I gaze up at her, eyes watering, and then look to Chloe.
Chloe nods and then offers a kind smile. “Don’t hesitate any more than you already have, Stacy. Grab hold of the reins with both hands and hang on tight. You’ll be in for a wild, beautiful ride and you deserve it more than anyone I know.”
Chapter 19
Jake
The scent of sugar and vanilla is thick in the air as we step into the cute little bakery. The glowing Holly Cakes sign along with the intoxicating aroma drew us in on our walk home.
We ditched the limo after taking it to the charity event, choosing instead to stroll back on our own. The night is so beautiful and Stacy looks so cozy wrapped up in my coat. It was my idea to reward Ryan after his good behavior at the event with cupcakes and Stacy had eagerly agreed.
Now that we’re inside the bakery, my stomach rumbles with anticipation.
“Hi, guys! Don’t you look fancy!” says a red-haired woman from behind the counter.
Holly, her nametag reads. Her smile is as sugary as the sweets she bakes. She leans forward on her elbows as Ryan rushes up to her.
“We’re getting cupcakes!” he announces with a grin. “And a puppy too, in a while!”
“Well, then I have the perfect cupcakes for you,” the baker answers, swiping at her cheek and leaving a streak of pink icing behind as she shuffles a few small desserts into a box and then sets them on the counter for Ryan to see.
The little boy gasps in delight, turning toward us. “Look! They’re decorated like puppies!”
“Your son is adorable,” the baker says softly as Stacy and I approach the counter to pay. Stacy blushes and I chuckle.
“He’s not our son, he’s my nephew, but thanks.”
Holly turns as pink as the icing on her cheek. “Oh my! I'm so sorry. He just looks so much like you.” She pauses, as a wistful look takes over her face. “You two would make beautiful babies.”
“Babe,” calls a man behind the counter. “Leave the nice people alone with your baby talk.”
Holly’s whole face lights up when she grins at him. I know that look. It’s how I feel when I look at Stacy.
“Bash, but you know I can’t help myself,” Holly says with a laugh.
The man—Bash—comes up behind Holly and wraps his arms around her waist lovingly. “Just because you’ve got baby fever doesn’t mean the rest of the world does.”
“But they would have beautiful babies,” Holly insists.
“Eww,” Ryan cries. “Gross. We don’t want any babies. Just cupcakes.”
After I pay, we hurry from the bakery, laughter bubbling boisterously from me. It’s mostly due to Stacy’s incessant blushing. She looks like she wants to dissolve into the sidewalk.
“Stop,” she grumps.
“What? I think we’d make cute babies, too.”
Stacy’s face glows five shades brighter. Her mouth hangs open in shock but before she can say anything, Ryan is excitedly tugging on our arms.
“Do we have to wait until we get home to eat these?” he asks, his mouth watering at the sight of the treats.
“I don’t see why we can’t dig in here,” I answer with a grin, passing us each a cupcake after Ryan claims the white and dark chocolate spotted dalmatian one for himself.
And now I can’t wipe the smile off my face, because watching Stacy lick frosting off her fingers is possibly the most beautiful thing ever—besides our babies of course.
“What?” Stacy asks catching my grin.
“Nothing,” I say. But really . . . it’s everything.
By the time we get back to the penthouse suite, Ryan’s sugar high is a sugar crash. He was barely conscious while Stacy and I got him to brush his teeth and put on his PJs. We finally managed to get him into bed, but as Stacy started to the couch to wait for me to finish tucking Ryan in, he’d begged her to stay and read him a story with me.
Just before dozing off, Ryan had reached up, requesting one last hug from the two of us, and then we escaped out into the living room after closing his door.
Being with Stacy makes everything seem so clear. I never thought I’d want to settle down and have this domestic kind of life, but with her it all feels right. I can imagine rushing home to them after football. I can picture us all together every weekend playing board games in the living room or strolling through the park together. She makes my heart feel whole, patching up the wound left by my sister’s sudden death.
