She shifts to the side, and I see a second chair and chuckle. “Oh. That’s good. End of pregnancy can be a beast.”
Kat grunts in acknowledgment. “Seriously. I had no clue my ankles were capable of swelling this much. But the end is in sight. Just a few more weeks.”
Cam wanders over to join us. “Hey Tori, I’m almost done with the first sketch for your alternate covers. I think they’re going to be amazing.”
My eyes light up. When Cam first offered to design some special edition covers for my most popular series, my jaw dropped open. Custom-drawn covers? It’s basically every author’s dream. “Really? I can’t wait!”
“Come over next weekend for dinner? I should have them done by then.”
We firm up plans just as the parade starts. The fire department is at the very end of the parade, so it takes a while before we hear thewhoopof the sirens. But as they slowly drive past, every single person in our group cheers for my son. No one louder than Sawyer, of course.
We moved here for a fresh start. To be closer to my family and give Cooper a better life. But never in my wildest dreams did I picture that life including a man who loves us fiercely, as well as his family, who welcomed us with arms wide open.
This life is everything I hoped for, and so much more. And it all started with just one night.
Epilogue
Sawyer
“Did you buy every single item in the team store or something?” Willow says as we climb out of the SUV she sent to pick us up for today’s game, courtesy of her uncle.
I spread my hands and smile back. “Listen, there’s no shame in my fan game. I love the Tridents, and having box seats to the season closer? That basically required me to go all out.”
Willow arches a brow and turns to mock whisper to Tori. “Your boyfriend’s a total dork.”
My angel just giggles. “Yup, he is. And I love him for it.”
I glance down at my outfit. So what if I’m decked out in head-to-toe Tridents gear? So is Coop, and I must say, we look great.
“Listen, Wills, I’m basically a walking advertisement for the team in this getup. If anything, you guys should be paying me right now.” I turn in a slow circle. “Hat? Check. Jersey? Check. Matching joggers? Check.” I pull up the bottom cuffs of my pants and point to my feet. “I’m even rocking the socks.”
“Subtlety really isn’t your strong suit, is it Sawyer?” Willow tugs Cooper into a quick hug. “You, on the other hand, look fantastic. Perfect amount of team spirit.”
My mouth falls open in mock outrage, seeing as the only difference in our outfits is that Cooper’s wearing plain track pants instead of the team colours I’ve got on. “You’re just sayin’ that because you like him more than me,” I grumble as we head toward the stadium.
Willow shrugs. “That’s true, I do.”
Cooper looks from Willow, to me, and then back again. “Aunt Willow, Sawyer’s just excited. He’s never sat in your fancy seats before.”
I lean over and fist bump my little dude. “That’s right, Aunt Willow, don’t ruin my excitement.”
That earns me an eye roll from Willow and a gentle shove from Tori. “Behave, you two.”
Jokes about my outfit aside, Willow’s offer to have us as her guests for the season closing game tonight is seriously fucking cool. I’ve been a Tridents fan for years, and I’ve been to several games. But watching from box seats right over home plate? This is going to be fucking amazing.
We enter the stadium and wander around for a while, enjoying the pregame festivities until Willow takes Cooper to throw the first pitch.Lucky kid.But I’m not mad about having a few minutes with Tori to myself. Well, me and a stadium full of people. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, we stand in place and watch Coop walk out on the field with the Tridents’ pitcher. “He’s going to remember this for a long time,” I say, kissing her ear.
Her head falls back on my shoulder. “Yeah, this year definitely goes down in history as an amazing one for our family.”
I grin, knowing I’m lucky enough to be a part of the reason why it’s been such a great year. “I still can’t believe he got his first home run last weekend.” Cooper joined the Dogwood Cove Minor League Baseball Team for some summer training camps, and then their fall season, which started last month. The kid’s a natural on the field, but even still, we were all shocked when his bat cracked the ball so hard, he stood there staring at it for a second before jumping into action and running around the bases.
I’ve never been more proud of anyone in my life, not even when Jude’s hockey team won the championships.Not that I’ll tell him, of course.
But watching Coop cross home plate, then turn to run over to the dugout and be swarmed by his teammates? Not gonna lie, my eyes got watery. He may not be my son biologically, but I love that kid with every fiber of my being.
Almost as much as I love his mom. She calls this year amazing, I call it life-changing. It started out with me feeling confident in my bachelor ways. I never would have imagined I’d find a woman, a single mom, no less, that would turn my life upside down, my heart inside out, and complete a part of me I never knew was missing.
We cheer as Coop throws a beautiful pitch straight into the catcher’s glove, then he and Willow are escorted off the field and over to where we’re waiting. Tori pulls him in for a hug first.
