Page 95 of Fall For Me
“Yes,” I choke out, clinging to him. “I’m so honored. You don’t even know how much this means to me.”
“I do know, Han-Han,” Aiden murmurs softly, squeezing me extra tight and rubbing my back. “Since she doesn’t have her mom, she needs you . . . and . . . and you need her. I know it's not the same foreither one of you. I know there’s no replacements, but maybe you both can bridge the gap for each other.”
A sob breaks past my lips.
“I love you, Aiden. Thank you.”
“Love you too, Han.”
“Daddy!” Jade’s tiny voice carries down the hall. “I can’t reach the soap!”
Aiden snorts a laugh and releases me.
“I better grab her stool from the kitchen. She was helping with dinner last night.” He starts toward the kitchen, but glances back at us from over his shoulder. “Thank you both.”
I peer up at Sean as he stands with a shit-eating grin on his face. “We forgot to mention I’m her godfather.”
“Poor girl. Aiden! You can’t do that to her,” I joke.
Sean turns to me, his jaw dropping in mock horror. “You better take that back right now, Rebel.”
I toss my hand in the direction of where she is. “What are you gonna do when she’s a teenager, huh? Steal her phone and track her down? Stalk her?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Uh-huh.” I laugh, knowing damn well he’s lying.
Jade’s giggle carries into the living room, and that sound . . . God, that sound just mends the heart.
Twenty-Eight
Hannah
It’s the first game of the season, and I wish like hell I was on the road with my team. It’s what I live for . . . Adrenaline right before a game. Crowds screaming in the stands. Sounds that come off the ice. There’s this clawing need to be there, but instead, I’m holed up at Aiden’s house, lying back on his stupid ass couch, and watching the sports network while I wait for their game to start.
Granny shuffles into the living room, grumbling something unintelligible under her breath.
“What’s that?” I ask, sitting up to make room for her.
“This is a crock of shit.”
“Fuck them both. Wanna make a jailbreak?” I ask, and reach for my phone, sitting on the coffee table. “I’ve been cooped up for four damn weeks. That’s too long to stay out of trouble.”
“If it ain’t trouble, it sure the hell ain’t worth doin’.”
“Agreed. What are they gonna do? Ground us? Let’s go have some real fun,” I tell her, pulling up the Uber app.
“I’m gonna go take a whore’s bath and put on my dancin’ shoes. Will you grab my wheelchair? It’s in the hall closet,” she says.
I drag my ass off the couch to get ready, and just as I’m putting on my shoes, she shuffles back into the living room with a face full of makeup and ruby red lipstick.
“Damn, Granny. You out on the prowl tonight?”
“I’m always on the prowl.”
“Spoken like a true cougar.” I laugh, helping her into her wheelchair. “So why the wheelchair? I thought your hip didn’t hurt.”
“It doesn’t, ya brat. I’m just usin’ it to get us some good perks.”
