by Toni Aleo
“When do I get the truck?”
“Tomorrow,” he said with a nod before reaching into the fridge.
“Cool!”
Looking over his shoulder, Lucas watched as Aiden went around the bar, wrapping his arms around Fallon, kissing her head. “You’re the best, Mom.”
Fallon’s eyes drifted shut as she leaned into their son before patting his arm. “Eh, I’m okay.”
He laughed. “The best. You both are. Thanks.”
When Aiden rounded the corner and disappeared from view, Lucas leaned into the fridge, meeting Fallon’s tearful gaze. “You gonna make it?”
She shook her head curtly. “Nope.”
His lips curved. “Need a hug?”
She nodded as she got up and came to him, melting into his arms as he held her tight, his body shaking with her sobs. “I don’t want him to leave us.”
“Baby, it’s forty minutes down the interstate.”
“But he won’t be here.”
“I know, but he needs this. He’s going to do big things.”
“Without me.”
“I mean, I don’t know of many boys who take their moms to school with them, but Aiden might be the exception.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I know.”
“They’re all gonna leave us.”
“Yup.”
“What will we do?”
“Have sex everywhere,” he decided with a grin. “Hell, we might make another.”
Her eyes widened as she glared at him. “Never.”
He chuckled. “I know.”
“What if he doesn’t ever come back?”
“Then we’ll find him and break his kneecaps.”
She sputtered with laughter as she squeezed her husband. She leaned her chin to his chest as he grinned down at her, moving her hair out of her face. She looked a mess, her hair everywhere, a ratty tee on, but he would never think anything but how gorgeous she was. His everything. “Will you still love me and find me exciting when they’re all gone?”
His grin grew. “Yes, of course.”
“Okay.”
“You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because there is no one else. I want to get old and boring with no one but you.”
Her lips curved as she puckered her lips for a kiss, which he obliged her with without hesitation. Pulling away, he kissed her wrist with its tattoo of “I love you” written in his handwriting as she whispered, “Totally devoted?”
His heart soared for the woman she was today and for the woman he had fallen for so many years ago as he nodded. She was his heart, his soul, his everything. The words were easy to say, especially to someone he knew he would love for the rest of his days. Holding her face in his hands, he kissed her nose then the side of her mouth as he whispered, “Totally devoted and then some.”
Her eyes glassed over as she nodded. “We’re going to be okay?”
“We’re gonna be great. Don’t you worry. I’ll always be here. Always love you.”
She smiled. “Right back atcha.”
“Good. I’m lonely without you, and I’m afraid the kids will eat me.”
She giggled. “I have the same fears.”
Holding her close, he lifted her off the ground, kissing her chin. “We did good, Fallon Ryane Brooks.”
She nodded. “We did, and we still have three more to get through. Our little circus of crazy monkeys.”
His head fell back. “Why’d you remind me?”
She laughed. That was, until they heard Stella scream, “Mommy! Daddy! Emery cut my hair!”
When Fallon closed her eyes, Lucas looked over to see Stella holding a chunk of her hair while Emery shrugged her shoulders. “She needed a trim.”
But his sweet girl’s version of a trim was almost balding her older sister. Fallon was going to lose her shit. Looking back to his wife, he saw her eyes were still squeezed tight. “Is it bad?” she asked tentatively.
“No, not at all.” He grimaced, and when she opened her eyes and looked past him, she cried out.
“She basically scalped her!”
“Eh, might want to call and make an appointment to fix it before her party.”
Fallon groaned loudly as she wiggled out of his arms. “Emery Elaine!”
Leaning into the fridge, Lucas shook his head as Fallon went back to her role of ringleader, along with that of being the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
His heart.
3
Stella Ann
“Happy birthday, dear Stella, happy birthday to you!”
To say that God and everyone was in the Brookses’ backyard would be an understatement.
