Page 57 of A Game Plan for Love

She lifts from my lap and follows to the bed. My eyelids are still heavy from the tears, and my brain is fuzzy, but she slips under the covers beside me, and I pull her back against my chest.

We fit together perfectly, and there’s an instantaneous feeling of comfort when she slips her fingers through mine and rests them on her abdomen.

No words are exchanged, but our bodies are speaking a language we’re both learning to understand. Her breathing slows, and as my eyelids grow heavy, peace washes over me.

I could spend the rest of my life right here, holding Addie in my arms.

CHAPTER 16

Stealin’ Love – Leigh-Anne

Addie

Nathalie: Hi, Addie! Just wanted to let you know the tooth fairy visited Nora last night and left two hundred dollars. So sorry.

Maren: I regret nothing. She deserves to be spoiled rotten.

Sawyer: We tried to tell her the tooth fairy makes mistakes, but she didn’t believe us. So we lied to her and told her you only get big money for the first tooth.

Nathalie: We think she bought it…She’s scary smart.

Maren: The indoctrination is going wonderfully.

Me: I’m sorry…what? You’re indoctrinating my child?

Maren: Into caring for the environment and protecting the ocean, yes. As I said, it is going splendidly.

Me: Got it. Carry on.

Nathalie: We’d love to have another sleepover with her, if you ever need alone time ;)

Sawyer: That is, if you don’t get a restraining order because Maren decided to indoctrinate your kid.

Me: Is she having fun?

AphotoofNorasmilingat the table, chocolate chip pancakes stacked in front of her, appears on my screen. Her front tooth is missing, but the joy on her face is evident. A massive black dog sits on the floor beside her, its tongue sticking out.

I’ve never had anyone to help take care of Nora, or dote on her in a way I can’t as her parent, but Declan’s friends are filling a void they didn’t know existed. She’s going to talk about this sleepover for weeks, and selfishly, it’s freeing to have people to lean on and take time away from her without guilt or worry.

Sawyer: She might pester you for a puppy.

Me: Oh dear.

Maren: Ragnar is one cute pup. Can’t blame Nora for wanting one of her own.

Nathalie: Like I said, she’s having so much fun! Please don’t stop speaking to us, we love her.

I huff a laugh, and Declan stirs behind me, arm tightening around my waist. He drags me against his chest, and my heart flutters as he places a soft kiss on my shoulder.

“Morning,” he whispers, voice still thick with sleep.

He peppers kisses up the column of my neck, and I shiver when he nibbles at my earlobe. His erection digs into my back, and my hips shift on their own accord, pressing into him.

A low groan fills the room, and his hand tightens on my waist. “Adeline,” he admonishes.

He breathes deeply, the exhale tickling my neck before he releases me, and the bed shifts. A small light in the corner clicks on, and I choke on a laugh.

Declan’s hair sticks out at wild angles as he trudges around the room. I lean up on my elbow to watch him as he digs through his suitcase. My phone dings while I’m taking a sip of water.

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