Page 25 of The Way We Collide

7

Hendrix

Raven smiles up at me with so much hope in her eyes, it’s like I’m some kind of white knight riding in to save the day.

On the one hand, it’s kind of cool to be a hero. On the other hand, I feel like I’ve been shoved down the scrubby hill outside my LA mansion with no padding.

Or crushed under a pile of 300-pound linebackers.

I’m getting married.

I have a baby, and I’m getting married.

Which undoubtedly means at some point I’ll be faced with poop.

Two nights ago, I was standing on the balcony of my mansion in the hills, overlooking the city of LA spread out before me like a king overlooking his domain.

The only thing on my mind was football and having the best year of my career.

I had no freaking idea.

“Ready to run the gauntlet?” A tease is in her voice, and I almost groan.

My family is out there waiting for a verdict, and I just know what the guys are going to say.

“Let me take the lead, and stay close.”

We go through the double doors, back to where my entire family is crowded around two tables, introducing my daughter to Garrett’s baby Gigi. They’re the same age, because apparently we weren’t the only ones who got lucky after my sister’s wedding.

Of course, I gave him shit for that. The twinkle in his eye tells me he hasn’t forgotten about it either.

“We’ll call them the Dylan twins!” My little sister announces, bouncing my daughter on her hip. “They’re like my very special wedding present from my two big brothers.”

“Hey, us ladies had something to do with it,” Liv cries, joining us and taking Raven’s hand. “I wish you’d texted me. We could’ve gone through it together.”

“I was either in bed nauseated or hanging on the toilet the whole time.” Raven follows Liv to where the girls are standing, and Haddy reaches for her.

She pulls the baby onto her hip, and I stop in my tracks, thinking how really beautiful they are. Haddy is a cute little brunette with a button nose like her mom’s. Then her head turns, and she hits me with my blue eyes.

“It’s kind of uncanny.” Zane’s voice is quiet at my side. “She’s got your face.”

“Yeah…” I huff a laugh.

There’s no denying whose kid she is.

“You’re going to make this right.” Garrett still has that grin on his face, walking over in his sheriff’s uniform.

“Of course, I am.” I hold back an eye-roll. As if I wouldn’t. “We talked about it, and Rave and Haddy are going to move out to LA for a little while to live with me.”

“Oh, no!” Dylan cries, giving me her sad-puppy face. “We just got her! Don’t go to LA, Raven. Make Hendrix come here.”

“I’ve got training camp starting next week.” When I get closer to Rave, I put my hand on Haddy’s little back. “Then theseason starts, and I’ll be slammed. It’s the only way that makes sense for me to spend time with my daughter.”

“Garrett and Liv did long distance,” Dylan pouts. “So did Logan and me.”

“So you know how much it sucked,” Garrett calls, supporting me for once.

“Would you like to hold her again?” Raven’s voice is quiet, and I study the baby girl sitting on her hip.

---