Stuck With You

Chapter 51

SARAH

“You did this, didn’t you?” he snarls.

I step out onto the porch with Grover and close the door. My dog sits at my feet, huffing out short little warning barks.

“Miles, what are you doing here?” I wrap my arms around myself, trying not to shake from the cold and my anxiety bouncing around like a ping-pong ball.

His eyes are wild and filled with rage. “You have no idea what you’ve done. You think you’ll gain something from this?” he scoffs.

“Miles, what are you talking about?” I assume he’s referring to the women coming forward, but I’m not sure.

“Don’t play dumb, Sarah. We both know how desperate you are.”

I shake my head, willing myself to remain calm. “Miles, everything you’ve done will only come back to haunt our kids. Don’t think for one second I’d ever wish that on them. Whatever is happening, you did that.”

I slide around him and descend the porch steps, leading him away from the house to his car.

“Where are you going?” His voice is raised, but I don’t care.

I’ve spent enough time fearing a man who is nothing more than a coward.

“Sorry you made the trip, but it’s time for you to go. Whatever mess your actions have led you to, that’s your problem.” I stop at his sedan, needing him to get in and never return .

“You just couldn’t handle seeing me make it to the top. You’re pathetic. If this is your attempt to spew some sob story, it won’t work. Everyone already thinks you slept your way to the crown and beyond, but I forgave you even when they thought I wasn’t the one who got you pregnant.”

This man is seriously delusional. My gut fills with anger from the weight of his lies.

“You won’t get away with trying to defame me.” He snorts a laugh.

I cross my arms, tension screaming throughout my body, so completely sick of him and his ego.

The sound of my pulse fills my ears. “Miles, I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing. If I gave a shit enough to plan revenge, believe me, it wouldn’t have taken this long.”

His nostrils flare. “You seriously expect me to believe you or that bitch of a lawyer didn’t contact these women and pay them to talk?”

I laugh, and my skin crawls with fire as sweat collects under my arms. “Pay someone? What? With my Mega Pot winnings. Miles, I’m lucky if I can buy something other than Folgers to survive on.

And let me tell you, coffee is way more important to me than spending time or money scrounging up just a few of the women you did wrong. ”

“You think this is funny?” He grits his teeth, leaning and getting in my face.

“Hey!”

I twist at the sound.

Oh, man. Slade is a soldier charging into battle. His boots are unlaced, his sleeves are rolled up, revealing the beautiful artwork down to his balled fists. The fierce scowl on his face makes my stomach roll and flip into a backward somersault.

My lungs expand at just the sight of him.

Miles takes a quick step back. “I told you last time this doesn’t involve you. You need to head back to your—”

“And I told you I don’t give a fuck what you have to say. This involved me the second you rolled into this neighborhood.” The warning in his ground-out words is loud and clear. “You touch her, and you’ll spend years learning how to talk again.”

I watch Slade’s dominant posture grow three sizes as he stops beside me. I stare at him, his chest heaving, and there might be subtle growls rolling out.

Grover bounces at his feet as if he’s happy to have back up.

Miles releases a little laugh that’s filled with condescending arrogance.

The toes of Slade’s boots inch forward, daring him. I shift, and the back of my hand presses into the solid muscle underneath his shirt to keep the Goliath in place.

“You need to go,” I tell Miles, bracing myself against my protector.

“You’ve made a huge mistake, Sarah. The only thing you’re doing is sending yourself and our kids back to the shithole you grew up in.”

It should sting, but it doesn’t. Growing up the way I did taught me how to work and appreciate every single thing I’ve earned. My mom is right. Small and simple leaves you with less to screw up.

“They are not your kids. No father lets his children starve.” Slade’s tone is so tense, I expect fire to shoot forth.

“They’re only starving if she’s not feeding them.” Miles’s arrogant, dark eyes run over Slade. “This is a joke. You think you have some place here?”

Slade takes a step closer, his nostrils flaring. “They’re mine. All of them. It’s up to Sarah if you’re ever involved in their lives and to what capacity, but to be clear, it won’t be because they need you.”

My entire body goes still. Silence ensues as Miles pulls open his door. He says something, but I don’t hear whatever garbage he spews.

I lift my gaze to peer up at the big man who just said. . .something.

My heart doesn’t know what to do. It’s fluttering all around. Speed up. Slow down. Speed up. Slow down.

