Page 62 of Punked By the Playmaker
On pure instinct, I reached for her hand. “I’m sorry.”
Blinking rapidly, my wife lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m trying so hard to protect him. Why can’t he see that?”
My thumb brushed over her knuckles. “I know it’s hard, but maybe when he sees how advanced her disease progression has gotten, he’ll be able to find closure.”
Arizona sniffled. “Yeah, maybe. But he already struggles with not having a dad. When he realizes he’s lost his mom, too? He’ll be devastated.”
“At least he’ll still have you.”
She hauled in a shaky breath. “He needs more than I can give him.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute. I might have only known you for a short time, but I’ve seen how much you care, how you always put him first.” A wry laugh was pulled from my chest. “The only reason you agreed to marry me was because you were scared of losing Austin. He might not be able to see it now, but when he looks back on the years spent under your guardianship, he’ll appreciate all you’ve sacrificed to give him the best life possible.”
Her fingers tightened around mine. “I hope you’re right.”
The music shifted from a song with an upbeat tempo to one with a slower cadence, and there was a mass exodus from the dance floor, leaving it completely empty.
I chuckled. “Gotta love that awkward stage where boys and girls crush on each other but no one’s brave enough to make the first move.”
Arizona reared back, scoffing. “Please, I bet you had all the preteen girls falling at your feet. Probably looked like one of those boy band heartthrobs in middle school, while the rest of us mere mortals looked like the trolls, with acne and braces.”
“Oh, I had an ugly duckling phase, trust me.”
Lips twisted to the side, she hummed. “Yeah, sure.”
With my free hand, I tucked a curl behind her ear, letting my fingertips skim the side of her neck before retreating. “I don’t want to talk about the past. Not when I’m here with you.”
A tint of pink colored her cheeks, and her dark lashes fluttered. “Levi.”
“Come on.” I gently tugged her toward the dance floor. “Let’s show ’em how it’s done.”
I half expected her to dig her heels in, to turn my request down flat, but instead, she let me pull her into my arms and guide her in a controlled sway as our captive audience watched on.
God, it felt incredible to hold her like this, and I wondered how much cash I’d have to slip the DJ to keep playing slow songs for the rest of the night.
“We never got to dance at our wedding,” I mused.
Her bright blue eyes snapped up. “Did you want to?”
I lifted one shoulder. “If you had asked, I wouldn’t have said no.”
Laughter burst past her lips. “Oh,Iwas supposed to askyou?”
My smirk couldn’t be contained. “I’m a big believer in women taking the initiative.”
Grinning wider than I’d ever seen, she teased, “Sure, it’s all fun and games, saying you want a woman to take charge, until you’re the one tied to the bed and begging for mercy.”
Blood rushed south so fast that I grew lightheaded. “Don’t tempt me with a good time, babe.”
Arizona’s mouth dropped open, her eyes wide and searching mine for any hints that I was telling the truth.
This wassonot the place, but I couldn’t resist leaning in to rasp in her ear, “Are you brave enough to find out how good it could be between us?”
Her stuttered exhale fanned my cheek as she panted my name. “Levi.”
Withdrawing, I made sure to meet her eye. “It’s okay. You’re not there yet. Just know I’ll be patiently waiting for the day that you are.”
“I—”
