Page 64 of Balance

I definitely like this group better than the freaky women in the kitchen.

Morgan continues to feed me, hold me, and hand me beers. The kids are all running through the trees before warming up by the fire for a few moments.

Marie and James head inside every so often to warm up their babies and feed them, or whatever people do with infants. I don’t know. The longest I’ve been around a baby was when Marie wastending to Mackenzie. It seemed simple enough. Change their diapers, heat up their bottles, and hold them 24/7.

Morgan wraps his arms around me as he leads me back over to the fire. “So? What do you think?”

I smile up at him and lean up to press my lips to his. My heart feels so damn full, I can’t even comprehend it.

I wasn’t expecting him to be so sweet to me in front of everyone. “Everyone has been really nice. I was expecting something more insane I think. Yelling, wrestling matches, and drunks getting rowdy.”

He snorts and guides me to a chair before he plops down on the ground beside me. “Nah, that’s only after games or on Friday nights.” He winks at me and I comb my fingers through his thick, soft hair. Mine.

“Well, that’s good to know. Have you eaten enough?”

He snorts and presses a kiss to my wrist, flicking his tongue against my pulse. My core clenches and I glance around, ensuring we’re alone. “Of course. But damn, you look fucking hot. I’m having a hard time holding myself back from dragging you into my room to fuck until you scream and come all over my cock.”

I bite down on my lip and shake my head. “Stop,” I whisper and turn my face away from him. If he keeps looking at me like that, I just might let him.

He chuckles and stands, pressing a kiss to my head. “I’ll be right back. I’m grabbing some more beer.” He leaves me alone and I inhale a deep, smoky breath. I love the smell of burning wood. It’s so peaceful and calming. Reminds me of camping.

The rest of the party was calm for the most part. Most of the kids passed out in the playroom around eight, while the adults continued to drink and have a good time.

I was even more shocked that we have no appetizers at all left, even with all of the food everyone else brought.

There were a few hiccups (puck bunnies being nasty in front of the kids, plus those escorts that passed out in a guest room, completely naked with the door open), I enjoyed meeting and getting to know Morgan’s teammates and friends.

Even if it was awkward as hell kicking everyone out at midnight and calling cabs for them.

And unlucky for me, James suggested that we host another one next month, everyone agreed that we should have it be a monthly tradition. Yay.

Hopefully no more escorts.

Chapter 22

Lillian

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Thanksgiving is in two days and I’m a nervous wreck. Not about the food or cooking, but the company. Our initial plans were to head over to Nolan’s house, since he hosts the dinners there every year, but apparently Morgan wants to stay home this year since his parents fly in tomorrow night and I have no idea what to do with myself.

Mackenzie and I went shopping last weekend and she helped me fill up my closet with a new wardrobe. Morgan and I still have our separate bedrooms, but I have been sleeping in his room most nights for the past few weeks.

Winter hasn’t really hit us yet, I was hoping for some snow by now. It’s fucking cold enough for the white stuff.

I stare at myself in the mirror as I pull on some comfortable clothes before I start on breakfast. Avery has the week off, so all three girls slept in. At least Morgan is able to be here on Thursday and Friday before flying out to California for the weekend.

And his parents are staying here for a week… with us. Alone. Without Morgan.

I groan to myself as I leave my bedroom and start whipping up eggs and pancakes, flipping bacon, and frying up some sausage. I already chopped up a ton of fruit yesterday, so that makes my life a little easier today.

I hear Mackenzie chuckling as she leaves her room. She enters the kitchen with her face buried in her phone as she taps out a reply to whoever she’s talking to.

She snaps her gaze to me and her cheeks flush before she clears her throat. “I… Uh. I heard back from my lawyer this morning. The asshole that…” She presses her lips together and she glances away as tears fill her eyes. “They dropped the charges.”

My jaw drops and I hurry to turn off the burners before I race over to her and pull her into my arms. I can’t burn any of this food and have the smoke alarms going off again.

She wraps her arms around me and burrows her face into my neck, I feel her hot tears trailing down my chest. “What the fuck? Mack, I am so sorry. What can we do? Do you want to talk to Andy again?”

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