I put a hand on my chest. Did Slade just say that we are. . .his?

I’m lost in some kind of momentary time warp.

Slade watches Miles back out of the drive, but I can only stare at him.

This man, who sat with me and held my kids while we were sick.

The one who took us in when we needed it.

He’s been showing up day after day. Could he have possibly meant what I think he just said?

I need a second to wrap my head around it. Where the hell is a doorbell camera when you need one? I need proof. Evidence that this solid, solitary, overtly blunt, and semi-emotionless man just said that we are his.

My mind can’t keep up, and it’s a little hard to breathe. Ollie, squeezing his neck and whispering that he loves him, slams into me all over again.

Slade turns to me. “Are you ok?” His voice is low and gentle.

I don’t know. What the hell is it with this driveway and things happening in it?

“Y’all ok?” Brandon’s distant voice snaps me from my wonder.

Slade waves a hand, but his eyes don’t leave mine.

I need a freaking moment. I turn, taking the porch steps two at a time, my heart hammering in my chest. I continue on toward the kitchen, but stop when I hear the front door click shut. I spin, and the man who I think just said what he said stands inside the door.

“Sarah, what happened?” His hands move to his hips while I feel like I might actually hyperventilate. “Did he—”

“What the hell was that?” It comes out breathy, and my throat might actually be closing up.

“He won’t talk to you—”

I hold up my hand, reminding myself to inhale and exhale. I’m in love with him. Totally and completely, and I’ve only just realized how badly I need him to love me back. But not just me. Ollie and Frankie, too.

I’ve never been claimed or wanted for me.

The messy, raw version that Slade should have grown tired of.

The me who cries into his shirt and drools when she sleeps, so freaking tired from life screwing with me.

The one who hides behind sarcasm and poise to shield me from the pain and shame that lies beneath .

I’ve been terrified this whole time, believing there’s no way a man like this could ever want. . .me.

My eyes burn as I remind myself to breathe. “No. Not that.” I shake my head.

He stares at me. He cannot go and say something like that without explaining himself.

My heart pounds and my throat narrows to the size of a straw. I rotate my finger, needing him to get with it and explain himself. Right now.

“Sarah.” His weight shifts from one big foot to the other, his shoulders holding strong. “I seriously suck at charades. They weren’t lying.”

Is he trying to be funny? Now!

“I’m just a little. . .” I place a hand on my forehead.

He takes a tiny step closer. “I’m talking about the whole ‘they’re mine’ thing.” I choke it out. “What the hell was that?”

He doesn’t move, his large hands falling to his sides as I watch his chest expand and deflate. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who’s having a little trouble with oxygen.

“I meant what I said.” It’s that clear, blunt tone that tells me he means it.

He told me he would never lie to me, so I know it wasn’t just to scare Miles off. But does it really mean what I need it to mean? Because I need Slade.

A portion of the pressure eases off my chest. “Were you. . .ever going to say something?”

His lips twitch. “I was thinking about it.”

I huff, my head falling toward the floor, my breath coming a little easier. “You were thinking about it?”

He remains silent, and my frustration climbs, needing him to tell me straight up what that meant.

“Slade, tell me exactly what you meant when you called us yours because I’m about one millisecond from coming over there and doing something that will change everything. If I do that and you push me away, I promise you I will not be ok.”

Those green eyes flick between mine, and all I hear is the pounding of my own heart while I await his direct response.

“Get over here.” It’s that low, commanding tone, but gentle.

I stare at him, not moving, feeling like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. I want to jump, but I’m scared.

“Sarah.” The sound of my name rolling off his tongue brings me back from the ledge. “Come. Here.”

I know him and the losses he’s endured. He’s just as afraid as I am and is asking me to meet him halfway.

I inhale and cross the room, standing before him.

“Sarah.” His voice is even softer.

I meet his gaze, and all I see is earnestness.

“I meant everything I said. I want you to be mine. All three of you. I don’t want you to need him. Ever.”

I let those words soak in and through me.

His large, rough hands cup my face. “I wouldn’t push you away. Not ever.”

I blink, staring up at him. “You wouldn’t?”

He shakes his head. “But I’m not really good at this, so I still need you to go easy on me.”

A little laugh escapes as my heart rate begins to ease back into a normal pace, and my eyes fill with tears.

