Page 119 of A Game Plan for Love

“Don’t you need to get ready?” I slip from his embrace and dawdle around the large closet, half-empty and waiting for my clothes. The salmon suit in the corner catches my eye. “Wear this, it will match Nora’s dress.”

“I love that one.”

Of course, he does—it’s an assault to the eyes.

I’ve learned his closet is a treasure trove of bright colors and gaudy shirts, and he loves to wear them at any opportunity. Grocery store. After-school pick-up. Therapy with my parents. It wasn’t something I realized he had stopped doing until Nathalie cried at Book Club about how we brought the light back into his life, and with that, his eccentric wardrobe.

I pull out the suit set and hand it to him. “Get dressed. She’s going to be here any minute.”

He takes the clothing, and I watch as he slips off his loungewear and slowly buttons the dress shirt.

“Enjoying the show?”

I wink. “Always.”

He dips his head to press a soft kiss below my ear, then allows me to slip the tie over his head. The silence between us is charged as I adjust the tie. I let my hands linger on his abdomen, reveling in the way his muscles twitch and twist beneath my palm.

“Addie,please,” he mumbles when my hand travels lower.

A soft giggle escapes me, but I step back and adjust the jacket. “You look incredibly handsome.”

Instead of a response, Declan wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me into the air, carrying me over to the bed and dropping me with a thud. He hovers over me, long strands of hair falling over his face.

The kiss he offers is tender and slow, and when he cracks his eyes open, he whispers, “I can’t believe this is all real.”

I can relate. Nine months ago, I was on the world’s worst date with very little hope for my love life. Now, I’m moving in with the man who shows Nora and me unconditional, unwavering affection, and ensures we will never worry about anything—not with him.

“I love you.”

Every day, I make sure to remind him how much so. He’s spent too long questioning himself. No more.

“We’re here.” A voice yells from the living room. It’s followed by the loud clacking of plastic heels. “Make yourselves presentable.”

“Mommy! Daddy!”

Declan’s face lights up into a surprised smile, how it does every time she calls him ‘Dad’ and he helps me off the bed and into the living room to see our girl.

Maren insisted she get her hair and makeup done for the dance, and no one really wins a battle against her, except Jack, so we caved pretty quickly.

It also gave us some timealone.

Nora runs straight into Declan’s arms, and he lifts her, twirling her around. Her bright pink dress billows and sparkles coating her hair, fills the air and falls around us like raindrops.

“Mommy, look!” She sticks out her hand and wiggles her neon pink fingernails.

“Wow.”

Warmth blossoms in my chest as Nora burrows into Declan’s side. For so long, it was only the two of us, and at times, a small kernel of jealousy flares when she runs to him first instead of me, but italwaysdisappears when Declan responds like it’s the greatest thing to ever happen to him.

“A delivery for you,” Maren says, setting a take-out bag on the counter. She’s halfway out the door when she yells, “Send lots of photos!

Grease fills the air, and my stomach grumbles. Declan lifts a brow in amusement. He sets Nora back onto the floor and places a kiss on my temple.

“The limo is here,” he whispers. “Enjoy your night alone.”

Every emotion I’ve been holding back—the excitement and small kernel of jealousy—rise to the surface, and tears begin to brim my eyes.

“A photo,” I demand, shaky hand pulling my phone from my back pocket.

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