“Down to my knees, brother. Down to my knees,” Brody replies.

Drew laughs. “In your dreams maybe.”

Devyn rolls her eyes and takes the chair Drew had just vacated. Nathan immediately climbs on her lap and starts shoveling orange crackers into his mouth.

I kneel in front of them. “Hey, buddy.”

Nathan grabs a handful of little orange fish from his bowl. “Hey, dickweed.”

“Nathan!” Devyn scolds.

Drew laughs. “That’s my little man.” He leans over the arm of the couch and gives Nathan a fist bump.

Devyn glares at Drew. “You’re not helping. Go put money in the jar.”

Drew groans and starts walking towards the kitchen.

“The jar?” I ask.

Devyn smirks. “Yeah, Drew is single-handedly funding Nathan’s college education. Every time he or Nate say a bad word, he has to pay up. We all know the kid didn’t get that part of his vocabulary from me.”

I laugh. “I guess I’m going to have to watch what I say in certain company, huh?”

“Yeah, keep laughing, asshole,” Drew says. “You just wait.”

“Unca’ Drew! Add another dollar!” Nathan says excitedly.

“Damn it!” Drew shouts.

Brody cracks up. “There goes another one.”

Drew mutters something under his breath as he digs out his wallet and shoves several bills into the jar. “Consider this a deposit. I have a feeling I’m going to earn it today.”

DEVYN

BRODY LEFT BEFORE THE night game saying he had to collect on a bet but Riley stayed through all three. I’m internally freaking out about how easy it is being with him. Watching him interact with our son is so much better than I had imagined. Who knew he’d be such a natural with kids?

Nate clung to him the whole day, hanging on every word. I wonder if he can sense something. One thing that I’ve learned as a parent is how intuitive kids can be. Nate blows my mind constantly. Speaking of mind-blowing, Riley has me floored when it’s time to put Nathan to bed.

“Can I do it?” he asks.

I crinkle my brows. “Do what?”

“Put him to bed.” He ruffles Nate’s hair. “Would you like that, buddy?”

Nathan pumps his fist in the air. “Heck yes!” He tugs on my pants. “Momma, is that okay? Please?” He extends the last word.

I smile. “Sure, honey. Why don’t you go pick out a book and Riley will be there in a minute?”

Nathan bounces down the hall into his room.

Riley grabs my hand. “Thank you.”

I stare at our joined hands. “Um, yeah. Sure.”

We stand there in silence looking at each other.

Drew gets up from the couch and stretches. “Yeah…so I have to be on shift early tomorrow so I’m going to bed too. You kids have fun. Don’t do anything I would do.”

Riley smirks as Drew closes the door to his bedroom. “Doesn’t he mean don’t do anything I wouldn’t do?”

I chuckle. “No, I’m pretty sure he said what he meant. Don’t get me wrong…Drew’s incredible; he saved me when I didn’t have anyone.” I shift on my feet as I catch his somber expression from my comment. “Anyway, he’s really just a big kid at heart. He definitely doesn’t act his age most days.”

Riley tugs on my hand and pulls me in for a hug. “Hey, I don’t think apologizing for everything is even close to adequate, but you know that I wish I were there, right? Through everything? I don’t think I could ever regret anything more in my life.”

Tears form in my eyes. God, I missed this. “Riley, I—”

“Eeeewwww!” Nathan says. “Are you guys going to make a baby or somfin’?”

“What?” we both ask as we break apart.

“Christopher says that babies get in their mommy’s tummies when grownups hug.”

Riley raises his eyebrows. “Who’s this Christopher kid?”

I laugh. “A friend of his at preschool.” I kneel down to Nathan’s level. “Honey, you see me hugging other grownups all the time. That’s not where babies come from.”

“Well then how do you make ‘em?” he asks.

“Isn’t this conversation supposed to happen much later?” Riley mutters.

I kiss Nathan on the cheek. “I’ll tell you when you’re a little older.”

“Aw, mom!” Nathan whines.

I laugh as I stand up and look at Riley. “He’s all yours. Good luck with that.”

Riley takes Nate’s hand and starts walking down the hall. Nathan continues asking about the birds and bees and Riley looks petrified as he dodges each question. He casts a backwards glance as they step into the bedroom. I give him a thumbs-up and a smile as he mouths, Help.

RILEY

I PLOP DOWN ON the couch next to Devyn about forty-five minutes later. “I can’t believe you just threw me to the wolves like that!”

She laughs. “Oh please! That’s not the worst he’s ever given me. You should’ve been there when he asked, ‘Mom, why does my wiener get big when I touch it a bunch?’”

My eyes widen. “What? He gets boners?”

“Yep. Playing with his junk is his new obsession. It’s totally normal at this age. Kids are curious. He doesn’t really understand what he’s doing.”

My jaw drops. “How do I not know this? I’m a guy! I don’t remember being obsessed with my junk until I was at least thirteen.”

She starts laughing so hard tears are coming out of her eyes. God, she’s beautiful. “You’re obsessed with your junk, huh?”

“What? No, that’s not what I meant,” I smirk. “These days, I’m much more obsessed with boobs. Come to think of it, it was pretty much the same back then too.”

She looks down at her chest. “Yeah, well, sorry I don’t really have the goods to help you out there.”

I follow her gaze. “Boobs are boobs, Devyn. Big or small, I love them all.”

She looks up and catches me staring at her chest. “Yeah, right. That’s what every guy says when he gets stuck with someone who has small boobs. I know you all really wish we looked like porn stars.”

I clench my jaw. It pisses me off that she still has these insecurities. If Jackson were a real man, he would’ve squashed them by now. I lean forward and look directly in her eyes to punctuate my next words. “Are you really doubting me? Do I need to prove it, Devyn? Say the word and I’ll make sure you have no question about it.”

DEVYN

“SAY THE WORD AND I’ll make sure you have no question about it,” Riley says.

Oh God, why did he have to say that? Now all I can think about are unbidden images of me and Riley together. Naked and sweaty —in all sorts of compromising positions.  The sexual tension in the air is palpable. I think I groan. I’ve never felt something this electric with anyone but him. Jackson’s the only other man I’ve slept with, but I dated other guys before. The chemistry was never even close to what Riley and I have. Sadly, not even with Jackson. Sure, I’m attracted to him, and our sex is…good. But with Riley, I could practically orgasm just hearing his voice. I feel like some sex-starved demon possesses my body right now.

I take a few deep breaths before replying, “Riley, I think it’s time for you to go home.”

He blinks a few times. “Is that what you really want?”

Yes. No. Ugh, I don’t know.

I close my eyes. “It’s the right thing to do.”

“Devyn, look at me.”

My eyes snap open. “What do you want me to say here, Riley?”

“I want the truth. Do you really think I can’t feel how much you want me right now? Do you really want me to leave?”

I steel my resolve to do the right thing and not be ruled by my stupid hormones. “Yes, I really want you to leave.”

His jaw tics as he stands up. “Fine. Go ahead and lie to yourself if it makes you feel better.” He walks to the front door and opens it. Before leaving he adds, “But Devyn, you and I both know that won’t last long. You need to think long and hard about what you’re going to do about it. I think you know me well enough to know where I stand on the subject. And if there’s any confusion, I’d be happy to clear it up. Just say the word.”