Unravel Me (Playing For Keeps, #3)

by Becka Mack

She takes the skirt of her dress in her fists, looking to Adam. “Does that mean I get a jersey like Connor’s to wear to your games? One that says Daddy on the back?”

Tears cascade down Lily’s cheeks as she rubs her eyes with her shaking fists. “Does that mean I can call you Mommy?”

And then she takes my hand and says, “I think I’m ready to unpack my bag today.”

“Adam,” Olivia says simply. “He’s a bigger DILF than Carter.”

Being a dad has never suited a single person alive more than it suits this man, I swear to God. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve jumped on him the moment he leaves their rooms after reading them a bedtime story, tucking them in for the night. And I did the same damn thing when Adam came home four nights ago, showed me the new mask he’d made with Lily’s artwork on it, a drawing of our family.

Lily’s chin quivers. “I drew that picture. You put it on your helmet?” Adam nods. “Gotta keep my family with me when I’m on the ice.”

Adam looks at us, and he taps his heart three times.

I’d get up early every day for the rest of my life, so long as it’s this family I’m getting up early with.

Adam’s fingers tighten around mine, pulling me to a stop. The emotion shining in his eyes reflects exactly what I feel in my heart—so damn much gratitude for the love of a lifetime.

“I thought you was gonna wait for the sun to come all the way up,” Lily reminds Adam. “’Cause you said she’s like a sunrise.”

And now we’re here, and I’m looking up at you, and the only words I can think of are thank you. Thank you for trusting me with all of you, your fears, your insecurities, your past, and your future. Thank you for letting me into your life, for making me feel like I belonged there.”

I toss my arms around him and cry for a love I spent my life dreaming of.

You didn’t throw my whole world off balance. You centered it. It was like you were my gravity, and every moment I was with you, everything settled into place. My fears, my insecurities, my hopes, and my dreams. I was at peace with everything, as long as you were by my side.”

“With you, I found my gravity. That’s worth so much more than my chaos.”

And when it’s time to leave, Adam takes a pocketknife from his bag and adds C, L, and A to that heart forever marked in the tree.

🥺🥺🥺

Blue eyes flip to mine just in time for me to track the single tear that escapes, running down his cheek. “We made a winter baby?” I grin, covering his hand with mine, and shrug. “Oops.”