All of Lucas and Fallon’s friends were there with their abundance of kids. Stella stood on a chair, her little face full of excitement as the big 8 on the top of her cake burned brightly before she blew with all her might. Looking past her sweet daughter to her husband, Fallon swore she fell in love with Lucas Brooks all over again. His face was full of glee, and nothing could ever touch how much he loved his babies.
Gathering Stella in his arms, he kissed her hard on the cheek before Fallon did the same, the applause and Stella’s laughter rattling Fallon’s soul. Her little girl was getting so big, and as Fallon looked out, seeing Asher and Aiden, with Emery on his shoulders, her heart ached. All her babies were getting bigger. Older. Soon they’d be gone. Hell, Aiden had one foot out the damn door. But she’d always have Lucas.
Always.
“Cake for everyone!” Stella declared, but then she glared at her sister. “Except you.”
“Stella,” Fallon warned through a grin, and the birthday girl started to pout, but only for a moment before Lucas picked her up, kissing her cheeks to distract her. Thankfully.
“Need some help?”
Fallon looked up to see her close friend Elli Adler holding out plates. “Please let me help. My kids are crazy.”
Fallon laughed as she looked out to where the Adler boys were jumping all over the younger Assassins players. “Yes, please.”
“That was a mighty big bow on Stella’s head.”
They shared a knowing look, both holding in their laughter. “Had to cover the bald spot on the side of her head. I swear, Emery is out to kill me.”
Laughing, Elli asked, “Why in the world…?”
“She said she didn’t like Stella’s hair, and she needed good hair for today.”
“That girl…”
“…is going to kill me!”
Laughing, they cut up the cake, leaving the plates on the table for everyone to come and get when they wanted. The backyard was so packed and full, Fallon wasn’t even sure who was there and if this party was really for Stella or just a kegger for the guys to celebrate winning round one. Hockey talk was the main focus. But with most of the team there, what did she expect?
“Aiden’s getting looked at by Bellevue,” Fallon said, handing a plate to Elli.
She nodded. “I know.”
Fallon’s brows drew in. “How do you know?”
“Shea called the coach over there and talked to him.”
Fallon grinned. “He did?”
“Yeah, Aiden had said something about it a couple months back, and Shea said he owed him for all the babysitting through the years.”
“Wow, thanks.”
“Hopefully it works out.”
“Yeah,” Fallon agreed, though secretly, she held out a selfish hope he would just stay home and never leave.
“You don’t want him to leave? Hey, look at it this way. At least he’s only a few minutes away, instead of states over.”
Fallon nodded. “This is very true.”
“Yup, could be like my child who wants to move to New York the moment she turns eighteen to follow her dreams of singing,” Elli said, rolling her eyes. “We live in Nashville, Tennessee. She can’t follow her dreams here?”
Fallon laughed. “Hey, big dreams for a ten-year-old.”
>
“She’s gonna give me a damn ulcer.”
As they laughed together, someone tugged on Fallon’s shirt. Turning and expecting one of her minions, she found herself looking down into the face of the very child they were just speaking of. “Hey, Shelli.”
“Mrs. Fallon, can I go inside and practice my guitar?”
Fallon glanced back at Elli, who set her daughter with a stern look. “Shel, we’re at a party. You don’t want to hang with the kids?”
“No, ma’am. I want to get this song right before Mrs. Avery calls tonight.”
Rolling her eyes, Elli shrugged. “It’s up to Mrs. Fallon.”
Shelli looked up to Fallon, hopeful, and she nodded. “Of course. You can go into my room if you need quiet, or just stay on the couch.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said as Shelli headed off, skipping toward the house. “Is the party boring?” Fallon found herself asking, but even she knew the answer was no. She had hired Grace to throw the biggest and most obnoxious Ariel party ever. There were decorations to look like the ocean, a bounce house, and games galore. The party was banging for most of the kids. How could Shelli want to go inside?
“Where is Aiden?” Elli asked.
Fallon’s brow quirked. “I think he’s hiding inside. He’s mad I made him dress up.”