“Ok.” I breathe out, knowing I can do that. “But are you sure? This. The three of us. It’s a lot, and if we do this, you’re going to be stuck with us.”

He releases my face, linking his arms around my lower back. “I never thought I could do this with anyone. . .until you. And Ollie and Frankie. I didn’t want to.” He swallows, but his eyes never leave mine. “I want to be stuck with you. Forever.”

I. Am. Done. I throw my arms around his neck and haul myself up, my mouth crashing into his .

I tilt my head, needing more, and his tongue tangles with mine. I kiss him like I’ve needed to every day since I kissed him for the first time.

His shoulders dip, and his large hands grip the back of my thighs, hoisting me up. I wrap my legs around him, and his fingers dig into my ass, pulling me against him.

I tug away, seeking air, and his mouth glides down my neck, kissing and nipping. I need this, and I need him. Always.

“Slade,” I breathe out.

I lift his face to mine, and his emerald eyes tell me he needs me, too. I smile, leaning in and taking his lower lip between my teeth.

He groans a guttural sound, and I squeeze my legs around his waist, sparks shooting straight to my core. I chase his growl with a kiss as one rough palm slips under my shirt, skimming up my spine. He takes two steps—

“Mama.”

I jerk away, but Slade keeps a firm hold on me. He doesn’t even flinch, his chest moving in and out against mine.

I twist, and Ollie stands at the edge of the hallway with his bloated, sad, blue fish tucked under his arm, grinning.

I turn back to Slade. A confident smirk slides across his lips as if he knows exactly what he’s doing. I release my breath and drop my forehead to his shoulder.

“Frankie was crying, so I took her b-bus to her. She’s p-playing in her crib.”

Slade releases my legs slowly, allowing me to stand on my own two feet again, and for the blaring need begins to dwindle.

He grabs my face and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Later.”

I sag, my body roaring at the sound of his promise as he steps around me.

Ollie snickers, and I let out a little laugh.

This man has completely undone me. Stripped me bare of all of my defenses and desire to be fully self-reliant .

“Morning, partner.” He scoops Ollie from the floor and into his arms. “What do you think about making breakfast while your mom changes Frankie?”

“Can we make p-pancakes?” Ollie’s hand rests on Slade’s cheek.

“And eggs to build muscle?”

Ollie nods quickly.

“Deal.”

“All right, you boys make breakfast, and we girls will. . .pull ourselves together.” I glare at Slade for seeming so completely unaffected as I move around them.

His arm jets out, hooking my waist, but he looks at Ollie. “Is it ok if I kiss your mom sometimes?”

Ollie’s face scrunches. “Wike on the wips?”

Slade nods. “Yeah.”

“Eww. I guess.” He shrugs his small shoulder but smiles.

“Good.” Slade presses his lips to my forehead and then releases me.

I head to Frankie’s room and hear them talking.

“How about pancakes with chocolate chips?” It’s Slade’s deep voice.

Followed by Ollie’s, “Yes!”

Frankie sees me and stands in her crib. “Ma-ma.”

“Hi, Love Bug. Did Ol bring your toys in here?”

She points to her bus and the little princesses around it.

“He’s a pretty good big brother, isn’t he?”

She smiles.

“Should we change your dipe?”

She reaches for me, and I lift her, smothering her with kisses as she giggles. I take my time, letting the emotions from the last hour roll from my body.

We join the boys in the kitchen, the scent of coffee in the air. Ollie sits on the counter, stirring the batter while Slade cracks eggs in a skillet.

“Ade. Ade. Ade.” Frankie bobs on my hip toward him .

Slade looks over his shoulder at her. He rinses his hands, and she leans for him.

“Smells good in here.” I smile at him.

“We’re making ch-chocolate chip pancakes.” Ollie lifts a spatula in the air.

“Think you can flip them and not let them burn?” Slade raises an eyebrow.

I dip a shoulder, taking the spatula from Ollie. “It was one moment of baking weakness. Are you ever going to let that go?”

He shakes his head slowly, but I see the mischievous smirk behind his stare.

I point the plastic tool at him. “Careful, Desert Kitty. Two can play at that game.”

“I hope so.”

I stare at him, holding my sweet girl and looking way too sexy and confident.

Well, shit . I squint one eye at him as I move to the stove, knowing this might be one very long day.