“How did I get so lucky?” she asks, her lips millimeters from my ear.

“Nah, baby, I’m the lucky one.”

Kailey and I stay up in that tree house for the night, making up for our weeks apart. We text Aunt Holly, and, of course, she says she has it under control. The next morning we’re both itching to get back to the three munchkins. After one quickie against the wall, we get dressed and leave the small love shack we called home for twelve hours.

I feel like I could conquer world peace right now with her behind me, holding me tight. On our way to the kids, who I can’t help but think of as a part of me now. After I park the green machine in the garage, I push Kailey against the wall, giving her one long lingering kiss. “Until tonight, baby.” I tell her, and she looks at me quizzing. “You’re in my bed tonight.”

“Oh, I thought you meant I wouldn’t be getting a taste of those lips all day.” She takes a fistful of my shirt and yanks me back into her again.

“You’ll be lucky if I make it to the house without sneaking you behind a bush,” I say, leaning back to watch the pink flush spread across her cheeks.

When we open the door, three kids run at us and we scoop them in our arms. With Drew and Tara in mine, they nuzzle close. “We missed you,” Tara says.

“You and Trey all better?” Chloe asks, and we look at each other and then at my mom and Aunt Holly walking toward us.

“Like the little tike didn’t notice Trey not around,” Holly confesses.

“She’s an answer seeker, that’s for sure,” my mom laughs.

“Yeah, we’re all better,” Kailey says, finding my hand. The five us together, a family.

My mom smiles, knowing exactly what I’m thinking. I have to say, I’m a bit surprised she’s so willing to push me toward this instant family. She was my biggest supporter with the adoption.

After showers for both of us, we get the kids ready. I take Drew with me to pick up the meat at the butcher along with my dad and Clyde, while all the women take Chloe and Tara to get their nails done.

We aren’t back for five minutes before the gang arrives. I open the door to Brady, Sadie, Jessa, Grant, Dex, and some girl named Chrissy that I’ve never met before.

“Hopefully that wide grin means you won her back?” Dex says, clasping my shoulder as I hand them all beers and drinks around the kitchen island.

“Yeah, she can’t deny this gorgeous face for that long,” I joke.

“Hum—always conceited.” The voice that makes my body jump with excitement adds while walking into the room. She gives everyone hugs, and they all glance my way once she moves on to the next. Surprised to the instant change. Snaking her way to me, she slides close to my body and her arm rests along my back.

“I have to take it where I can. It’s hard not being the gorgeous one between us two.” I smile down at her, and she shakes her head in amusement.

“Good one,” she says, rolling her eyes and blushing.

“Let’s leave these guys and have some girl talk. I’m entirely pissed off at you for not waiting to get your nails done until we got here.” Jessa teases Kailey, pointing at her with her already polished nail.

“Come on guys, we can go outside,” I say, waving them toward the screen door. “Where are the girls?” I ask Kailey.

“Outside playing with your parents and Derek. Aunt Holly and Uncle Clyde are upstairs resting,” she raises her eyes multiple times.

“Kind of like we rested yesterday?” I whisper, and the pink actually begins at her neck. Kissing the exact spot it starts I leave her to the girls.

“Later, Michaels,” Jessa tosses her hand in the air as though she’s been waiting for me to leave.

The guys go outside, and my brother Derek throws a football my way. We all spread out on the grass while my parents blow bubbles with the kids. We toss the ball back and forth while they drill me with question after question about Kailey’s sudden change of heart. It suddenly occurs to me that I have no idea what made her turn back. When the kids were on top of me in the yard, tickling me last night, I caught her eye and just knew. That love was flickering to life again between us. My gut told me, she was ready to let me love her and finally trust me with her heart.

“Who’s the girl?” I throw the ball to Dex.

He catches with ease, “A girl from back home,” he informs us. “We’re friends,” he adds and in all the years I’ve known Dex, he hasn’t had girls that were friends.

“Since when you do hang around girls that aren’t laying on their back for you,” I ask, and his face tenses. “Did I hit a nerve?” I joke, but he doesn’t laugh. “What the hell?” I’m waiting for him to add something.

“Seriously, I’m not the one who is going to tell Jessa you threw her sister to the wayside. I’m surprised she hasn’t gone off yet. You never know what you’re going to get with her hormones lately,” Grant chimes in, and Brady snickers.

“Sadie said she’s been a little intense?” Brady raises his eyebrows at Grant, and Grant gives an exaggerated nod.

“To say the least. She actually tried to get me to have sex with her at Barbells for old time sake. When I refused, since she’s carrying my baby, she actually got mad at me and stormed out, leaving me there. Greg had to give me a ride home. I think she’s freaking out, thinking she’s losing her youth or something. But, enough about my pussy problems involving my wife wanting me to fuck her in crazy places. Dex, tell it straight.” We all crack up at Grant and Jessa. The two couldn’t be more opposite in some ways.

Dex throws the football at Brady, who runs to catch it. “Nothing to say. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you. Sam and I are just having fun. Seriously, Chrissy and I are just friends, nothing more. I’ve known her since we were kids.” Dex is saying all the right things, but he’s hiding something. I’ve known him long enough to know this Chrissy girl is something to him alright.

Brady points for me to go long, and I start jogging to catch the ball and once I grasp it in my hands, a small boy grabs my legs, and I have no choice but to fall to the ground. Drew jumps on top of my stomach, drool dripping from his mouth. I take my shirt and rub his mouth before lifting up in my arms. “Guess football’s over,” Grant says, and the guys make their way over and sit in the grass.

Soon Chloe and Tara join us and we end up playing duck, duck, goose. It might just be the funniest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Especially when Dex calls goose on Brady, and the two end up chasing each other around the whole yard. Eventually Brady does tackle him, and the girls screech in delight, running over to Dex. They start tickling his sides, and he squirms. The next thing I know Jessa, Sadie, and Kailey all run over and join in. Chrissy waits under the pergola, watching the scene unfold. Disregarding her, I run to join in the fun, picking Kailey up and swinging her around. Her giggles make me want to take her right there. Yeah, I might have to sneak her away at some point. Two weeks is a long time to make-up for.

The afternoon is filled with laughs, jokes, and good times for everyone. Well...everyone but Chrissy. I’m not quite sure why Dex even brought her, she mostly stares into space or watches us from afar, instead of interacting. Soon the sun begins the set and that night sky takes me back to Kailey and me in the tree house last night. Drew is asleep in my mom’s arms. She peers down at him smiling at his small hand that grips her finger. She rubs her knuckle along his cheek. “He really is the sweetest little thing,” she remarks, and everyone smiles at the adorable baby. The girls are eagerly waiting with all of the kids from my family for it to get dark, so the fireworks start. They all sit across the lawn talking about god knows what. “You guys go have fun. We have them.” My mom urges us to join the younger adults at the bonfire circle. Kailey questions me, and I grab her hand and escort her to the brick encased circle.