Elli snorted. “But he’s so cute.”
“I thought so.”
“I think that’s why she went inside.”
“Why?”
“Oh, she’s in love with Aiden.”
“What? No!” Fallon laughed, and Elli nodded, a grin pulling at her lips.
“Yes, I found her little journal. And it says all over it ‘Shelli and Aiden’ and ‘Shelli Brooks.’”
Fallon laughed harder. “Oh my goodness!”
“Right? It’s cute, I guess. But I had to hide the damn thing before Shea saw it.”
“Oh, I’m sure. God help y’all when that girl starts to date.”
“Exactly. Please start praying for us now.”
“Why are we praying?”
Glancing over, they saw Vaughn Johansson standing with the team’s reporter, and his new fiancée, Brie Soledad. Elli beamed. “For the day Shelli starts dating.”
Vaughn widened his eyes. “God help the dude. She’ll have a whole team coming for him.”
“See? She’s screwed,” Elli said, and they all laughed.
“How you feeling, Brie?” Fallon asked, and Brie beamed, her hands coming to her stomach.
“Good. I’m not sick at all.”
“It’s a boy,” Fallon said definitively.
Vaughn beamed at her, but then Elli shook her head. “No, I was god-awful sick with all five of mine. That doesn’t mean anything.”
Brie grinned. “I just want a healthy baby.”
“Yup, and he’ll be a legend.”
When Brie rolled her eyes, Fallon snorted. “Or she will.”
“He’s convinced it’s a boy,” Brie said, shaking her head. “But I wanted to stop over and thank you for letting us bring Rodney.”
Fallon waved Brie off, holding her wrist. “Of course! I love his sweet face! I hope he’s had fun.”
“Oh, he did. I had to holler at him for getting in the bounce house, but then Vaughn got in there with him. But now he’s tired, so we’re gonna head out. Can you thank Aiden for us? He was so kind and sweet.”
“I will, thank you. I’m glad y’all could come.”
“Thanks for having us. And the cake was wonderful! Vaughn grabbed me a piece right away since he knows how much I love it.”
Vaughn smiled indulgently at his fiancée. “Next time, we’ll have a baby to join the fun.”
“I can’t wait. Y’all have a good night.”
They kissed Fallon good-bye and then Elli before heading out the back. “They’re sweet.”
Elli nodded. “They are. I love them together. And I’m excited for the new baby.”
“Yeah, everyone is busting them out, it seems.”
“We usually have spurts of kids at once.”
“True,” Fallon agreed, laying the cake knife down. “Heard you were crying the other night. You aren’t pregnant, are you?”
“Don’t you dare put that kind of hell on me, Fallon Brooks,” Elli gasped, her eyes going wide. “No, I’m not, nor will I be!”
Fallon snorted with laughter as her gaze fell on Tate, who was sitting by himself with Philippe playing next to him. “Ugh, I hate seeing him like that.”
Elli glanced to where Fallon was looking and groaned loudly. “I don’t know what will happen.”
“That’s what Audrey said.”
“I’m so worried. So many things are going to change.”
Fallon glanced back to her. “They are?”
Elli looked sad. “Yeah, excuse me.”
She walked away, heading straight for Tate and picking up Philippe before sitting down and dropping him in his father’s lap. Fallon watched as Elli reached out, taking Tate’s hand in hers. But she couldn’t shake her friend’s words.
What was changing?
And why did she have a feeling in her gut that Lucas might be part of that change?
Standing with his best friends, Lucas laughed as Shea shook his head. “You guys better fucking win, for Elli’s sake. Please. She’s going to kill me with this series.”
“Yes, Cap,” Lucas said as Erik and Phillip agreed.
“I find it funny they still call you Cap,” Jayden Sinclair said, and they all smiled.
“He’ll always be the Cap,” Erik said, slapping Jayden’s back. “But you’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks,” Jayden laughed, and they all tapped their drinks to each other’s. “I feel good, though. Real good.”
