Chapter 25
MIKE
Iwake up to the sun beating down on me. Stretching like a cat, I bask in the warmth of it and wiggle against the sheets.
Am I naked? I peek under the covers. Definitely naked. Why am I naked?
What time is it?
Why is it so bright in here? It’s never this bright in the morning. Only in the afternoon.
Any rest I felt vanishes when I bolt up in bed and reach for my phone. Shite. I never plugged it in. I tear out of the bed and run into the living room, dick flopping with the motion as I check the time on the oven. Fuck, it’s nearly one. The St. Paddy’s Day program is at two.
And my car is still parked on the mountain.
Feckin’ hell.
I plug in my cell and throw on some clothes.
Once I’m dressed, I fidget as I sit on the bed, anxiously glaring at the phone as if doing so would charge it faster.
I’m aware of every sound in the apartment building as I sit there helpless with no way to contact the outside world.
No home phone. No computer. Just this stupid useless feckin’ brick charging at a snail’s pace.
Getting frustrated, I race out to the kitchen again to check the time.
It’s quarter after one. If someone gave me a ride to my truck, it’d take twenty minutes to get up there, another thirty to get to the school, and that’s assuming they could get here within minutes of my call, so I’d have to add even more time to that.
Fuck.
I have to try. I can’t let Lucky down. And Micah is expecting me to be at his assembly, so I have to find a way. I can’t break my word to either of them again.
The sound of buzzing pulls me from my thoughts, and I hurry back to the bedroom and pick up my phone, swiping through all the notifications popping up now that it’s powered back on. I’ll check them later, but right now I need to find a ride. I frantically tap Hardy’s contact info and call him.
He answers after one ring. “Hope you’re wearing green—”
I cut him off as I try to get everything out. “I need a ride to the school. I got in late from the fire and I never charged my phone, and I overslept, and I have to be at the school because I promised Micah.”
“Slow down, Mike. Does your accent come out only on St. Paddy’s Day, because it’s thicker than normal and I’m having a hard time understanding you.”
Before I can repeat my mess of thoughts, he bursts into laughter. “I’m just fucking with you. Look in the parking lot.”
I race over to the window, and when I peek through the blinds, I see Hardy in his truck waving at me through the windshield.
Relief washes over me and I take a deep breath as I gather up my phone and keys. I dig around my nightstand drawer for my wallet, and my attention snags on something underneath it. I pocket both items and rush out the door.
When I climb into the cab of his truck seconds later, I almost don’t recognize him from the dopey grin on his face.
“I’m here to give you a ride to the assembly at the school.”
“How did you know?”
“Bella told me you needed to be there, and she tends to be right about a lot of things. I also figured you’d left your car when I heard Blaze mention that he gave you a ride.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
The parking lot is full when we pull into the school. It looks like the whole town is here. Hardy and I end up finding seats in the back row of the auditorium right as a line of students marches in, heading for the stage.
I spot Micah searching the crowd, and I wave, hoping he’s looking for me.
He could be trying to find his mom, but when he sees me, the biggest smile lights up his face.
Damn, I love when this kid smiles at me.
My chest warms at the sight. He doesn’t share as many smiles as his brother, but when he does it’s damn hard to look away from the joy radiating from him.
My eyes scan the room looking for a familiar blonde ponytail when I spot it in the front row. It’s obvious she’s working, corralling kids and miming the movements for them to copy as she mouths the words to the songs they’re singing.
It’s amazing how quickly my body calms at the sight of her. She is my peace. All I want to do is go over there and kiss her, pull her into my arms, and reassure her that she is more than enough for me. Hell, she and the boys are all I want.
Instead, I sit through the program, my eyes bouncing between Micah and Lucky when something tugs at my pants leg.
Looking down, I see Levi on all fours peering up at me like he’s a dog.
He climbs up my leg and I lift him, depositing him on my lap as he fidgets to get comfortable.
I lean down to press a kiss atop his crown, feeling my pulse finally even out.
I lean over to Hardy, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Hey, can you—”
“Already on it.” He holds up his phone to show me the text he’s sent Bella to let her know we have Levi.
When I look down at him, he’s conked out. I rope an arm around his waist, holding him in place as his head droops onto my bicep.
