Lead Player - Alex Grayson Page 0,83
to go against her. I may not be the smartest man, but I know better than to go against my wife when it comes to caring for our children.
“Sorry, son, no can do. Your mom says to eat carrots, you best eat them carrots. Besides,” I drop the notebook I was writing the last few lyrics to a song in and get up from the couch. I never did open my own music studio; opting to stay with Tanner Down. I stop beside Alaina, using one arm to wrap around her and the other to ruffle Ayden’s hair. “Don’t you know if you eat enough carrots, you’ll be able to see in the dark?”
His eyes go wide in wonder and his mouth parts. “Really?” he breathes, utterly amazed.
I barely keep the laughter from slipping out. Alaina’s shoulders shake against my side and she buries her face in my shoulder. “You betcha. But you have to eat a lot of them. And not just once. Your mom knows how much, so every time she gives them to you, you better eat them. When you’ve eaten enough, you’ll be able to see in the dark.”
“That’s really cool!” He beams a smile at his mother. “We’re gonna need lots and lots of carrots! I want them every night! I better go eat the ones on my plate before Ryker steals them.”
With that, he takes off running. He’s halfway down the hallway when he remembers he just got in trouble for running. With a look over his shoulder, he slows down.
“See in the dark? Really, Enzo?” Alaina says once he disappears into the kitchen.
“What? It’s an urban legend that started during World War II and was the first thing I thought of. Now you won’t have to fight him on it anymore.”
Facing me fully, she loops her arms around my neck. “What happens when he never gets to see in the dark?”
“We’ll deal with that when it happens.”
I back her up until she’s pressed against the wall, then devour her mouth.
A loud screech comes from the kitchen, pulling us apart before I’m ready to let her go. Alaina drops her forehead to my chest.
“Your kids are demons,” she mumbles.
Laughing, I lift her head. “Only because you’ve spoiled them rotten.”
“Oh? And you had nothing to do with it?”
“Maybe a tad.”
“This one,” she pats her growing stomach, “better be a girl, because this is it.”
“Baby, you said that with Ayden, and look where we are now.”
“Well, I’m serious this time,” she asserts. “I already told Juliet if we have another boy, I’m trading one of ours for one of her girls.”
A chuckle vibrates from my chest. “We could always do the in vitro route and pick the sex of our baby.”
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Yeah, that’s a firm no for me. Nothing wrong with other people doing it, but I like God making those decisions for me.”
Another yell comes from the kitchen, followed closely by a crash. Alaina pulls away from me, her mom face coming into play. Before she can walk away, I snag her by her shirt and pull her in for one more kiss. After, I bend over as I lift her shirt and give our new baby a kiss too.
With her expression softened, she turns away to check on the kids. I follow, enjoying the sway of her delectable ass.
“What in the world is going on in here?” she demands, looking at the mess on the floor before glancing at our children.
“I wanna see in the dark too!” Ryker says loudly, his bottom lip sticking out. “But Ayden took the rest of the carrots!”
“Well, it doesn’t look like either of you will be able to see in the dark. All of the carrots are on the floor.”
“We can still eat them.” This from Ayden with a hopeful expression.
“You will do no such thing. We don’t eat food that’s been on the floor.”
“But—”
“No buts, mister. I’ll make more tomorrow. You’ll just have to wait until then.”
I help my wife clean up the mess the boys made while they sit dejectedly at the table and finish the rest of their dinner. After we’re done, we take our own seats. Alaina, noticing the crestfallen looks on the kids’ faces, picks up her plate and dumps her carrots on Ayden’s. I do the same with mine to Ryker’s. The smiles they give us could light the entire fucking world. All because we gave them a vegetable they both hate.
Dinner passes with the boys babbling happily. They’re two years apart and ordinarily get along very well. Alaina may claim they’re demons, but I know she wouldn’t have them any other way.
Once we’re done, the boys are excused from the table, and I help Alaina clean the kitchen. The boys rush back into the kitchen right as I’m closing the dishwasher. They wait expectantly in the doorway.
“You ready?” Alaina asks, drying her hands with a hand towel.
“Yes!”
Laughing at their excitement, she walks over to them and kisses each on the tops of their heads. I flip off the light switch as we leave the kitchen.
“Can we sit all the way in the back?” Ayden requests as he slips on his hoodie.
“Sure, buddy.”
A giggle comes from my left, drawing my attention over to Alaina tickling Ryker as she helps him with his jacket.
The four of us leave, heading to the theater to watch the latest Pixar movie. Once the kids are buckled in and Alaina’s in the car beside me, I grab her hand and lean over for a quick peck on the lips. She smiles softly at me when we pull apart.
Even after many years of marriage, I can’t get enough of her mouth. I’ll be eighty-years old, shitting in my diapers, and will still be locking lips with my woman.
I look in the rear-view mirror at our sons.
Life is good. Really fucking good.
KB Worlds
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Are you interested in reading the bestselling books that inspired the Everyday Heroes World? You can find them at https://www.kbromberg.com/books/everyday-heroes/
Also by Alex Grayson
THE JADED SERIES
Shatter Me
Reclaim Me
Unveil Me
Awaken Me
The Jaded Series: The Complete Collection
THE CONSUMED SERIES
Always Wanting
Bare Yourself
Watching Mine
The Consumed Series: The Complete Collection
HELL NIGHT SERIES
Trouble in Hell
Bitter Sweet Hell
Judge of Hell
Key to Hell
Hell Night Series: The Complete Collection
STANDALONES
Endless Obsession
Whispered Prayers of a Girl
Pitch Dark
The Sinister Silhouette
Treacherous
Malicious
Acknowledgments
I’d first like to thank K. Bromberg for allowing me to write in her amazing Everyday Heroes World. It has truly been a spectacular experience, one that I’ll never forget. My gratitude is beyond words!
Another big thanks to all of the new author friends I’ve made. Thank you for making this journey unlike any journey I’ve ever taken!
To Deborah with Tugboat Designs, thank you for the beautiful cover!
To Rose with Rose David Editing and Erin with Edits by Erin. Thank you so much for taking care of Lead Player and making it shine!
A special thanks to by Fiona J, Mina K, Marjorie L, Angela G, Robert P, Deb B, Brittany H, Ashley W, Diane P, Emma M, Erin B, Elaine K, and Debi G! Thank you all for finding those pesky little mistakes!
To Patricia with River Designs. With each and every graphic you make for me, you amaze me!
Thank you to all of the blogs, friends, and fellow authors who shared Lead Player with the world!
To all of my readers, new and old, thank you for taking the time to read Lead Player! Without you, Enzo and Alaina wouldn’t exist!
About the Author
Alex Grayson is a USA Today bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romances including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, The Hell Night Series, and several standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.
Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!
Sign up for Alex’s newsletter HERE!
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Also Written By K. Bromberg
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
UnRaveled
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry
The Player
The Catch
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control
Faking It
Resist
Reveal
Then You Happened
Hard to Handle