Page 93 of Crazy Love

the Sexiest Man Alive title!

~Rhodes

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she says.

I lift a shoulder. “I’ve been too busy to think about it between practice and the kids.” I laugh and swipe my hand down my face. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed. I used to care about the stupidest things.”

“It’s not stupid. It’s fun and well-earned andtrue.”

I wave her off. “I like this life a lot better.”

“I like it a lot too,” she whispers.

I stand and reach down, picking her up. She laughs as I jog her up the stairs.

“I wasn’t done reading,” she says, giggling into my neck.

“That can wait. Let me show you just how much I like this life…withyou,” I tell her when I have her laid out on our bed.

I kiss my way down her body and make sure she has no doubts.

The Mustangs have won all their preseason games. We’ve finally found our groove again and it’s great. But it feels a little surrealthat things are clicking so well on the field when everything off the field feels like sludging uphill in muddy water.

Tonight is our first game of the season and we win the game. 38-0.

“You’re playing better than you ever have,” Rhodes tells me as we’re walking to the family area afterward.

“You think so? Thanks, man,” I say, bumping his fist.

When we reach the room, I see Addy hustling to make sure all the bagged lunches are ready for the players and Winnie’s standing close to my mom’s side, her head tipped back as my mom talks to her. My dad and Sam are reenacting a play from the game and both are beaming.

Addy walks over when she sees me. “Such a great game!” she says excitedly.

I lean in and kiss her, something I can’t resist doing anymore, no matter who’s around. Never thought I’d be that man either, but her fucking lips are like a lifeline.

“Thank you, Siren,” I whisper.

I crouch down in front of Winnie and smile. “Did you like the game?”

She hesitates for a second, her green eyes flicking to mine.

Then she says, so quietly that I almost think I’ve imagined it, “Yes.”

You’d think she’d just quoted the periodic table from the way we all react. My mom gasps. My dad lets out a loud laugh. Sam’s eyes widen as he rushes toward her. Addy’s hand flies to her mouth.

“You liked it?” I repeat, just to see if she’ll say it again.

She bobs her head quickly.

“That’s awesome,” I say, my throat tight.

I reach out and squeeze her hand gently. She smiles at me and I have to blink really fast.

Addy slides her hand into my free hand. I glance over and see tears in her eyes, her lips trembling.

Winnie’s first word. After all this time. A small win, maybe, but it feels huge. Like we’ve just scaled the first ledge of a mountain.

Sam throws his arms around Winnie. “Told you it was fun!” he says, and she doesn’t pull away. He leans his head against hers. “I’ve missed hearing your voice, Winnie.” His eyes are glassy when he looks up at me, and God, I love that kid.

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