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“Because he won’t let me get up!” my best friend calls from the living room.
“Spoiling her again, I see?” I chuckle, making my way to the living room to Emerson.
“Is there any other way?” Roman calls back.
I’m shaking my head, but my smile is genuine when I see her with a blanket and a bowl of fresh fruit in her lap. “Being held hostage again?” I tease.
“He’s ridiculous. He won’t let me do anything.”
“He loves you.”
“I love him, too, but come on. I can put some fruit in a bowl for breakfast.”
I tilt my head to the side to study her. “He wants to take care of you, Emerson. You and your baby.”
“I know, but I want to be his partner in life. Not an obligation or responsibility.”
“You’re not,” a deep voice says from behind us. We both know without looking that it’s Forrest. He steps into the room and bends over the back of the couch to kiss his sister on top of her head. “What makes you think that?”
“I don’t know.” Emerson stares down at her bowl of fruit.
“Spill it, Em.” Forrest rounds the couch and takes a seat on the coffee table facing her.
“I just…. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that this is my life, you know? It’s all I ever wanted, and now here I am, living my dream. It all happened so fast. We found out about the baby, and then I moved into my dream house next to you, you found out about us, the wedding. I just…. I don’t want to give him any reason to change his mind.”
We both startle when Forrest tosses his head back in laughter. Not just ha-ha laughter. No, this is “shoulders shaking, gasping for air, can’t stop it” kind of laughter. Emerson scowls at her brother, and I bite down on my cheek to keep from snickering. Not because what she said was in any way funny. Well, okay, it was kind of funny. She’s not an obligation to Roman. She’s his queen, and now that they don’t have to hide, he’s living his best life. I know she knows that. These pregnancy hormones must be getting to her.
“Are you done?” Emerson asks, folding her arms over her chest.
“Emerson Bailey.” Forrest shakes his head. “You’re his wife. He doesn’t feel obligated to take care of you. That’s who he is. We didn’t see that growing up. We didn’t have a good view of what a marriage should be, but you lean on one another. You can’t tell me if Rome was sick, you wouldn’t be fussing over him.”
“I’m not sick, Forty. I’m pregnant.”
“And doing all the work.” Roman joins the conversation. He hands Forrest and me a bottle of water each before kneeling in front of where Emerson sits on the couch. “You’re doing it all, baby girl.” He moves the bowl of fruit from her lap and places it on the end table, then settles his hand over her still-flat belly. “You’re growing and protecting our son or daughter. I want to do everything I can to make life easier for you. I don’t feel obligated to do it. I want to do it. We’re a team, Em. You and me for the rest of forever.” He leans in and kisses her softly.
“Told you,” Forrest says.
I kid you not, the man-child sticks his tongue out at his little sister, which makes her laugh, just as I’m sure he intended.
“Go off and do manly things. We need girl time.” I wave my hand in the air at them.
“She’s been my wife less than twenty-four hours and you want me to leave her?” Roman asks incredulously.
“Just to the kitchen or the backyard, big guy. Your wife needs to tell me all about her wedding night.” I wag my eyebrows, and Roman gives me a saucy grin.
“Nope. No. Just no.” Forrest stands, grabs his bottle of water, and stalks off toward the kitchen. He’s mumbling about his ears bleeding, which makes us all laugh.
“You good, baby girl?” Roman asks.
“I’m good. I’m… overly emotional. I’m sorry.”
“No apologies for feeling how you feel. Just remember to be open and honest with me so I can put your fears at ease.” He stands, leans over, and captures her lips in a kiss before trailing toward the kitchen after Forrest.
“You good?” I ask her.
“Yeah.” She smiles and waves me off. “These hormone swings are no joke, and I’m living this life, the one I’ve always dreamed of, with the man who I dreamed of having beside me, and this morning, when you and Forrest got here, it kind of hit me. I don’t think yesterday quite set in for me until that moment. I got my happily ever after, Monroe.”
Her smile lights up her face, and in turn, so does my own. Reaching over, I pull her into a hug and hold her tightly. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, Emerson. You fought for what you wanted, you never gave up, and here you are. Starting your own family with your husband.”
