Page 114 of Hard to Judge

Her eyes narrow. “You know.”

“I love you.”

Her lips form a breathtaking smile, and then she stands. Abruptly as fuck, she’s up, and a part of me panics. Then she moves closer to me. Really close between my legs.

The game has started back. For the first time, she seems oblivious to it.

She lifts her jersey and undershirt, revealing the ink and her perfect belly, the sway of her hips, and the newest addition to her skin.

Someone whistles. Several someones, actually, but I don’t give a shit. She’s whistle-worthy. Hell, she’s go-to-war-worthy.

My fingertips trace just outside the line of her newest creature.

“My pretty panther.” She cups the side of my face.

“You did this for…” My throat goes tight.

“For you, Hotaru.” She lifts my chin from the intricate fine-lined panther etched into her side, its claw over her heart just under her dragon. “I love you.” Her fingers graze my lips. “That is permanent.” She gestures to her tattoo, and then she points between us. “This is permanent too.”

I stand and wrap my arms around her thighs, bringing her up with me as I go, holding her high.

She’s beaming. Radiant. And fuck if I don’t want to put a baby in her. Right here. Right now.

Whew!

That thought makes me dizzy and hard.

I squeeze her tight and she giggles, plowing her fingers through my hair and hugging my head to her belly.

Arlo’s words from weeks ago when he told me he wanted me to fuck Hailey echo in my head.

If that happened, it wouldn’t be an accident. It would be a gift, and we would raise it as such.

Hailey and me…and you.

For the first time, I think it could be an actual possibility. Not right now, of course. But somewhere along the way.

I loosen my grip and slide her down my body until we’re face-to-face.

Then the doubt hits, even though I’m inked on her skin, still there’s doubt. She has Arlo, why in the world would she ever need me?

The trauma response makes my skin crawl. I’ve done the work to know my father’s desertion has more to do with him than it does me. Yet I wonder how I can be enough for her or Arlo when I wasn’t enough to my flesh and blood.

“You’re loyal and honest, brave and true.” She speaks as though she can hear my thoughts. “You take my darkness and make it all right.” Her tiny hands cup my face. “You love with everything you have, no matter what.”

She presses her lips to mine.

The logical part of my brain tells me I’m enough. The hopeful thing in my chest begs me to believe Hailey’s words. Her actions speak loud enough to tamp my doubt.

“I brought her Whoppers. But it looks like she found something better to cheer her up.” Arlo steps into our aisle and deposits a beer in his cup holder as we pull back.

“Kiss!” someone screams. Then another. Then the sea of people in our section scream for us to kiss.

Then I see us, me and Hailey on the Kiss Cam, showing on the jumbotron. Arlo is on the outskirts of the frame. That’s not right.

Without thought, I yank Arlo forward, spilling a bit of my beer on the ground, and press my lips to his and Hailey’s at the same time.

The stadium erupts.

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