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Joe looked at me and took a deep breath. He looked lighter than he had since he’d kicked Ada out. “She came back for you, Jud.”
Collin let Ada go and I watched as she slowly made her way over to me. She stopped a foot away from me and met my gaze. “I did come back for you. I know I hurt you and I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing but that doesn’t mean it didn’t break me to walk away from you. I love you, Jud. I hope you can forgive me.”
I cupped her face and smiled as she inhaled sharply. My touch did that to her. She loved me. “I love you, sweet girl.”
She searched my face and bit her lip. “I think I still owe you more kisses, considering how much money you paid back then.”
I stroked my thumbs over her cheeks and pulled her closer. “You realize I’m never letting you go again? This is it.”
She nodded and tilted her face up to mine. “I don’t want you to ever let go, Jud.”
I gave her what we both wanted and slanted my mouth over hers. I had to taste her, had to make sure she was real. I stroked my tongue into her mouth and wrapped both arms around her. I ran my hand down her back and cupped her ass, just to have her flinch. Pulling back, I looked down at her and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Joe tried to hide a laugh with a cough. “Sorry. It’s really not funny.”
Ada made a face and sighed. “And yet, you’re laughing. I tried to run away from Joe and I had a run in with my aunt’s cactus.”
My mouth parted. “You got cactus in your ass?”
She stuck her bottom lip out and nodded. “It was Joe’s fault.”
“Florida was rough on the three of you.” I looked them each over and shook my head.
“Is that our baby I hear?!” Mandy’s voice rang out from upstairs and the sound of her feet on the stone floor was loud as she ran. “My baby! My lying little baby!”
Ada winced. “Who told them I wasn’t here?”
I raised my eyebrows and held her closer. “Well, when they showed up here looking for you, it didn’t take them long to realize that you were missing. Call them observant.”
“My baby!” Mandy charged into the hallway where we were and pulled Ada into her arms. “You little liar! You could’ve been killed! I didn’t know where you were! And to think you were with Maxine! She’s nuts, Ada! Oh, my gosh, honey. Did you forgive these idiots?”
Ken wrapped his arms around both his wife and daughter and kissed the top of Ada’s head. “Life’s too short to stay mad, honey. Forgive them and let’s focus on what happened with your Aunt Maxine. I haven’t seen her since she tried to shave my head and made me carry her around on my shoulders, just because she felt like it. Her words.”
“I love you, Ada.” Collin’s loud proclamation startled everyone and left Collin blushing red. “Jud and Joe both said it and I didn’t want you to think I don’t feel it, too. The timing’s all wrong. Right? It’s just that I’ve never said it to anyone before, not like this, and I’ve already messed up so much. I’m nervous. Is it hot in here?”
Ken pushed Ada towards Collin and she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear. It wasn’t hard to imagine what she said by looking at Collin’s face. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“Okay, so my little liar daughter is back and it seems like you’ve all made up. How much longer until I get more grandbabies?”
“Ada!” Alex and Avery came running to hug Ada and Kendall was right behind them.
“A-ya!” Milo ran past my legs to get to Ada. “A-ya home!”
It was a full blown reunion in the hallway by the library, with all the kids proving just how right Ada was for our family. I watched her hold Milo while talking excitedly with Kendall and the twins, while also casting long looks at me, Joe, and Collin. I couldn’t accept that it was all real so fast, but there was Ada, right in the middle of us, anchoring us.
“Do the adults need alone time? Makeup se-”
“Mom!”
70
***Ada***
Ibouncedmylegunder the table and tried to appear invested in the conversation happening around me. David joined us for dinner and my parents were talking to him about the benefits of mushrooms but all I could think about was sneaking away with the guys as soon as I could. It didn’t feel real that things were okay between us and I felt like I needed a connection with them for it to sink in.
The guys were just as quiet as I was and I could feel the tension building between us with every look they sent my way. I was crawling out of my skin with desire.
“Hmm? Ada? Did you hear me?” Mom laughed. “I have a feeling I know what’s happening with you in your head right now, but I need an answer to my question. The boys asked me and your father if we wanted to move here officially. There’s a separate cottage farther back on the property. Would you check it out for us and see what you think? You know how much stuff we have. You can let us know if you think we’d fit.”
