Page 124 of What if It's Us

“Well, mission accomplished. I will never forget the moment you face-planted doing a victory lap with a pink smoke trail behind you.”

“That was for dramatic effect,” he deadpans.

“You tripped over your own stick and you know it,” I tease, giggling.

He mutters, “She’s never letting it go.”

We drive in silence for a minute, the glow from the dashboard lights soft against his face. I turn toward him, watching his expression shift from relaxed to something quieter, deeper.

“You okay?” I ask.

He exhales through his nose. “Yeah. It’s just…it’s real now. I mean, it was real before, but tonight made it feelreal, real.Like…we’re really going to be parents. To threetiny humans.”

“Terrifying, isn’t it?”

“Completely. I mean, I don’t even keep plants in the house because I always forget to water them. I don’t have pets because how the hell could I possibly take care of one with my schedule?”

I laugh again, but this time I reach over and take his hand in mine. “We’re not going to be perfect, Ledger. But we’re going to love the crap out of these kids. And we’ve got people who love uswho will help us any time we need it. We’ve got a whole village of helpers.”

He swallows hard. “I want to be good at this, Marlee. I want to give them everything I didn’t have. I want them to feel safe. Always.”

“You already do that for me.”

He turns to me, eyes a little too shiny for the tough hockey guy image he usually pulls off. “You’re everything I never thought I’d get to have. You and these three babies…you’re my whole damn world.”

And just like that, the emotional dam I’ve been holding back all night finally cracks.

“I love you,” I whisper, choking on happy tears. “Even when you make major life announcements with fireworks and puck shrapnel.”

He smiles, lifting our joined hands to his lips. “And I love you. Even when you sob-laugh and threaten to pee during sentimental moments.”

“Fair.”

“Still craving nachos?”

“Absolutely.”

He signals for a detour.

“I know a 24-hour taco truck,” he says.

“God, this is why I love you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

LEDGER

24 WEEKS

“I’m thinking about visiting my father,” I finally say after a long comfortable silence sitting with my Dad. I drove out here on a whim not knowing exactly what I wanted to say or how I was going to talk about what’s been on my mind. Somehow I knew if I could just make it home, Nick would know how to handle the situation. And I was right.

The moment I walked in the house he gave me a beer, took one for himself, and then sat quietly with me at the kitchen bar, sharing a space with me and reminding me I’m not alone, until I was ready to speak.

Dad glances sideways. “Okay.”

“My… biological one, obviously.”

He doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink. Just waits.

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