I was surprised when Haiden hugged his legs like Haven was. There stood three of the most important people in my world.
How did I get so lucky to score such a perfect man who accepts me for everything I am?
“How about you, Mama?” Haven questioned, glancing at me. “Do you love Ashton too?”
Through the slits of his eyes, he gazed at me with an irresistible grin.
“Yeah, little mama, do you love me too?”
This wasn’t how I imagined I’d tell him for the first time I was in love with him.
Deeply.
Wholeheartedly.
Head over heels in love with him.
With my heart on my sleeve, I walked over to them. Haiden and Haven were still wrapped around his legs, but since they were two small humans, I had his whole top half.
His hand caressed my cheek, and I didn’t think I’d ever feel it against my skin again.
“Are you going to leave me hanging?”
“Well, you know … I need to keep you on your toes.”
“I think these two have that covered for you.” Gripping onto the nook of my neck, he pulled me toward him to whisper in my ear, “Or do I still need to convince you with my many talents?”
“I could use lots convincing.”
“Don’t tease me, playful mama.”
Kissing his lips, I professed, “I love you too.”
“Yay!” Haven exclaimed. “We all love each other now! Like one big happy family!”
I’d met Ashton on my sixteenth birthday. That night when I blew out my candles on the cake with my family and best friend around me, I wished for true love. My wish came true later that night at a party I didn’t even want to go to.
Ashton Hayes.
My one and only.
The twins wrapped their arms around my legs as well. We all stood there in the kitchen, hugging each other.
For the first time in my life,
I knew what it felt like to be loved. Not just superficially, but truly loved for all of me.
My flaws.
My quirks.
My kids.
My everything.
And nothing had felt so good.
Chapter 29
—Ashton—
“Come in,” Sage’s dad announced after I knocked on the door to his office.
Sage was at some yoga class with Mila, learning downward dog or some shit. I waited until I knew she wouldn’t be around. Tomorrow was our anniversary, and I wasn’t talking about the year we’d been together.
It was her birthday, and I wanted to make it one she wouldn’t forget.
This was my first stop.
Then the twins.
I opened the door and walked inside, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
“Hey, Ashton. Why the unexpected visit? Did you come to ask me something?” He grinned in that fatherly way, fully aware of why I was there.
“As a matter of fact, I am here to ask you something very important.”
He smiled, leaning back into his leather chair. “I know what question you’re wanting to ask me.”
“Figured you would.”
“I have never seen my little girl as happy as she’s been with you this last year. The same with Haiden and Haven. I know you guys started off rough, but now they’ve taken quite a liking to you.”
“As I have them,” I simply stated, looking him in the eyes, so he knew I spoke the truth.
“I know.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever be in this situation, let alone this relationship with a single mom. However, I can’t imagine my life without any of them in it, and I want to keep it that way.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“I know we’ve only been together for a little over a year, but it doesn’t feel that, sir. I’m here to get your blessing to make Sage my wife.”
When I told the guys I was going to propose to Sage, they basically shit themselves. Her old man, on the other hand, couldn’t appear more please than he was in this moment.
“And the twins?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you plan to do with them?”
“I would love to eventually adopt them as my own, but I’ll start with claiming your daughter first.”
He laughed.
“I don’t want to force myself to be their father, but I’d love nothing more than to eventually have them carry my last name too.”
“Haiden and Haven Hayes, huh?”
“I know. I told her she never gave them a chance.”
We laughed.
“I told her that when she told us she wanted to name them that.”
“Great minds think alike.”
“Great men think alike.”
“Thank you for that.”
“Ashton, my daughter and grandkids would be extremely lucky to have you as a husband and father. You definitely have my blessing.”
“Thank you, sir. I won’t disappoint you.”
“I know.”
We shook hands, and I left his office. I told Sage to enjoy her class, and I’d pick up the twins from their friend’s house. I wanted to ask their permission and include them in on my proposal. We could all come up with something together.
It was a little after four when they jumped into my truck.