“I do too,” Erik agreed, sucking in a deep breath. “It feels right.”
“It does. But, man, Chicago is going to suck.”
Lucas nodded, already feeling his body wanting to cry. “Yeah, it’s going to be a tough series.”
“You guys got this,” Shea said confidently. “Just listen to Coach.”
They all nodded in agreement as the party went on around them. Lucas decided it looked like Disney had crapped Ariel all over his backyard, but Stella was pleased as punch. And after getting her hair chopped off, he was glad. Poor girl.
“Daddy!” They all looked to find it was his scissor-happy daughter running toward them. “Daddy!”
Picking her up in a swoop, he kissed her cheek. “Yes, scalper?”
Everyone chuckled while she glared. “I’m a hairdresser.”
“Oh, of course, but don’t you cut your sister’s hair again.”
She tapped her finger to his chin. “What about Asher’s?”
“Not Asher either.”
“Aiden?”
He almost said yes. “No, ma’am.”
She scrunched up her face. “Fine. Can I have cake if I don’t cut anyone’s hair?”
“What did Momma say?”
Her little lips poked out. “She said no.”
“Then, no.”
“But you’re my favorite.”
Shea nodded. “That’s how Posey gets me.”
“Katarina does the same thing,” Erik added.
“My boys just throw crap at me,” Phillip announced, and they all chuckled at that.
“Dawson is just now crawling, but he’s got an evil scream.”
“You haven’t met evil,” Lucas said before looking back at Emery. “Baby, go play.”
“But, Daddy, I want cake.”
“Momma said no.”
“She doesn’t have to know.”
Stunned, he looked back at his boys as they all laughed. “Go on now. Go play. I see you by that cake, your butt is mine.”
After he set her on her feet, she ran off, pouting as Lucas looked back to the guys. “I’m fucked.”
“Completely,” Shea agreed. “But, hey, three out of four is good odds.”
�
�Yeah, and Aiden is amazing,” Erik added.
“Except the hair,” Phillip added, and Lucas agreed.
“I almost said yes to her cutting his hair.” They all laughed. “Speaking of Aiden, he’s getting looked at by Bellevue.”
Everyone lit up. “No shit? That’s awesome!” Erik said, tapping Lucas’s arm. “Following in his daddy’s footsteps.”
“A father’s dream,” Phillip said, and Jayden beamed.
“You know my father-in-law slash stepdad is the coach over there.”
Lucas nodded. “I did know that. I guess he’s coming in to talk to Aiden.”
“That’s awesome. I’ll put a good word in. Aiden’s a great kid. Smart, great head on his shoulders.”
“Is he old enough?” Shea asked. “I mean, I called River, told him to keep an eye out, but I thought it wouldn’t be for another year.”
Lucas’s eyebrows shot up. “Did ya?”
“I did. I believe in the kid.”
Reaching out, Lucas shook hands with his old captain. “Thanks, man.”
“Of course.”
“Apparently, he might be able to graduate at the end of the summer.”
“Holy shit.”
“Right?”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I’ll for sure call River. They’re looking for an assistant coach right now. Baylor considered it, but they won’t let her bring Dawson to practice,” Jayden laughed, and they all joined in as Lucas’s heart ached a bit in his chest. He hadn’t expected his captain to make a call, or for his new captain to put in a word for his kid. It meant a lot, but it also meant that this was really happening. Aiden was going places.
Wow.
“Hey, boys.”
Turning, Lucas found his boss standing beside him, a grin on her face as she placed her hand on the back of his bicep. “Great party.”
“Expensive.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure. Don’t forget we have a meeting coming up.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there.”
“Good,” she said, rubbing his bicep before walking away.
“You in trouble?” Phillip teased, and Lucas laughed.
“No, my contract is up. Time to re-sign.”
“Cool,” he said, but Lucas didn’t miss the way Shea looked away, chewing on his lip. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but before he could ask, Stella was pulling on him to come open presents.