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The second the performances are done, I grab the flowers I brought and shoulder to the front of the line of people filing out of the theater to the reception room. I spot Juliet and Laura immediately. My daughter holds a glass of champagne in her hand, but Juliet shakes her head when offered. I frown, making a mental note to check that she’s okay.
I hand them both their bouquets, hugging and congratulating Laura before wrapping my wife in a hug and kissing her the way I’ve been dying to since I saw her take the stage.
“I love you,” she murmurs against my mouth, smiling.
“I love you, little fairy,” I tell her before reluctantly pulling away so we don’t cause a scene. I’ll have my fill of her later.
We stay a little while so Juliet can accept the congratulations and praises from her teachers and classmates, but when she whispers at me to take her home, I take the first opportunity to get out of there and show her just how amazing I think she is.
Juliet sighs happily when we get home. Our apartment is the perfect blend of both of us—her feminine style softening the grays and dark wood of my things. I set our bags down by the door, and we kick our shoes off, Juliet throwing herself down on the couch with an adorable oomph.
“I’m glad that’s my last performance for a while,” she groans, kicking her feet up on the arm of the sofa.
My brow furrows, and I quickly cross to join her on the couch, lifting her legs and placing her feet on my lap so I can rub them. She moans happily, and I grin at her.
“I thought you loved performing?” I ask, not understanding.
“I do.” Juliet nods, propping herself up on her elbows so she can meet my gaze. There’s a secretive smile on her face that makes me curious. “But I doubt I’ll be able to do all my spins and jumps with a big belly unbalancing me.”
It takes me a second to realize exactly what she just said, and then my mouth drops open. I grab her, yanking her onto my lap, and stare at her in shock, awe and utter happiness rushing through me.
“Are you serious?” I breathe, my gaze dipping low to where my hand is splayed on her stomach.
Juliet grins, hazel eyes glittering. “Yeah, Jared, I’m serious.” She places her smaller hand on mine. “I’m pregnant.”
I hug her close, so fucking excited it’s unreal. My wife, my little fairy, and now, the mother of my child. Juliet is everything to me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she knows it.
I start by stripping her out of her dance clothes and making sure she’s as relaxed and satisfied as possible.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
JULIET
Five Years Later
Isigh happily and rest my back against Jared’s chest, the warmth of our skin nearly as hot as the sun shining down on us. There’s sand between my toes and all over my skin, no doubt in my hair too, but I’ve never been happier about the inconvenience. My husband’s arms are wrapped around me where we lounge under the beach umbrella, a large towel underneath us that’s equally as covered in sand as we are thanks to the kids.
Grinning broadly, I watch our four-year-old show her little brother how to fill up a bucket of water for their sandcastle creation. Unlike his sister, Luke is still clumsy at only two, and he spills more water than he manages to collect. Harriet cheers him on anyway—the best big sister he could ever ask for.
Well, aside from my best friend. Laura was just as excited as we were when we had kids because, in her words, she got to experience all the cuteness of them without having to have them herself. Harriet and Luke look up to her so much, and it makes me even more insanely grateful to my friend for sticking with us no matter what.
“This bikini is torture, you know that, little fairy?” Jared murmurs in my ear, making me laugh, tipping my head back to look up at him.
“It’s just a swimsuit,” I argue, teasing him. The pink bikini is perfectly acceptable for the beach, but I love how much Jared loves my body.
“You would make a fucking bin bag look like it belongs on a fashion week runway,” Jared continues, stroking his hand over my exposed stomach.
My body has changed a lot from when we first met, two kids will do that to a girl, but whenever I have a second of doubt about myself, Jared squashes it with his compliments and adoration.
I snort at his ridiculous statement, but I secretly love it.
“You’re fucking incredible.” He pulls me closer. “The most beautiful dancer I’ve ever seen, the most amazing wife, the best mother ever. There’s not a single thing about you, little fairy, that isn’t absolutely perfect.”
I melt, turning my head to kiss his chest, not minding a bit when a few grains of sand stick to my lips, transferred from his skin.
“As nice as that is to hear,” I say, knowing I’m blushing, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to fit into my old dance stuff, thanks to our bundles of joy. And I have that job in two weeks.”
Jared huffs. “If you don’t, it doesn’t matter.”