I can see that she helps Ryan as well.
Being with Stacy is like being a whole family again.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I ask as we ease onto the couch.
She curls up against me, one arm draped around my waist, her head on my shoulder. We’re facing Ryan’s room so we can see the door crack open if he needs us. His comfort is still my highest priority.
“Oh, Jake . . . I had the most amazing time.” Stacy sits up suddenly to look me in the eye. “I am so proud of you. I loved seeing you and Ryan together at the event and you handled yourself so well. I knew my friends would love you but you totally swept them off their feet. But most impressive was the way you handled Ryan. You’re like a pro parent!”
I laugh, basking in her praise. Approval means the most when it comes from her. “You mean the dog thing? I was worried I was handling that wrong by saying we could make it a future goal.”
She shakes her head with earnest. “No. That was perfect. I think you two would be great with a dog if you keep continuing as you have been lately.”
“I really thought for a minute I screwed up by promising him something like that. It just kind of spilled out of me. I mean, did you see those eyes of his? They lit up!”
She laughs and nods in agreement. “I definitely saw those eyes and you did great. When you made that decision, you were speaking from the heart. You can’t screw up if you're using that as your compass. It won’t lead you wrong. Not as a parent.”
I bite my lip, my heart suddenly thudding against my ribs. “I'm glad you feel that way, Stacy, because my heart has been guiding me in a certain direction for a while.”
“Oh?” she asks with a quizzical tilt of her head that makes her brown curls tumble over her shoulder.
I nod and brush a stray curl from her cheek. “Being near you just makes me feel so alive. I feel like I can be my best self when you’re close to me. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. Always. Will you stay the night with me, Stacy?”
She sucks in a quiet breath, her eyes rounding.
“Jake . . .” she pauses, averting her eyes, and then shyly looking back at me. “I want that. I really do. But things are going so well between us and with Ryan. I don’t want to mess that up. If I'm here one morning and not the next, Ryan may get confused. How would we explain that to him?”
I edge closer, cupping her chin. “Then be here every morning, Stacy.” I let the words hang between us, desperate for them to sink in. “You don’t ever have to leave. I want this to be your home as much as it’s mine and Ryan’s . . . if that’s what you want, too.”
She gazes at me, then slides her arms around my neck and closes the distance between us. Our lips crash together, gentle at first and then growing in intensity. I feel the same yearning for me that I have for her in the way she kisses me now.
We part only to come up for air. Stacy breathlessly smiles at me before pressing her forehead to mine. We hold one another, memorizing the wonderful feeling of being in each other’s arms.
“Not yet,” she finally says, pressing a kiss against my forehead. “But we can make that our future goal.”
I smirk as she uses my own words against me. I fall back against the couch with a groan, though not before stealing another tender kiss.
She can take as much time as she needs to be ready for our relationship, but I’ve suddenly begun to realize just how I can prove to Stacy that she’s the only girl in the world for me. All I need to do is pull the trigger and get this plan in motion.
Even
as I walk her to the door and give her one last kiss goodbye, my veins simmer with excitement. Watching her leave is difficult but hopefully I won’t have to do it for long.
I'm excited, not just at seeing her again, but for the future. I'm more excited than I’ve been in a long, long time.
Chapter 20
Stacy
Ryan’s hand is small but warm in mine as he pulls me in every other direction like an untrained puppy on a leash. I laugh, dragging him back to me so I can fix his Hartbreaker cap.
“He is so adorable, Stacy!” Morgan gushes as we wind our way through the crowd of football fans. She takes Ryan’s other hand and we swing the six-year-old between us until he’s laughing breathlessly.
After a few minutes she shoots a look toward Eric, a sly grin on her beautiful face. “When are we going to make one of these cuties?” she teases.
Eric smirks and grabs her, planting a deep kiss on her lips. “You just say the word, babe. Let’s both hope it gets your looks though.”
