Page 96 of Forever

“Mama,” Kennedy said and wiped beneath her eyes. “Stop, you’re making everyone cry.”

Mrs. Alcaraz sniffed. “Sí sí.But he’d be so proud of both mis niñas. How strong you both are.” She grabbed one of Kennedy’s hands and mine. “And I am proud too.”

She really was trying to make us cry.

“I think we could all use a group hug,” Mrs. Caldwell said and put her arms around the three of us.

Justin put his arms around us too. “I love my girls.”

I smiled through my tears. Matt was right. My mom wasn’t here, but Mrs. Caldwell and Mrs. Alcaraz were pretty great stand-ins.

Chapter 23

Thursday

Matt

“And the duck goes…”

“Quack,” Jacob said with a yawn and put his head on my shoulder.

I smiled down at him. We had a new routine. He loved reading his favorite books in the dark with a flashlight. While the stars glowed above his bed.

Usually Brooklyn was with us though. I was a little worried he’d be hard to put to sleep without her tonight. But he hadn’t made a fuss. He just seemed excited to read his story.

“And the lion goes…”

“Roar.” He yawned again.

“And the monster goes…”

Jacob started snoring lightly. Usually he was jumping around to this part of the book. But Tanner had been playing football in the backyard with him when I’d gotten home from Justin’s studio. Mason and I had joined them, and the four of us had kept playing for at least another hour. Jacob was tuckered out.

I smiled as Jacob snored again. He actually sounded just like Brooklyn when she was really tired. For a second I just stared at him sleeping. His little head on my shoulder.

For years, I’d tried to pretend I didn’t want a family. That I didn’t want to be a father. But I couldn’t be more wrong. This little guy made my heart feel so full. I knew he wasn’t my kid. But it was hard to believe he wasn’t when we were playing football. Or reading like this. Or dancingaround the kitchen. This kid was a piece of me. I guess because Brooklyn was a piece of me.

I’d meant what I said to Brooklyn. That I would have been happy just the three of us. I kissed the top of Jacob’s head and gently moved him so he was lying down. I tried my best not to move the bed too much as I climbed off. I put the book down on his nightstand, switched off the flashlight, and tiptoed to the door.

“Goodnight, Daddy,” Jacob said.

I froze. I thought my heart was already full. But hearing him call me that? I turned around to say goodnight too.

But Jacob was staring up at the ceiling.

I swallowed hard. I don’t know why I thought he was calling me that. Jacob had told me he didn’t want me to be his dad. That he wanted to keep calling me Coach. And I was fine with that. I understood that. I just…I had a slip up. But my chest felt all funny now. Of course he wasn’t talking to me.

Jacob turned back to me and smiled. “Goodnight, Coach. I love you.”

I blinked and for a second and didn’t say anything at all. That hit differently. Because it was definitely for me. Jacob loved so freely. He trusted me to keep him safe. To keep his mom safe. To make sure they were both happy. No, I wasn’t his dad. But I could definitely be his coach. “I love you too, kiddo.”

He closed his eyes, rolled over on his side, and held one of his stuffed animals tight.

I stared at him for another moment until I heard him snoring again. And then I closed the door.

The house was eerily quiet now that Tanner and Mason had left and Brooklyn still wasn’t home. I picked up some of the toys that were strewn on the floor. As I put the last truck in the basket, I paused at one of the photoson the mantel. Of Miller and Brooklyn smiling at the camera. I exhaled slowly and walked toward the back door. There was something I needed to do. I closed the door quietly behind me.

“Hey,” I said and stared up at the sky. “I know you don’t like me, man.” How could he possibly?

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