Page 111 of Wicked Love

“I’m not going anywhere, Bowie. You know that, right?”

His eyes flit between mine and his hands grip my waist tighter. “How soon can we clear everyone out of here so I can show you just how much that means to me?”

I press my lips together. “I’ll hang around after they’re gone, no matter how late they stay,” I whisper.

His eyes are full of promise when I lower to the ground.

The music in the background shifts to a slower song, and everyone chatters, the sunshine hovering overhead making everyone glow. Tru and I share a smile when Henley pretendsto groan about the guys’ baby-related podcast episodes, as Penn looks over at us proudly.

Becca twirls around the yard with the girls, and Levi and Caleb run after them trying to keep up. Martha sits on the sidelines, keeping Becca in her sights. I watch them, wondering what our child will look like. They’ll be surrounded with love, that’s all I know.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

THE BET

BOWIE

The clang of weights fills the gym as I finish my last set. Weston wipes his forehead, dropping onto the nearby bench, while Henley walks in looking far less sweaty than the rest of us.

“How’s it hangin’?” he asks.

“Get in here and work out with us,” Rhodes says. “Why are you still looking so good when you’re not out thereplaying with us?”

Henley grins and slaps his hard abs. “I can’t afford to go soft. Just fitting it in a lot earlier these days.”

Penn cracks his neck loud enough to make us all wince.

I lean against the squat rack and think about the way Poppy kissed her way down my abs last night. She ended up getting on her knees, and holy shit, the sight of her mouth around me…it was?—

“What’s got you all smiley?” Penn asks. He steps closer and checks my forehead. “You feelin’ okay?”

I mess his hair up, rolling my eyes. “I’m feeling just fine.”

“You sure? Because you do look a littlelovesick,” Rhodes says, laughing.

I shrug, catching sight of my reflection in the mirror. Shit, I am smiley. What the fuck? I run my fingers over my mouth, trying to sober up, and the guys laugh.

“Maybe I’ve been a little…brighter. Like the sun shines a little earlier these days,” I say gruffly.

The guys freeze, mid-stretch, mid-breath. Rhodes drops the band he’d been toying with, and Weston’s eyebrows shoot up. Even Henley’s jaw slackens.

Penn blinks twice, clearing his throat. “That might have been the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” he says. He points at me. “I never knew I’d be taking lessons from you too.”

I toss a towel over my shoulder. “Really? Because I just made myself cringe.”

“Whew. Until you said that, I thought someone might have body-swapped you,” Henley teases.

I laugh and shake my head. “No, it’s still me under here. I am having a good time though. Things are…good. Really good.”

Rhodes whistles low. “You are wearing it well. I wouldn’t believe what I’m hearing if I didn’t see how happy you are.”

“You act like I’ve never been happy,” I say, mostly amused.

“You’ve never been happy like this before,” Penn says, narrowing his eyes. “At least, not since we’ve known you.”

“Not gonna lie, I love it,” Weston says, grinning. “It’s about time you got a little sunshine.”

Henley claps me on the shoulder. “Poppy’s good for you, man. We can all see that.”

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