Page 92 of King of Hearts

“Oh my god! You have and you didn’t tell me!”

I covered my face. “I’m sorry…I was so worried about Juan being tied to his family stuff that I didn’t have time to be myself with you.”

My sister softened. “It’s okay, oh my gosh. My best friend and my little sister—I’m so excited.” She squealed and jumped off the bed.

“Does this mean you talked to him about everything and you’re not mad anymore?”

She ducked her head, watching her coffee. “He talked to me while you were bathing Alex, and I kind of get it now…I think. I mean, I don’t want any of you to feel like you can’t talk to me just because of what I do for a living.”

“You write about this stuff specifically, Mal…of course we’re going to be hesitant.”

She moved her head, sipping the last of her coffee. “But I get it. I mean, with Decker and Kyle…I would never do anything to endanger them, and the same goes for Juan. He’s my family. Even more so now.” She stood up, kissed my forehead, and then leaned away. “I’m going to go hug him and tell him how excited I am that he’s going to marry into my family.”

“Hey, who said we were getting married?” I sat up quickly. Where was this coming from?

Her hand paused on the door handle while she looked back at me. “Are you for real?”

She did know everything we had gone through, but Mal was the number one person who’d argue for me not to get married this young, regardless if she had done so herself.

“Taylor, you don’t get it. He doesn’t just love you—that boy craves you. There’s no way he’s not putting a ring on it the second he gets a chance.”

I sank back into the chair as my sister left. I wasn’t sure how I felt about getting married right away. All I knew was that I wanted to be with Juan…but I didn’t think that required marriage. Did he think differently? I half wondered if the ideas about Holden coming back around lingered in his mind the way that image of Angela pressed against him lingered in mine.

Chapter Thirty-Five

It was latewhen I opened the door to the guest room and closed myself inside. Taylor was awake with the side lamp on, holding Alex in her lap. I stood by the door for a second, just watching how Taylor’s hair was swept up into a loose bun on her head with little strands falling to her neck. Her face was bare so her freckles were showing, and all she wore to bed was a white tank top with some kind of built-in nursing thing, underwear, and a pair of tall socks.

My dick twitched at just watching how her nose scrunched as she laughed and cooed with her baby girl and dove in to kiss Alex’s cheek and feet.

Watching them together felt like my entire life was playing out before my eyes, like I was dreaming. They were it for me, and I didn’t even know if either of them would ever know how monumental that was.

“You just going to stand there, or are you going to come get in on these snuggles while she’s awake?”

I smiled, jolting out of my stupor, and walked toward the bed.

“Watching you two is like a dream…like something I don’t ever want to end.”

I moved, crawling onto the bed until I was lying in front of Taylor’s crossed knees and Alex was between us. Holding my head up with my palm, I peered down at the little bundle of perfection, taking in her dark hair and blue eyes. Her gaze drifted up until she was looking at me, then she smiled, warm and bright, and it was everything. My heart felt like it grew a thousand sizes in a single instant, and all I knew was that this girl was mine. Regardless of who her biological dad was, she was mine, and would be forever.

“She knew about your hockey offers,” Taylor suddenly said, still looking down at Alex.

My eyes jumped to hers. She…shit.

“I didn’t tell her.”

She eyed me, grinning at the sweet face below her. “You didn’t tell me either.”

“I’m sorry about that entire thing, babe. I was exhausted, and she said she had something from my mom, which is why I went out there to begin with.”

“You didn’t push her away when she kissed you.”

I stared at her while she stared back, the silence stretching.

“I was tripping pretty hard over her Holden comment. I’m worried you’ll leave me if he comes around. I don’t want her…just you. Only you.”

“Holden hasn’t contacted me,” she said quietly, stroking her daughter’s hand, grabbing her tiny fingers.

I mimicked her along Alex’s other hand but didn’t respond. Even if he hadn’t reached out, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t.

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