Taking a deep breath, I open the clasp, lift the flap and pull out a stack of papers. What I see centered on the first page makes my heart nearly stop.
THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
FAMILY LAW DIVISION
STEPPARENT ADOPTION
CHILD’S NATURAL PARENTS AND STEPPARENT ALL CONSENT
My vision blurs and the papers fall from my hand as my head snaps up. Tyson is watching me, the look on his face reserved and careful. For so long I’ve wondered if this moment would ever come—if he’d feel a connection so strong to my son that he would feel the need to make him his own … permanently … officially.
“Tyson … I …” Emotions clog my throat and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to maintain some form of composure.
“It’s okay,” he says, his voice thick and raspy. My eyes pop open and he offers me a tremulous smile. Two strong hands cup my face and he brings his lips to mine, kissing me softly before pulling back. “It’s okay,” he whispers again, tears forming in his eyes. “I knew there was the possibility that it would be too much too soon. Please don’t be upset.”
&
nbsp; Everything around me stops before restarting in slow motion as my mind works to process what he’s saying. What the hell is he talking about?
He drops his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “I shouldn’t have—”
“Stop!” I cry, feeling tears trickle down my face. “Please stop.”
Tyson looks up, his watery eyes locking on mine, and if I wasn’t already head over heels in love with this man, I would’ve fallen just then.
I shake my head, at a complete loss for words. My best friend, my fiancé, the man who stepped into the position of dad long before he had to … he wants to adopt my son. He’s promising to love him and take care of him for the rest of his life, no matter what happens with me or to me. The thought of him loving Max enough to want to make him a Grawe in every sense of the word fills me with so much happiness and love that I’m nearly bursting at the seams.
“Yes,” I whisper. Ty’s eyes widen, his eyebrows pushing into his hairline, and his lips part.
“Yes,” I say again, only this time with much more enthusiasm. Flinging myself forward, I wrap my arms around his neck and hold onto him with every bit of strength I have.
“Yes?” he asks, his voice full of disbelief.
“Yes!” I laugh, tears of joy running down my face. “I can’t believe this.” Without letting go of the incredibly sexy, generous man in my arms, I lift a hand and wipe the wetness from my face. Tyson’s grip on me tightens. Burying his face in the side of my neck, he thanks me over and over again. We stay like this until the beat of his heart against my chest slows, and only then do I pull back.
“Thank you,” he whispers again, this time planting several kisses across my face. “I swear to you that you won’t regret this. I’ll be the best damn father Max could ever ask for.”
I’m mildly terrified that I may have a permanent, goofy-ass grin on my face. “You don’t have to thank me,” I say, threading my fingers with his. “I should be thanking you.” He shakes his head, but I tug him forward until our lips are nearly touching. “Yes.” My lips skim his as I continue. “There aren’t many men that would be willing to step up and and fill in the way you have. And considering the circumstances … it’s just … you amaze me, babe. Max is going to be so excited.”
“I can’t wait to tell him,” Tyson says. Releasing my hands, his fingers skim up my arms, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. “Should we tell him soon?”
Sucking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly, trying to determine the best time to tell Max. “I’m not sure.”
Tyson cocks his head. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” I say quickly, “I want to tell him soon. But I think we should wait until we’ve dotted all our i’s and crossed all our t’s. I just don’t want to get his hopes up and then there be some kink in the plan. He’d be devastated.”
“I don’t think we’ll have any problems,” he says, glancing down at the paperwork with a slight frown on his face. “I’ve already talked to my lawyer, and these documents are the real deal. Once we sign them and file, it’s pretty much final.”
The look on his face makes me feel like I’m somehow bursting his bubble, which I most certainly don’t want to do, but right now I have to think of Max first. “I believe you,” I insist. “Maybe we can sign the papers and meet with your lawyer together. Once we get the green light, then we’ll tell Max. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.” A smile breaks out on Tyson’s face. Leaning forward, he kisses my nose then moves south until he reaches my baby bump—what there is of it, anyway— and gives it a kiss before jumping to his feet and holding out his hand.
“Oh no.” I laugh, shaking my head. No way in hell am I getting out of this bed. “No, no, no. It’s my day off and Max is at school. I’m going back to sleep.”
Tyson’s eyes twinkle—literally fucking twinkle—and my lady parts instantly take notice. “I was going to take a shower … are you sure you don’t want to join me?”
“Oh, that is so tempting,” I say. Dropping back on the bed, I cuddle up to my pillow. “But do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a day off with absolutely nothing to do?”