Page 97 of Tell Me You Love Me

When Chris is around, Franky no longer feelsweird. “He said he would!”

“He always says what he means, honey.” I drag him closer, hugging him to my hip and riding a swell of emotion when he drapes his arm across myback. My baby is happy. My world hurts far, far less these days. And when Tommy’s eyes scan the crowd, his dark, dangerous stare skims over the top of those who jump and scream for his attention.

Finally, he stops on me and exhales, his glare turning to pleased amusement.

“Well, that was…” Colin releases a cautious breath, tilting closer and tapping his shoulder against mine. “Brutal. Are you seriously telling methisis the guy you left behind? You let us get married and didn’t even warn me my life was in danger for ten long years?”

“Oh, stop it!” Laughing, I lean forward and find Tasha on his other side. “He’s being a baby! Tommy made sure he’d have front-row seats to this, and the best he’s got are complaints?”

“I think he gave us front-row seats so I’d know what was coming for me!” Colin drapes his arm over Tasha’s shoulders, dragging her closer and kissing her temple. “This wasn’t a gift, Alana. It was a warning.”

“You’re being dramatic.” I focus on the cage and watch Chris wrap the shiny new belt around Tommy’s hips. He claps his brother on the shoulder and yanks him in for a hug, pride swelling between them both.

But when they part and Tommy crosses the canvas, poking just one finger through the cage and beckoning me closer, my heart spins out of control.

Adrenaline and anticipation mingle. Love and pride, too. The fear of being splashed all over live television—again—a remembered trauma I hardly wish to relive. But to stay away when he’s calling me closer is… impossible.

Helen’s stunt in the summer ended with her not only losing me as a client, but her agency letting her go, too. And because her actions were so publicly visible, last I heard, she’s yet to find a job atanyagency since.

That’s what happens when you can’t take no for an answer.

Mynewagent has, so far, respected my wishes and remained entirely professional, eagerly awaiting my new book to arrive in her email—I’m nearly done.

“Alana!” Tommy’s shout travels above the din, his playful eyes a dancing torment. He knows I don’t want attention, butIknow he will forever bethemost protective person in my world.

“I’m gonna go to the front for a second, okay, honey?” Nervous fear runs rampant through my veins, sprinting through my stomach until our daughter kicks against my ribs in retaliation. I look down and wait forFranky’s eyes. “I want to tell Tommy congratulations. Do you want to stay here with Colin and Tasha? You’ll still be able to see me.”

He shakes his head, grabbing my hand and holding on tight. Then, he surprises me with a beaming smile. “I want to come, too.”

“Really? It’ll be louder over there. And everyone will see you.”

“Chris is over there.” He turns and takes the lead, gently pulling me along the row of seats, glancing back to make sure he’s careful with me. To make sure he isn’t the reason I stumble or fall. “He said I could come to the cage, too, if I wanna. And that I can look at the guy on the ground.”

“He said that?” I laugh. “He predicted there would be a guy on the ground?”

“Hepromisedit.” He has to shout over the cheers of ravenous fight fans, and brims with approval when a guard even larger than Tommy himself meets us at the end of the row and envelopes us in a cocoon of safety.

He keeps the hordes away, protecting us from those who want to come closer. Shielding us because we know Tommy, and fans will do anything to be near him. He moves people out of the way, like Moses parting the sea, and leads us where we need to go.

“Are you tired, Mom?” Franky twines his fingers with mine, matching my pace instead of rushing toward the cage. “Are you alright?”

“You don’t need to worry about me, you know?” I drag him in and run my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. “It isnotyour job to take care of me.”

“I know.” He pushes his glasses up his nose. “Did you know there are about eighty-two million moms in our country? Two billion worldwide. And it’s so weird, because you’re the best one.”

Godddddd. My heart thrums, and tears prickle the backs of my eyes. I stop in place and turn to face my baby, setting my hands on his shoulders and sliding my thumbs over his cheeks. “How long have you saved that one up to drop on me?”

“Since last night. Did you know an average mom has changed about seven-thousand diapers before her baby is two years old?”

“I mean…” I snicker. “I didn’t know the data. But it sure felt like seven thousand by the time I was done. How areyoufeeling about all this?” I set one hand on my rounding stomach. “Are you okay with it?”

He grins, nodding eagerly. “I wonder if she’ll be like me or like you?” He looks past me, which means Idon’tjump when Tommy sets his sweaty arm on my shoulder and a gentle kiss on my temple. “If she’s like me, I’llfinally have someone decent to play chess with. But if she’s like you,” teasing, he looks to Tommy instead, “I’ll teach her how to count one plus one and hope she can keep up.”

“Oh, you think you’re clever, huh?” He reaches out and musses Franky’s hair. “I win either way, buddy. If she’s like your mom, I’m gonna be obsessed. And if she’s like you and Chris, then?—”

“You’ll teach her how to fight and annoy her when you ruin a perfectly good game of chess?”

“If she’s like you, then I’ll consider myself the luckiest guy on the planet.”

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