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“Are you hers?” his mom asks.
Legend chuckles. It’s a deep sound that wraps around me like a warm embrace. “What’s with all the questions?”
“There’s a bit of an age gap.”
“Have you met guys my age?” I ask her. “All they want to do is party, and—sleep around.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
“Oh, honey, no, I wasn’t insinuating that you are. There’s what? Ten? Eleven years between the two of you?”
“Ten,” Legend answers.
“That’s a lot of living.”
I nod. “I agree, but I’d rather do that living with a man who will stand by my side and help me through it than with one who cheats on me and pushes for things I’m not ready for.” I can feel Legend’s stare, and I know I’ve said too much. I let the word vomit commence due to my deep-seated need to defend him.
“Mom, I care about Monroe. I’d never hurt her. You, of all people, should understand that.”
“Goodness, I’m sorry,” she immediately apologizes. “I’ve seen Monroe with Emerson so often over the years, and I always just thought of her as so much younger, but I can see just from sitting here with the two of you how much you both care for one another. I didn’t mean to insinuate you would hurt her. Your father and I raised you better than that.”
“I think what your mother is trying to say is that she was shocked to see that Monroe was the woman you wanted us to meet. In our minds, she was this little girl with pigtails that you and Forrest would bring over with Emerson sometimes.”
“We love you, son.” His mom speaks up. “We want you to be happy. Both of you. I guess the momma bear in me that always wanted to protect Emerson came out for Monroe as well.”
“Don’t worry, son. Even though they're married, she’s already said that she’s going to make sure Roman knows what he has the next time she sees him.”
Legend tosses his head back in laughter. “Mom, there’s nothing that you could say to Roman that he doesn’t already know. He worships his wife and their unborn child. I swear there are literal stars in his eyes when he looks at her.” He glances at me. “Right, babe?”
I smile at him. “Those two are made for one another. The love they share is fierce and intense.”
“Seems to me like there might be another someone with stars in his eyes,” his mom says.
I glance over at her, and she has tears in her eyes as she watches us. “I think it scared me a little to see how you are with Monroe. I’ve never seen this side of you, Legend. You’ve never brought anyone home to meet us. And you watch her as if?—”
“She’s my entire world.”
Slowly, I turn my head to look at him. His ice-blue eyes are watching me intently. I don’t know what I expect, but it’s not him lowering his head and pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth. It’s a small taste of his full, kissable lips, and I already know that it will never be enough.
“I’m sorry. I love this for both of you, and I wish you nothing but happiness,” his mom gushes. She pushes back from the table, comes to stand behind us, and hugs us both.
“Love you, Mom,” Legend whispers.
“Love you too, son.”
“Monroe, I guess it’s time we bust out the old photo albums.” His dad breaks up the hug fest. “My wife has been waiting for this moment for thirty-one years.” He winks at me, and I lose myself in my laughter.
“Oh no, there will be none of that.”
“Oh yes, there will be lots of that.” I rub my hands together. “Gimme,” I say, making his parents laugh.
We spend the next couple of hours talking, laughing, and, yes, looking at Legend’s baby pictures. He was an adorable little boy with those bright blue eyes. It was easy to see that he was going to be the heartbreaker that he is today.
We eventually say our goodbyes with plans to get together again soon. As soon as we get in the truck, my cell rings. “Hey, Em,” I greet my best friend.
“What are you doing? Want to come over?” she asks as Legend’s phone rings. “Who are you with?”
“Legend.”
“Are you now?” she says, teasing.
