Page 47 of Lost Lyrics

What?I thumped my chest. I’d just lost ten years of my life.

“No, a baby brother.” Josh laughed, jumping on the spot.

A burning fever washed over me. My head spun.Whoa! More kids?I’d never contemplated any to begin with, but now I had Charlotte, life had changed.

Ava’s eyes bulged white. Her mouth fell open. She stared at the kids, then swallowed hard. Her voice came out in a tiny, quivering whisper. “You...you want another brother or sister?”

“Yeah.” They jumped in unison.

Wow!I loved Charlotte and Josh, but this was a whole new level of holy-fucked-ness. Did I actually want more kids?Do I?

Ava pursed her lips. Her gaze softened, and the sun shone behind her glassy tears.

“Ava?” My pulse strummed, fast and erratic. With a dry gulp, I dislodged the lump in my throat. “Do...do you want to have more kids? One day?”

She fidgeted with my fingers and my signet ring. “Um . . . maybe . . . one day.Shit. . . yes.”

I couldn’t breathe. Blink. Budge. “With me?”

She scrunched her nose and smiled. “Kinda love you, so that might be a plan.”

My heart pounded at a gazillion miles an hour. Giddiness swam through my head. Excitement skipped through my veins. My future with Ava was clear. “I think I’d like that too. So does that mean one day you’d like to get married? Is that an option?”

“First time was shit.” She smirked, lowered her chin, and stared at our entwined hands. I didn’t need the reminder thatLuther was an asshole.

I turned toward our kids, tackling each other on the pillows. My chest expanded so much, I felt like it would burst. “But look at our kids. Ava? This is our family. One I will always love, protect, and cherish. I want this forever.”

She tilted her head to one side and studied my face. She wouldn’t find doubt there. Not any. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Losing Phil had been the wake-up call I’d needed to clean up my act. I still loved partying and going out, but I didn’t drink as much, never touched drugs anymore, and didn’t miss hooking up with girls, the regulars, or the randoms. “Charlotte changed me. So did you and Josh. You’re all that matters now.”

Another lone tear caught on Ava’s cheek. She smiled and swiped it away. “Trusting you with my heart and, more importantly, my son, has been life-changing in more ways than one. I love you, Cole. Love this life with you. I’m terrified, but excited and happy.” She swiped her thumb across my lips. I kissed them and took her hand in mine again. She held it tight. “I would love to have another baby...one day. When the time is right, when it feels right, we can talk about marriage. But for now, let’s just enjoy being together. Living together. We’ll take the next step, and navigate every new path, together.”

I leaned forward and kissed her. Smiling against her lips, I eased her back onto the bed. I hovered over her. I drew in a deep breath and took every inch of her beautiful face in. Ava was mine. Fuck, I loved her. “Everything about you is right, Ava. I will follow you down any path you want to venture. I will kick your ass during every run. I’ve known since our tour, when you turned the world upside down to find my daughter, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. So you’d better get used to the idea. You’re stuck with me.”

She combed her fingers through my hair and shook my head. “You’re crazy, but I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Um...Ava?” Charlotte plonked down on her bottom and fidgeted with the bottom of her T-shirt. Concern and love swam in her big green eyes. She gnawed on her bottom lip, then lowered her chin. “Does...does this mean, if you live with Daddy, you will be my mommy?”

“Oh baby, come here.” Ava pushed me off her and sat upright. She drew Charlotte onto her lap and held her close. “Your mom will always be your mom. She’s in Heaven watching over you and sending you love from the stars above. Me moving in means I will love you just as much as your mom did. I will give you just as many cuddles and kisses as she gave you, if not more. You can call me Ava or Mommy, or whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Charlotte played with her shirt. Her little brow strained as if her mind struggled to comprehend what Ava had said. My chest hurt. No child should lose their mother. But I would’ve never known Charlotte existed if Shelby hadn’t been killed in an accident. I’d promised to be the father she deserved.

Charlotte sucked in a big breath. She turned to Ava, smiled, and nodded. “How about Avy? Like Ava and Mommy together.”

Fresh tears welled in Ava’s eyes...and in mine.Fuck!My kid was fucking amazing. Ava hugged and kissed Charlotte on the cheek. “I’d like that very much.”

“Cole?” Josh ran over to me and plonked down on his knees. “Will you be my dad? My real dad is a jerk.”

“Hey!” I ruffled his hair. “Luther is still your father, even though you’re right. He isn’t very nice. So always remember how he made you feel and never treat people in the same way.” I looked square into his big brown eyes, and my heart flooded with warmth. “But Josh? I love you. And your mom. And Charlotte. If it’s okay with your mom, I’d be honored to be your dad.”

“Yes.” Ava sniffled and nodded. “I’m okay with that.”

I drew Ava, Charlotte, and Josh into a group hug and cuddled them close. “We’re gonna be a family. Awesome.”

Two kids . . . and Ava.

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