Hold on to Hope

Being observed by Evan Bryant suddenly made you feel as if you had fifteen thousand senses. All of them firing at the exact same time, touching you everywhere, making you feel like you were the most important thing in the world.

That’s what I wanted Everett and me to be.

His world.

And I was gonna make both of them mine.

“Carly and Josiah just got here,” I explained, sitting up and taking the sheet with me.

He sat up, too, roughed a hand through his hair, something cocky riding through his demeanor. “Should we be concerned?” He said with no concern at all.

Hell, I was pretty sure those words were packed with nothin’ but pride.

“Oh, we should definitely be concerned. Carly is gonna want to throw a party.”

Evan touched my chin with his knuckle. “Sounds like a good plan. I think we have plenty of reason to celebrate.”

Twenty-Four

Evan

Frankie: Here.

Couldn’t stop the big-assed grin that pulled to my mouth when my phone buzzed in my hand.

I headed for the door.

So yeah, I wanted to throw a goddamn party.

The biggest one ever.

I’d gotten word yesterday that my paternity test had confirmed me Everett’s father. Not that I’d ever questioned it. But the fact my attorney was currently getting my name on the birth certificate so we could have his previous medical records ordered was a huge fucking relief.

Well, that and the fact that I’d spent the last three nights wrapped up in Frankie Leigh.

Two of us rediscovering.

Sometimes slow and soft and sweet.

Other times wild and reckless and hard.

Everything in between.

Neither of us could get enough.

I opened the front door of my parents’ house to find her standing on the porch.

All those curls chaotic around her face. Girl was wearing a T-shirt with a frog printed on it and this frilly black skirt.

A smirk threatened, and I leaned up against the doorframe, hands lifted so I could sign. SOMEONE LOOKS AWFUL CUTE TODAY.

She did a little curtsey, grabbing her skirt at the sides and flailing it around a bit.

Yeah, fucking cute.

“Well, I might have been dressing up for someone real special.”

My grin widened. “Oh, and who might that be?”

She stepped up to me, her hand on my chest and sliding up to my face. “My favorite froggy, of course.”

I drifted forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her close. Just loving the heat of her body against mine. “And tell me . . . once you kissed this frog, did he turn into your prince?”

She giggled. I could feel the sensation of it running up my throat, this girl instantly making me ache to reach out and take a little more.

She peeked up at me, her fingers playing with a button of my collared shirt. “Better than a prince.”

My brow lifted in a tease. “Better?”

She gave an overexaggerated nod. “Oh, yeah. Turns out he’s kinda a god.”

“God, huh? Wow, that’s pretty impressive.”

She raked her teeth over that lip. “Mmhmm . . . and he’s been reignin’ from my bed.”

A groan rumbled in my chest. Half laughter. Half need. I gathered her closer, feeling the press of her joy. “You are ridiculous and perfect, Frankie Leigh,” I told her where I was pressing my lips to her forehead.

“I’m kinda great, right?” she teased as she looked at me so I could see what she was saying.

“Don’t get too carried away.”

Easiness bled between us.

A quieted, sated gratefulness. Still couldn’t believe we’d gotten to this place. Wasn’t ever going to leave it.

Her eyes went soft. “Where is Everett?”

“He’s in the backyard with everyone. Pretty sure he’s getting smothered with kisses this afternoon.”

“I think I need some of those kisses.” She lifted her hands. COME ON, WE’D BETTER GET BACK THERE BEFORE SOMEONE SENDS OUT A SEARCH PARTY.

I roughed a hand through my hair. “You’re probably right. You ready for this?”

“I think it’s something we should have done a long time ago, Evan. When we first started. There was no reason to hide what we are.”

WELL, EXCEPT FOR YOUR DAD.

I smirked down at her.

Another giggle. “He’s not so bad.”

“Uh, have you seen him?”

She took my hand, resting her head on my arm as we started through the house toward the back porch where everyone had already gathered.

Frankie’d had to work, so she was later than most. Basically, I’d been standing around like some kind of antsy asshole for the last hour and a half waiting for her to get here.

Knowing we were finally going to make a statement.

Claim us.

Frankie grinned up at me. “You took on Jack. I’m pretty sure you’ll do just fine.”

“Think that was pure adrenaline.”

“I think you’re way stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head as we took the left down the short hall toward the kitchen. Could feel the energy in the air, the clatter of voices and activity that I couldn’t hear but could sense as we made our way to the backyard.