I really want you to see what I’ve done. Angie helped too.”