Morgan giggles in delight and playfully swats at him.
She and Eric walk on one side of Ryan and me, while Chloe and Donovan amble along nearby. The throngs of people waiting to get into the game are thick and impatient, but we’ve got special passes into the stadium so we’re in no hurry. We take our time inspecting the vendors and merchandise, though Jake has already purchased us all the fan gear we could ever need.
A few weeks have passed since the night of the charity event and things between Jake and me have been going great.
He’s gotten us special tickets for his home games, and though Eric’s band isn’t performing this time around, they’ve already set a date for that later on in the season. Eric is ecstatic! Even though he’s been on tours across the world, playing for his favorite home team is Eric’s dream come true.
I can relate . . . Jake Eckhart is pretty dreamy.
Though I’m still not spending the night at Jake’s place, I’m spending more and more time there.
Ryan, the smart little guy he is, didn't take long to figure out that there were sparks flying between me and his uncle. He eventually asked if we were dating, and Jake and I shared one of those sweet little glances I’d always envied before nodding simultaneously. Ryan had been thrilled. He’d thrown his arms around the both of us and held on tight, saying that he’d been wishing on every star in the night sky for me to join their family.
I bawled like a baby.
Ever since, we’d all been inseparable. I don’t know if it was fate or Ryan’s starlight wishes, but whatever brought us together had been nothing short of magic.
As if reading my mind, Ryan looks at me over his shoulder, his entire face beaming with joy. Though Jake had said Ryan didn't like football, after starting soccer the athletic boy seemed to have a newfound appreciation for the sport. Coming to Jake’s games are all he talks about.
“I can’t wait to see Jake play!” Ryan says excitedly as we’re escorted to our seats.
We’re so close to the field that I can smell earth upturned by cleats.
Jake, who’s warming up on the field, turns and greets us with a wave. We all wave back and even though Ryan’s seat is beside mine, he climbs up into my lap. I hug him against my chest, my heart so happy it could burst. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I never knew I could love a child this much so quickly.
As the players take their places on the field, we cheer and clap in time with the crowd.
The game is an amazing one, and Jake seems to fly across the field. He weaves between the opposing team, scrambling and jumping to catch the ball whenever he’s targeted by the quarterback. The entire team seems to be able to read one another’s minds. It’s an amazing sight to behold. I wish at that moment I’d gotten into football a little earlier. I’m still learning all the rules, but there’s no doubt that it’s both thrilling and entertaining. Though I’m not sure I like how my heart leaps into my throat every time someone tackles my man.
Ryan and I jump up and down every time Jake catches the ball, our voices almost gone by the time there’s only ten seconds left on the clock. The score is tied and you can hear a pin drop as everyone holds their breath for a final play.
At the last second possible, the quarterback rockets the ball in a desperate Hail Mary pass across the field. Out of nowhere, Jake seems to appear, outpacing the other players. He leaps what feels like an impossible distance into the air, hands closing around the ball as he falls into the end zone with ease. He leaps to his feet, holding the ball high above his head in celebration of the winning touchdown.
The crowd instantly goes crazy, chanting Jake’s name as the referees announce the play is good and Jake’s team wins the game.
We all cheer, thrilled at the dramatic ending of the game. I finally sink breathlessly into my seat, my voice hoarse from celebrating with my friends. Eric leans over to give me a high-five. Even Morgan, who hates sports, was on the edge of her seat the entire time.
“With three touchdowns and the most receiving yards, let’s give a big hand to this game’s MVP, Jacob Eckhart!” the announcer calls as he walks toward the center of the field.
Jake bounds over to accept his award and shake the man’s hand, waving again at the crowd as they chant ‘Hartbreak Kid’ over and over again.
“Want to say something, Jake?” the man offers, handing over the mic to my tight end.
