Page 102 of Never Really Over

“I love you,” I tell her. Now that the words are out in the open, I don’t want to stop saying them.

“I love you, too. Thank you for trusting me to be here with you.”

“Thank you for being here for me.”

“We’re going to be one ofthosecouples, aren’t we?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I don’t freaking care, though.”

Opening my door, I step out of my pickup and round the back to get Poppy out of her car seat, but Layla’s already there.

I take the house key out of my pocket and slowly walk to the door.

I take a deep breath and insert the key in the door. When it unlocks, it sounds like a shotgun went off. At least, that’s how it feels.

“Dada, go!”

Layla laughs. “She’s ready to go, Daddy.”

“All right, all right. I hear you, Tootsie Pop.”

As I cross the threshold into the house, I take another deep breath and reach for Poppy, needing her in my arms to stable my racing heart.

“I’m here,” Layla says quietly. “Do you want to wait for Dalton and Bridget or walk around a little first?”

“Walk around. I don’t want to lose it in front of them.”

I keep Poppy in my arms as we go through the house. Nothing is out of the ordinary and I’m grateful Brian and Drew took it upon themselves to check in on the house weekly. It’s clean, not stuffy, and when I step into Mason and Natalie’s bedroom, the air sucks right out of my lungs.

“It’s empty.”

“The guys?”

All I can do is nod. They knew the bedroom was going to be hard for me and they took care of it. I don’t know where their things went, but I have a feeling the girls helped there.

There’s a knock on the door and Layla offers to let Dalton and Bridget in.

I give Poppy a smile and kiss her cheek. She wiggles a little bit and I let her down, marveling at how good she’s getting at walking.

Just as Layla predicted, she doesn’t seem bothered by being here. She walks around happily and when Bridget and Dalton come into view, she claps.

“Poppy!” Dalton calls happily. He doesn’t rush her but he moves quickly, crouching down in front of her. “How’s the cutest girl in the world doing?”

When he holds out his arms, she goes to him willingly and he beams at us.

No wise cracks, just happiness.

I have no idea how Dalton, of all people, managed to win over Poppy and me, but he did.

“This place is even more gorgeous inside than I had imagined, Colt,” Bridget says, coming to stand next to Poppy and Dalton. “It’s perfect.”

“Well, you haven’t seen it all yet.”

“We don’t need to. As long as the inspection comes out good, we want it,” Dalton explains. “She’s been lusting over this house for months and now that she’s inside, I’m afraid I won’t be able to get her out. Kind of like me, huh, babe?”

Bridget lovingly punches Dalton in the shoulder.

“Whoa, there, I’m holding some precious cargo here.”

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