And I’d made a promise right then and there that I would go through heaven and hell combined to make sure that I made her as happy as she’d made me.
I was convinced that one day, at the end of our lives together, I’d finally be even in the love department. That I’d even up the score.
I’d give her every last bit of love that she deserved and keep on giving it until I had nothing left to give.
“Daddy, watch this!”
I returned my gaze to my daughters, loving their bouncy curls and beautiful smiles that reminded me so much of their mother.
***
Piper
“Sweet!” I cried out and clapped. “That makes me so happy!”
My boss rolled her eyes. “Sorry that I overbooked y’all but enjoy your night off.”
I would. I so would.
Practically skipping out of the hospital, I headed straight to the gym to watch my girls’ practice.
I’d just walked in the door when I spotted my man in the front row, watching every single thing that was happening with his girls.
Jonah had always been intense. But with his girls, it was like he was hyper-focused.
Where other parents were talking to their spouses, playing on their phones, or speaking to the people beside them, my Jonah was staring straightforward, eyes on his girls, watching their every move.
He’d always been like that, though.
Even with me.
If you had Jonah’s attention, you had all of his attention.
“God, those pants,” I heard said. “He is to die for.”
I knew without a doubt that the two women in the back row were talking about my man.
I mean, there was likely not another man in the room that was the focus of almost every female’s attention.
“He really is. And that beard, and looking at those girls. He’s so good with them,” the one whispered. “His wife is so lucky.”
I was. I really, really was.
Speaking of, my eyes went to the front of the room when one of the girls yelled, “Mommy!”
I grinned when I saw her attention on me, and my breath left me when Jonah’s eyes went from his girls to me.
The sheer heat in them, even after four years of marriage, was enough to make my nipples bead and my breath come out in pants.
“Oh shit, do you think she heard us?” the woman whispered quietly.
Not quietly enough, seeing as I heard every word.
I smiled and headed in my husband’s direction, ignoring my parents and sister on the back row.
The girls went back to their gymnastics since it was much more fun than looking at their parents, which was a good thing because Jonah’s focus momentarily switched from his girls to me, which would’ve caught their attention.
I slid past a few mothers to get to the middle of the row, and since there were no open spots, I chose the best seat in the house—my husband’s lap.
His hands went out before I’d even made it to him and he tugged me toward his body, causing me to laugh.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
I wrapped an arm around his neck and dropped a kiss onto his waiting lips.
“They had two charge nurses, and I was given the choice to go home or stay. I chose to go home,” I answered. “How’s it going?”
“Halsey got to work on a back walkover and she totally mastered it. The other two, not so much.” He laughed. “But they’ll get there.”
They would. Halsey was just better at the agility thing. The other two were more like me, whereas Halsey was all Jonah.
“Mommy, watch!”
I turned my attention to Blakesley, who was trying to do a cartwheel.
I grinned at her and gave her a thumb’s up.
“Kid’s goin’ somewhere,” I teased.
Jonah pinched my ass, then brought his hand up and rolled it over my small baby bump.
I was four months along and just now getting to the point of showing.
“So what’s this mean for tonight?” he whispered.
I looked back at my mother who was watching my girls, too.
“I’m gonna see if she’ll take them tonight instead of tomorrow,” I whispered.
Jonah patted my ass. “Go arrange that so I can watch my girls.”
I tugged lightly on his beard and got up, heading straight for my mother.
I didn’t miss the envious looks, either.
Smiling at a bold woman that gave me an ‘I wish I was you’ stare, I made my way to my parents.
“Would y’all take them tonight?” I asked. “That way I can spend some time with Jonah.”
“But if I take them tonight,” my father said, “I won’t be able to do your…”
“Don’t finish that sentence!” I cried, covering my ears.
Pru made a gagging sound from beside me.
I gave her a commiserating look.
“Y’all want to go eat?” I asked.
My dad grumbled some more.
It’d taken time for him to heal, but my father had most assuredly gotten better. He’d also gotten his sweet tooth under somewhat of control, even though he still did what he wanted when he wanted when it came to the beer.