Chapter 30
Levi
My leg bounced as we sat on the bench outside the judge’s chambers, waiting for our hearing.
Arizona’s palm came down on my knee, her touch soothing but not enough to quell its restless motion.
“What if he decides I can’t keep her?” I voiced my worst fear aloud.
“That’s not going to happen,” she promised.
“But Hilda—”
“All Hilda saw when she came to check on Maisie was a happy, well-adjusted girl who adores her father. There is simply nothing she can say that will make the judge believe that putting Maisie back in foster care is better than letting you raise her.”
I wanted to believe her. I really did.
But still, I’d plotted out the fastest route to Mexico, just in case Maisie and I had to go on the run in order to stay together.
Under my breath, I muttered, “Where the hell is the lawyer?”
Almost as if on cue, the nearby elevator dinged before the doors slid open, and a frazzled Jonathan burst forth.
Breathing heavily, he panted out, “Sorry I’m late. They didn’t call us back yet, did they?”
“If they did, we’d have been shit out of luck, wouldn’t we?” I snapped.
“Levi,” Arizona chastised.
“Sorry, I’m just—”
“Nervous, we know,” my wife and my lawyer said in unison.
Shoes squeaked on linoleum, and I lifted my head to find Hilda on approach, her scowl firmly fixed in place.
“Mr. Nixon,” she greeted me, unable to hide the disdain in her voice.
Unable to stop myself, I blurted, “What is your problem? Why are you trying to keep me from my daughter?”
Hilda didn’t bat an eyelash. “It’s my job to protect Maisie.”
“From her own father?” I cried.
She scoffed. “You never wanted to be a father.”
My temper began to rise. “Listen, lady—”
I didn’t get a chance to finish that thought before she spat, “You athletes are all alike. You chew women up and spit them out like they mean nothing. And God forbid you get one pregnant; all you do is throw money at them to ‘make it go away.’”
There was so much venom in her voice that I reared back. That sounded almost personal.
“Whoa, Hilda.” I held up both hands. “I don’t know who hurt you, but I’m not him.”
The woman’s eyes went wide, like she was just realizing she’d given us insight as to exactly why she was so biased toward me.
“Judge Jeffries will see you now.”
All of our heads turned to find that a clerk had opened the door, and the look of displeasure on the judge’s face from within his chambers betrayed that he’d heard the entire altercation.
We filed into the room. Arizona and I took up the same seats as the last time we’d been here.
Judge Jeffries cleared his throat, commanding our attention. “I intend to keep this brief.” Then he announced, “The results of the paternity test show that Levi Nixon is indeed Maisie Thorne’s biological father.”
Though I knew that to be true in my heart, it was a relief to hear it confirmed.
He turned his sharp gaze on me. “Do you still wish to seek sole custody, Mr. Nixon?”
I nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”
Then he spoke to Hilda. “Did you notice anything concerning during your home visits, Ms. Franklin?”
Hilda shook her head, and grudgingly admitted, “No, Your Honor. Though I would like to point out that, in only a month’s time, Maisie changed schools.”
The judge’s gray brows drew down. “And why was that?”
Jonathan jumped in, answering, “Maisie became the target of bullying, and the administration at Seaside Middle School did not offer adequate protection. The move to Hillcrest Preparatory Academy was for her safety.”
“I see.” Judge Jeffries made a note in Maisie’s file before returning his attention to those of us gathered in his chambers.
“Then if there are no further objections”—his gaze swung to Hilda, whose lips were pursed in displeasure but she remained silent—“I hereby award full legal custody of Maisie Thorne to Levi Nixon, effective immediately.”
Inside, I was jumping up and down, celebrating this monumental win, but outwardly, I maintained a cool facade.
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
He hummed. “You are dismissed.”
I left the room on shaky legs, and the minute we were in the hallway, I pulled Arizona into a hug. Against her hair, I breathed, “We did it.”
She pulled back, and a smile stretched across her face. “You did it.”
“No, I couldn’t have done this without you.” Dipping my head, I dusted a kiss over her lips. “God, I love you so much.”
Her hands gripped my hair, forcing my head back. With unshed tears in her beautiful blue eyes, she said, “I love you too.”
All the breath left my lungs in a rush. “Say it again.”
Pink colored her cheeks. “I love that you’ve become my constant source of comfort.
I love that you let me feel safe enough to share the messy parts of my past and never once judged the million mistakes I’ve made.
I love that you took Austin in, right alongside Maisie, as your kid, no questions asked.
” A single tear broke free of her lashes to slide down her cheek.
“But most of all, I just love you, Levi.”
With my heart ready to burst, I rested my forehead against hers, chiding playfully, “You forgot to mention that you love how I dick you down better than anyone ever has before.”
Arizona shoved at my shoulder, a laugh spilling from her lips. “And there’s the cocky playboy I married. I knew he was still in there somewhere.”
I snagged her around the waist, correcting, “Reformed playboy, baby. I’m a one-woman man these days.”
She purred. “That’s right. You’re all mine.”
Damn straight I was.
“Uh.” Jonathan’s voice cut through our private bubble. “I’m gonna head out, just wanted to let you know I’ll get the paperwork filed as soon as I’m back at the office.”
Not letting go of Arizona, I offered the lawyer my free hand. “Thank you for everything.”
He smiled. “It was my pleasure. Truly.”
Once we were alone again, I hauled my wife in for another quick kiss before releasing her and guiding her toward the elevator. “Time to go home, beautiful, so I can fuck you through the mattress before the kids get home and we get to share the news that we get to be a family forever.”
Head dropping onto my shoulder, she hummed. “Forever. I like the sound of that.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”