The program feels longer than it should be, probably because it’s the only thing left standing between me and Lucky, and I’m dying to talk to her.
Once it ends, I stay in my seat, not wanting to move and wake Levi up. Hardy stays seated beside me.
“I meant to ask, is Sparky okay?”
Hardy nods. “He’s good. It’s lucky you found him when you did. Coulda been really bad if you hadn’t checked on him.”
The auditorium clears out, and I lock eyes with Lucky as she emerges from backstage.
“Here, I got him.” Hardy pulls Levi from my arms and stands. “Go get your girl.”
I nod, my eyes never leaving Lucky’s as he shuffles by me. As I make my way to the stage, I take her in. She’s wearing a bright green shirt with the words “One lucky teacher” printed over her perfect tits and a dark green skirt covered in shamrocks.
Da would hate it, but I think she looks feckin’ beautiful.
“I’m sorry I had to leave ya the other night,” I say, my voice rough since I haven’t used it much today.
She tilts her head, examining my face as if she’s waiting for me to say more.
“I didn’t want to leave ya. I never want to leave ya. Nothing will change that. You and those boys matter more to me than any bloodline or name. And I don’t care if you can’t have more. You are enough for me, all of ya.”
Her fingers twitch and I watch as she reaches into the pocket of her dress and pulls out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me with a shaky hand. Is she nervous? Why is she nervous? And why hasn’t she said anything?
Something tightens in my gut at the way she’s acting. It’s not like her. Her eyes flick to the paper, gesturing for me to open it.
I blink in confusion. When I unfold it, I realize it’s her list. Everything we’ve completed is checked off. The only unfinished item—“be less boring in bed,” along with my suggestion for her to pick a new item—is scratched out, and next to it she’s written the words “marry Micah and Levi’s dad.”
Is this her way of telling me she’s getting back with her ex? That she’s done with me now that I’ve completed her list?
“Lucky…” My voice goes rough. “What is this?”
She doesn’t answer as she sinks to one knee in front of me like she’s done waiting on luck to dictate her choices.
“Mike O’Connor, you are my person, the love of my life.
You bring me and my boys so much joy and laughter.
Our lives are better with you in it. And I want you to be part of our family forever.
Someone told me there’s this old story about St. Brigid making St. Patrick give women Leap Day to propose, but I can’t wait until the next one, so I’m asking on St. Patrick’s Day. Will you marry me?”
I haul her up, forehead to forehead, hands shaking on her waist. “A ghrá mo chroí, go deo.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means love of my heart forever.”
I lean down and kiss her, soft and sweet, filled with overwhelming joy at this turn of events.
I thought she was about to end things. And then the words she scribbled on her list hit me and I break the kiss, pulling back.
“But—Lucky. This says…” I tap the words with my thumb. “It says you want to marry their dad.”
“You are their dad.” She’s beaming, her smile radiant as though that fully answers my question.
I stare at her. Properly stare. “So… you want to marry me so I’ll become their dad?”
“I mean…yes, marrying you makes you their dad in every way that matters.” She reaches up and cups my jaw as her voice softens. “But, Mike… you are their actual dad. Biologically.”
“But we only just met recently. I would have remembered hooking up with ya years ago, especially twice.”
She shakes her head, seemingly unbothered by my confusion. Thank Jesus she has the patience of a saint, because I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out this puzzle she’s dropped in my lap.
“Do you ever remember going to Bright Beginnings Bank?” She smiles as I try to process what she’s saying.
“The sperm bank?”
She nods.
I went there once, early in my twenties out of desperation to give my Da some kids one day. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as a riot of emotions overwhelms me. “Holy feckin’ shite! They’re… you… they’re actually mine? My biological kids? I’m their dad? I have two sons?”
“You do. I used the same sample—your sample apparently—twice.”
I pull her into my arms, lifting and spinning her around as she laughs against me, the sound music to my ears.
When I set her back down, I cup the back of her head and pull her lips to mine. How is it possible that this woman is going to be my wife and is also already the mother of my kids?
“How? How did this happen? How long have ya known? How did ya find out?” I feel like Levi, bombarding her with questions, and it fills me with warmth to think about how many other traits we must share.
“I was watching you and Levi the other day while you were coloring, and you scrunched your brow the same way he did. And then Micah said something about you having the same color eyes.”