Page 120 of Crazy Love

“And what are you guys?” I ask Weston and Sadie.

They’ve gone for full drama. Sadie looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie with her ghostly white face and white Victorian dress. Weston leans next to her in an old-fashioned suit, his face also white. Caleb is running around looking like them, except with suspenders.

“We’re Victorian ghosts,” Sadie says primly before breaking out in a laugh.

We move to the kitchen, filling our plates with food and grabbing drinks while the kids run around. It’s loud and fun and chaotic…my kind of party. Then, as it always does when I’m with my guys, the inevitable happens.

“You know what time it is,” Henley announces, moving toward the speaker system.

“Oh no,” Weston says.

“Oh yes.” I smirk.

The opening notes of “Stronger” by Britney Spears start to play. And that’s all it takes.

“Penn, I vote you take the lead since you’ve gone blonde tonight,” Elle calls out.

I pretend to be annoyed, but I give my hips an extra sway as I point at her. “This is your fault. You brainwashed us.”

Elle is one of the best dancers I know, Tru too, actually. But Elle made Rhodes go over her dance routines in college, so he’s passed on his Britney moves to us over the years. I have to say, we’re fuckinggood.

Henley rolls his shoulders and we all move into place. Bowie looks around at us.

“If we’re going down, we’re going down together.”

“One hundred percent,” Weston says.

I look at Sam and he gives me a thumbs up. Addy winks at me.

We’re flawless. We’ve done this too many times and it’s burned into our muscle memory. When we hit the chorus and I lip sync with exaggeration, sliding my hand down my blue dress, the girls die. Poppy’s clutching her stomach, crying from laughter. Tru’s filming everything. Elle looks like the proud dance mom. Sadie doubles over when Weston twerks near her.

And Addy…she’s laughing along with the rest of them, but she’s also taking me in. Her eyes and that smile on her face tell me I’ve already won the night.

I still can’t believe she’s in my life. God, pinch me.

The song ends and we all collapse onto the couch. Sam leans against me, laughing. Winnie bounces over with excitement.

“You wereso good!” she cries. “Will you teach me that, Daddy?”

The room quiets to a pin drop and I stare at her, my throat working.

“Yes, I sure can, sweet girl,” I tell her, my voice sounding raw.

She hugs me and runs off with Gracie. Rhodes pounds me on the back and Sam wraps his arms around me in a big hug. We exchange a meaningful look.

“Love you, Penn,” he says softly.

“I love you, buddy.”

“I think of you as my dad too,” he whispers.

I tug his head back against my chest and hug him again.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. All I know is you’re mine,” I tell him.

His eyes are bright when he gets up to go find everyone else.

I look at Addy and she’s wiping tears from her cheeks.

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