Unravel Me (Playing for Keeps #3)

by Becka Mack

“Maybe that’s the point. Maybe when you stop looking and just live… maybe that’s when you find your magic.”

I need a motherfucking girls’ night.

Me: I need your help. I met a girl.

This body isn’t perfect, but for all it’s done and everything it’s given me, it’s beautiful.

I think they might be my favorite people in the world.

“I am not somebody else’s opinion of me,” I whisper. “I’m strong. I’m resilient. My heart is big and kind. I’m always learning. I’m the only one of me.”

“You were never his dirty secret, Rosie. You’re his world, and I’m pretty sure it’s stopped spinning since you’ve been gone.”

“I’ll call you if I need anything at all, and I promise I won’t swear anymore!” I push her—gently—toward the entrance of the building. “Have a great day, we love you!” I stop, popping a fist on my hip, brows furrowed as I replay those last three words in my head. “No, I didn’t, um…” My eyes come to Rosie’s. She’s standing there, clutching her breakfast, grinning at me. “Okaybye!” I dash to my side, throw myself in, and tear out of the parking lot without another look in her direction. “Shit. That was a close one, huh, bud?” Connor grins at me in the reflection of the car seat mirror. “Shit.” Ah fuck.

“Sometimes you’re not born to your family, not your forever one. Sometimes you are, and tragedy strikes and separates you until you can be together again. And sometimes, despite it all, you find your family. You choose each other every single day, over and over. When you find the people who come into your life and make it whole, you don’t hesitate, Rosie. You grab it before it’s gone, because life without them is no longer living. It’s simply existing.”

“Marry me,” he blurts, then blinks rapidly, like he can’t believe those words just left his mouth. “Ah shit. That wasn’t how that was supposed to happen.” “I thought you was gonna do it at the tree,” Lily scolds, hands on her hips. “Where her parents are.” She taps her foot. “And you have to give her the ring, Daddy. That’s what’s gonna make her say yes.” “I’m so sorry,”

“Sometimes people say they know they’ve found the one because they turned their world upside down, took everything they thought they knew and shook it up. But you? Not you, Rosie. 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.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, his thumb sweeping over the dimple in my chin as he smiles. “With you, I found my gravity. That’s worth so much more than my chaos.”