Page 27 of Blurred Love

I try to hide my doubts and stand next to him as he knocks on the front door. Almost instantly, as if they’d been waiting on us, the whole family is standing in front of us as they open the door. Davis has a little girl on his hip, and Abby has a baby boy in her arms. Abby is smiling ear to ear, and she points between Colter and me. “So I guess it was okay I told her where you lived, Colter?”

I look up at Colter, who is openly gazing at me, and a blush forms on my face. He kisses me on the forehead and then chuckles. “Yeah, I’m glad you did. I owe you one, Abby.” He turns to the little girl in Davis’ arms. “Come on, sweetheart. I hear you’re playing soccer now.”

The little girl bounces from her father’s arms into Colter’s, and I’m pretty sure my ovaries are going to explode. Colter gestures to me. “Alexis, this is my girlfriend, Poppy. Poppy, this is Alexis.”

The cute little girl smiles at me shyly. “Hi.”

I give her a little wave. “Hi.”

Colter bounces her up and then leans toward the baby. “This little guy is DJ.”

And Davis leans toward me, holding his hand out. “And I’m Davis.”

I shake his hand, and even though he’s smiling at me, I can see he has something on his mind.

Colter leans over and kisses me. “We’re going to go kick a ball around. You’ll be okay?”

I nod. “Yes, of course, go.”

As soon as Colter, Davis, and Alexis walk through the house, Abby pulls me inside the door. “Come in, come in. Dinner will be ready soon, but we can sit on the back porch and talk while they play.”

I follow behind her through the house. “Sounds good.”

As I sit in the rocking chair, I soak it all in. It’s a little chaotic and loud, but it’s perfect and makes me want things that I didn’t know I was ready for. I can feel Abby looking at me, and I smile. “You have a beautiful family.”

She nods. “Thank you. I think they’re pretty perfect, but I’m a little biased.”

We chat some more, and I can’t take my eyes off of Colter. At one point he stumbles, but Davis grabs him and holds him upright. I can see the connection they have, and even though I don’t know everything about their past, it’s obvious their bond is unbreakable.

After everyone gets washed up for dinner, I set the table as Colter plays with the kids and Abby and Davis finish preparing the meal. It’s a group effort, and it feels good to be a part of it.

Abby brings in the last of the food as Davis brings in the platter of grilled chicken and steaks. When Colter walks into the dining room holding baby DJ and Alexis skipping behind him, I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I want to have this man’s babies.

I don’t know where the thought comes from, but all through dinner, that’s all I can think about.

I try to focus on what they’re talking about, I really do, but it makes it hard since Colter holds the baby through most of dinner. He’s a natural.

Abby clears her throat. “Colter, have you heard anything about Zach and his mission?”

Davis chimes in. “Honey, you know he can’t talk about that.”

She nods. “I know that, but my brother has been on this mission for six months, and I haven’t heard anything from him. I mean, no one knows anything.”

I look at Colter, and he’s uncomfortable with the question. He looks down at DJ. “You know I can’t talk about it, Abby.”

Abby is frustrated, and I can’t say I blame her. If I had a brother, I would be worried too. It’s obvious that Davis and Colter know something, and she’s not going to just let it go. “Can you at least tell me if he’s alive?”

Davis reaches for her hand and holds it. “Honey, I told you he’s alive, and you know if he was in trouble, I would go and get him. But we can’t tell you anything other than that.”

She looks at her husband and nods before putting on a smile. “Right, I’m sorry. I get a little crazy, ya know. I just miss him.”

I can feel the tension around the table, but soon Alexis has us laughing at her antics.

We finish dinner and talk some more, and before I know it, I’m helping clear the table with Davis.

“Yeah, yeah, you go ahead, Colter. You get the fun job of playing with the kids. We got this.”

Colter laughs and disappears into the living room with the two kids. Abby is in the kitchen while I help load up plates.

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