The QB Bad Boy: Playing for Keeps

(33) "I'm not scared."

"How long until dinner, Priya?" I question, scooping Dallas into a bridal hold. She nestles in, a satisfied sigh leaving her lips.

"About an hour."

"We'll be on the couch having a snooze." I smile as she gives me an understanding nod. "Where are the boys?" I ask, slowly walking backwards towards the living room.

The oven shelves clatter as she slides the tray full of vegetables in. The aroma of perfect cooking wafts into the living room and Dallas chuckles when my stomach starts to speak.

"They're upstairs doing Johnny's homework," she responds, wiping her hands on her apron.

Cooper's a good Dad. He spends every spare waking moment that he has with his son. Which I can understand. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have missed the first six years of his son's life. But I know that he wants to make up for lost time. I respect the hell out of him for that.

As I fall backwards into the corner of the couch, Dallas grunts with the impact before she shifts around, getting herself comfortable. She settles with her knees pulled up, her head resting on my chest while I outstretch on the length of the soft sofa. It's not long before her breathing starts to slow down and her frame becomes limp.

"Sleep babe," I murmur, putting a hand behind my head. "I'll wake you when dinners ready."

And that's what she did.

Of course, I ended up falling asleep as well and an hour later I was being awoken by Priya who stood over us with a wide grin on her face. Both Dallas and I had sat up, blinking with unfocused gazes and confusion, not sure what fucking year let alone hour it was.

It took a few minutes for that feeling to wear off. And by that feeling, I mean, not knowing if we'd slept for one hour or two nights, what our middle names are or what animal a roast chicken comes from. It's disorienting, that's for sure.

But the food was incredible, as usual and during the meal I was able to catch up with Coop and his son who looks more and more like Cooper every time I look at him. He's a smart kid. He holds up good conversation, he's polite and he often seems a little intimidated. It'd be interesting if he could meet Lyds, which he will on the nineteenth. She might be a bit bossy for his liking. Not that I can claim to know the little man's preferences.

After cleaning up, I head upstairs to the ensuite while Dallas locks up. Priya and Cooper often spend the weekend at his place, but with her ex out and about recently, Dallas has insisted the three of them remain in the house. The downstairs guest area has become their little safe haven which I believe is a luxury to all of them.

When Dallas comes strolling into the ensuite ten minutes later, she leans against the door frame and grins, her gaze sweeping the bath that's filling. She takes a deep breath in through the nose and sighs with satisfaction at the scent of the bath bomb I'd dropped into the water. I don't even know what the hell those things are for but she has a large jar of them at the end of the tub beside her faux lilies and essential oils.

Her feet pad across the white tiles, her reflection cast in the huge wall to wall mirror beside us as she throws her arms around me. "This is so nice," she murmurs. "You're joining me, right?"

"If you want me too?"

"Please." She leans back, her eyes still hint at tiredness.