“Hey, honey.” She waves over to me, jogging toward the truck.
“Hey, pip. How're today's sessions?” I ask, pushing open the door and stepping from the truck. I take her in my arms and lift her from the floor. She wraps her legs around me, and I reach down, kissing her lightly on those plush fucking lips of hers. “You know, I’m starting to think you having your hands all over these other guys might not be such a good idea, after all.” I pull back, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips, despite trying to fight it back.
“Well, you know, it’s a temptation,” she says with a flimsy lift of her shoulders.
“All right, that’s it,” I say, setting her down on the ground. “You’re fired. I’m going to find a new physio,” I say, stomping toward the entrance to the gym.
“Fine,” she shouts, “but I’m taking all my clients with me.”
I spin on the spot and turn to see her with her arms crossed firmly over her chest. Fuck, I think she’s pushing them up on purpose.
I shake my head laughing, and she softens her stance, laughing too. Walking over and shimmying her hips as she does, she stops just in front of me. “I love your jealousy, Ryder. But you have nothing to fear. I’m a one-man girl, and my heart belongs to you.”
“Glad to hear it,” I say, swiftly slapping her on the ass. Even after all these years, she still drives me wild.
I turn and make my way inside; the thud and sound of voices will never get old.
“I’m going to get my purse from the office; the boys will be here soon.”
I nod, making my way over to the ring. Resting on the side, I watch the two go at it in the ring.
“Daddy.” The sound of the most angelic voices I’ve ever heard catches my attention.
“Hey…” I say, turning to see the pair running toward me. I kneel, opening my arms to them. “Have you boys been good for Auntie Layla?”
“Uh-huh,” they both say, nodding their heads in unison.
Layla works at the nursery the boys attend during the week, and they have really taken to her. She also helps us with the boys on the weekends so Kailee can do a few appointments at the gym.
“When can I boxing, Daddy?” Carlton asks, his words jumbled as he holds his fists in front of his face.
“When you’re older, Cal,” I say, rubbing the top of his head as I let out a small laugh.
“Carter, wook at me,” Carlton says, pushing his fists out as he mocks the guys in the ring.
“Noooo… stop it,” Carter whines, wrapping his arms around my leg as far as they will stretch.
“Daddy, tell Carlton to stop.”
“Boys, come on.” Layla holds out a hand to each of them. “Let’s go find Mommy.”
The pair wave back at me as they walk in the direction of the office. As soon as they see Kailee, they run to her, and she picks them both up, resting one on each hip. The boys wrap their arms around her neck, kissing her cheeks repeatedly.
I stare at the three who belong to me, and my heart is as full as it’s ever been. I never expected to have this life, but fuck, it’s every bit the life I want, the life I never realized I wanted.
“I love you,” she mouths to me. I nod at her my smile wide and my heart full. She’s my best friend, the one who has never given up on me. The one who believed in me, even when there were plenty of reasons for her not to.
I’d risked everything for her, not knowing which path it would take me down, but I’m glad I did. Some days are still hard; the memories of what I’ve lost have faded but never completely disappear. But it was all part of the road I needed to take to get here.
To get to my own version of perfection.
The End
BROKEN GIRL SERIES:
BEAUTIFUL BROKEN GIRL
KEEPING HOPE
Standalone Romance
Burn With Me
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The edge of life: Official cover - coming soon Page 31