Jake pants and takes a second to catch his breath, still winded from his hard-played game. I can see his shoulders rising and falling from here, delight sparkling in his eyes. Ryan again climbs into my lap, hugging me.
“When I'm a soccer star like Jake will you guys watch me play?” the little boy asks eagerly.
“You bet we will!” answers Morgan, leaning over to pinch Ryan’s cheek.
“Thanks for coming out to see us, everyone,” Jake says into the mic. “We always love the support of our fans. It makes the game worth playing and it keeps our spirits up.” He scans the crowd, finding us watching him; his grin widens. “But there are two people here tonight that make me want to play with all my heart, and that’s because the pair of them are my heart. Ryan, I love you, kiddo, and Stacy . . . I love you more than I can ever express. You both make me the best version of myself.”
I straighten in my chair, tears blossoming in my eyes. I swipe them away even as they streak down my cheeks. Hearing him say that makes my heart want to burst.
Jake walks over toward us while carrying the mic until he’s standing just beyond the railing of the field. I stand up, still holding Ryan, and we both stare down at Jake.
Jake beams from ear-to-ear, gazing right back at us. “Stacy, I want you to be a permanent fixture in my and Ryan’s lives. What I want . . .” he blows out an excited breath. “What I want is to marry you. It would make me the luckiest damn man in the entire world, to call you my own. I want to call you my wife. What do ya say?”
Again, the stands go wild. In the flurry of their excitement, I just stand there. I could pinch myself, I'm so sure that I'm dreaming.
The only thing that brings me back to reality is Ryan wriggling free of my hold and dropping to the ground. He pulls on my hand, his eyes huge and urgent. “Well, Stacy?” he cries. “Are you going to marry my uncle?”
“Yes!” I shriek, grabbing Ryan’s hand in mine and taking off down the short set of stairs to the field.
Ryan follows me, shrieking with joy the entire time, as the pair of us leap into Jake’s waiting arms. He crushes us against him and then pulls me against his chest so that he can kiss me deeply.
Everything else ceases to exist, fading away as I hold Ryan and Jake close to me and drink in Jake’s tender kiss.
“Well folks, there you have it,” the announcer says. “Hearts are breaking everywhere. The Hartbreak Kid is off the market!”
I cling to Jake’s strong body, and gaze into his eyes. “I love you, Jake Eckhart,” I whisper firmly, punctuating the claim with a kiss.
“And I love you, Stacy. F
orever and always.”
“And I love both of you!” Ryan squeals, diving between us so that he’s swallowed by both of our arms. Jake and I plant kisses on either one of the boy’s cheeks, grinning at each other the entire time.
I’d been longing for my own happily ever after for a long time, but it seems it found me just when I’d stopped looking.
Epilogue
Jake
I lean down, sweeping my hands over the tops of my cleats, then straighten back up to stretch my arms over my head. I press my fingers against my neck, checking my heart rate, and then start to jog in place.
From the warm up tunnel, I can hear the familiar thrum of guitars and drums beating in perfect time as Eric’s voice ripples across the field. He’s giving it his all and the crowd is totally loving it.
The booking agents at the stadium were thrilled to get in contact with Eric’s band and immediately booked them for the big playoff game.
It’s been a helluva good year, both in my life and in my career. We’ve played our hearts out this season and it’s almost a sure bet that my team is going to the Super Bowl again in a few weeks. I can’t wait to take Stacy, Ryan, and all our friends with me. With them cheering me on, I'm unbeatable. I’ve broken all kinds of records, not just my own personal bests, but also ones set by incredible athletes before me.
Even though last year was the worst of my entire life, this one has easily been the best. With Stacy at my side, I feel so alive and energized all the time.
When I think back to how broken Ryan and I were before Stacy came into our lives, it makes my heart ache. We were both so lost and adrift, unable to connect and unable to deal with our pain, but Stacy has taken both of our hands in her tender ones and guided us forward.
Jacob Page 11