Can't Fight It (Fair Lakes 3)

“Have a good nap, sweet boy,” Hollis says, waving at him.

In the kitchen, I make him a bottle, and instead of going back and sitting with Hollis and Tina, I opt for the rocking chair in his room. That will give the ladies some time to catch up without me looming around them. I feel like an outsider as I sit and listen to them talk about old times and people they know. There is a jealousy that comes to life when I think about her life before Milo and me. It’s irrational, but I can’t seem to stop it.

“We have her future, buddy,” I whisper to my son as he sucks down his bottle. “The three of us, we’re going to make some new memories. And maybe if we’re lucky, give you a brother or sister. Maybe both,” I muse. He reaches up and rests his hand on my chin, capturing my heart.

I can’t believe I could have missed all of this. I stayed away for so long, giving my life to the Army that I missed these connections. Sure, I had them with my parents and Chase, but this. This feeling of my son’s tiny fist wrapped around my heart. Every man should experience this. There is nothing like the love you have for your child. I never could have dreamed I’d get excited over a grin, a wave, a first word. It’s all magical, witnessing all of his firsts.

Then there’s Hollis. She’s everything I never knew I wanted. To know that she loves me makes me feel ten feet tall and bulletproof. Even more to know that she loves my son, as if he were hers, that shit goes deep. Soul capturing. Life-changing.

“We’re going to make her ours, buddy. Daddy just needs to find the right time.” I’ve been carrying her ring in my pocket. I almost wrapped it and gave it to her for Christmas, but I don’t want it to be a gift for a holiday. I want it to be its own occasion. A moment we will never forget.

Milo sighs heavily as the bottle falls from his mouth. He’s getting so big so fast. It won’t be long, and I won’t be able to hold him like this. It’s sad, but at the same time thrilling. I can’t wait until he’s walking and talking more. I’m excited to watch him grow up and see the man that he will become. Moving him to rest on my shoulder, I close my eyes and rock for a while. Life is sometimes fast, and especially these past few weeks, with the holidays and finding out the truth about what Hollis witnessed. It’s good to slow down and enjoy life. That’s exactly what I am planning to do today.* * *“Shh, let’s not wake Daddy.” I hear Hollis whisper.

“Mmmom,” Milo says in his soft baby voice.

“Oh, my sweet boy. I love you. You know that?” she whispers to him as I feel his weight lifted from my arms. “You and your daddy, you mean the world to me,” she murmurs.

Slowly, I open my eyes to see her standing with Milo held close to her chest. Her eyes are closed, and my son is clutching her like he never wants her to let go.

This is it.

This is my moment.

“Marry me.” My voice is gruff from sleep, but her eyes pop open and lock on mine, telling me she heard me just fine.

“Colt,” she whispers.

“We love you, Hollis,” I say, standing. I wrap my arms around both of them, and Milo just lays his head against her shoulder. He’s watching me closely as if he knows that this is a profound moment for us, and he doesn’t want to miss it.

She blinks hard, trying to keep her tears at bay. “This is just a formality,” I tell her. “You’re already a part of our lives. There is nothing that is going to change that. But we want you to be a Callahan. I want you to know that when you lay your head down at night, you’re home. I want you to know that when you walk through that door, this is your home, and we are your family.”

“I-I can’t believe this is happening.” She manages to pull the hand that’s not holding Milo free and wipe at her cheeks.

Stepping away from them, I guide her to sit in the rocking chair. Milo lifts his head and smiles at her before resting back against her shoulder. “I told you, buddy. We’re going to make her ours.”

“Oh my God,” she breathes.

I drop to one knee, pulling the ring out of my pocket. Milo takes notices of the sparkle and sits up to reach for it. “This is for Mommy,” I tell him, gently moving the ring out of his reach.

“Mama,” he says and tries again.