I wrapped my arms around her middle from behind, skimming my nose up and down the side of her neck.
“I love having you here with all of us. I’d tell you that next week will be less overwhelming, but I don’t like to lie.”
“You want me here next Friday too?”
“I want you here every Friday, babe.”
“You’re sure? It’s family time.”
I wasn’t sure if she was rebuffing me or if she was simply concerned. I felt her belly contract under my palm. Every instinct in me wanted to put her at ease, but I had little practice expressing my feelings.
She was incredible. I couldn’t believe she’d even brought a present for Evelyn. She hadn’t told me anything about it.
“And we each bring our better halves. You’re mine.”
She whirled around, flashing me a big smile. “That’s sweet. Remember that when you have fangirls all around you, okay?”
She’d said it in a teasing tone, but I could see a sliver of unease in her expression. Her ex’s betrayal still hurt. I wanted to assure her that I’d never hurt her in any way.
“Brooke, I don’t pay attention to any of that. I love you, babe.”
I felt her shudder against me, her eyes widening. I moved my hands from her lower back onto her ass, pressing her against me. She bit my neck lightly, sending a heated jolt straight under my belt. I pulled back a little, wrapping a hand in her hair and tilting her lips up. I skimmed my mouth along her jaw, enjoying the way her breath hitched, her hips arching slightly against mine. Her entire body was anticipating the kiss. I crushed my mouth against hers, stroking her tongue with mine until she rose up onto her toes and wrapped both arms around my neck.
“Been waiting to do this the whole evening,” I said.
“What kept you from doing it earlier?”
“The kids.”
“Oh, right. Playing the role model, are we?” She made to tickle me, but I caught on to it and immobilized her wrists in one hand, tickling her wi
th the other.
“Why did you do that?” she demanded.
“Because you tried to tickle me first. And you seemed to doubt I could be a role model.”
“That is absolutely not true.”
“It’s okay. I doubt it too, but that’s why they have a dad. They can be the voice of reason. I’d suck at it, but Landon, Will, and Graham are doing a great job. I’ll just teach the next generation of Connors shenanigans. Someone has to.”
That had been on my mind for a few years, when I watched Will and Landon with Milo. Our nephew had needed a father figure, and they’d both stepped up to the plate—Will even more so than Landon, who’d been away at the time. Being a dad came naturally to them, but not to me. I’d tried mimicking Landon’s style, since it had been effective on me as a kid, without much success. As such, I’d fully embraced my role as the troublemaking uncle, even though I had often wished I could step up to the plate and be that father figure Milo had needed at the time.
“I personally think you’d be a great dad.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I’ve seen you with the teenagers at the education center. You’re a good voice of reason when you want to be.”
I thought she was just appeasing me, but as the evening went by, she kept watching me whenever I played with Milo or Peyton, and I realized she believed that.
She saw something in me. I hoped that something was really there, and not just a wish she was projecting. Scratch that. Even if it was the latter, I would fight to become everything she wished for and deserved.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooke
Yes, yes, yes.