Page 91 of Home in the Country
“Do noteverpull that shit again, do you hear me?” His words are low but stern, and I nod as best I can with his hands still tangled in my hair.
“I won’t. I’m so sorry, Otto, I—”
“Later,” he growls before placing one more searing kiss on me and pulling away. “And Princess?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re inbigfuckin’ trouble.”
I swallow hard for an entirely different reason when I catch the fire-laced mischief in his ice-blue eyes. Reaching for my hand, Otto and I walk to where Tanner shifts from one foot to the other.
“I already signed him out, so it should be just a couple more minutes.”
Tanner nods, his fidgeting worsening with each passing second until a small voice is heard above the chatter.
“That’s my dad!” Briggs yells and races through the other kids, his bookbag jumping on his shoulders with each step he takes. He launches himself at Tanner, but I can’t see anything through the tears streaming down my face.
Otto squeezes my hand, and it’s only when I look up at him that I notice his phone in his hand. It’s pointed at Tanner and Briggs. He’s recording the reunion of my son and his father, and then there’s no question.
No hesitation.
I’ve fallen head over heels in love for this stupidly beautiful man with his big selfless heart and generous soul.
He nods toward Tanner and Briggs and releases my hand, and I fall just a little more. My arms wrap around them and there’s no way to hold back the tears.
I’m home.
My family is home.
And the love of my life has given me everything I could ever want and more than I deserve.
“Otto! Did you see my dad came?” Otto tucks his phone in his pocket as Tanner and I wipe our eyes.
“I did, Big Rigg. That’s pretty darn cool.” Briggs jumps from Tanner’s arms and into Otto’s waiting ones.
“You’re still My Otto, right?” he whispers in a way that is absolutelynota whisper, and I choke on a new wave of emotion.
“Yeah, Big Rigg, your dad and I talked so we’re friends now.”
“Awesome!”
Leaning toward Tanner Iactually whisper,“Friends? Already?”
“Seriously, that guy is impossible not to like.”
“I know.”
Otto winks at me over Briggs’s head as he tells an animated story about playing dinosaurs on the playground.
“He’s already getting us matching shirts.”
“No, he’s not.”
“He is. And he told me if things don’t work out with you, he’s still going to be around for Briggs, so you’re going to need to figure it out because I can’t handle two kids right now on my own.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.” I giggle.
“Are you kidding? I’ve been with him for like an hour and I’m beat.” Tanner lowers his voice. “So when are you gonna marry him?”
