Page 72 of Bless My Heart

We finish eating and continue our light conversation. They tell me about their classes, and Stella tells us funny stories about Wes and Ozzy growing up. No one mentions anything about me being Wes’s professor. I don’t know if he asked them not to say anything or if they don’t care, but I’m grateful they don’t bring it up.

By the end of dinner, I truly feel like they have accepted me into the group. I’m not sure why I was ever worried about them liking me. From sitting here for an hour, I can tell these people have so much respect for one another.

I’ve only ever seen Wes interact with my friends and family, so it’s like seeing a whole new side of him around his friends. They joke around and act like normal college-aged kids. I like seeing Wes like that. So carefree. So happy. It warms my heart.

I can’t believe I kept him from telling these people about me and our life together. I’m kicking myself, really. Seeing how important these people are to him, I feel really selfish. I think I inadvertently wanted him all to myself. For some reason, thought, he stuck with me.

Ozzy and Stella offer to do the dishes, so they clear everyone’s plates and make their way to the kitchen. From the sounds of it, they do more flirting than cleaning dishes. There’s way too much giggling going on.

Ezra and Celine head back to the living room to give Wes and me some privacy.

“Are those two together?” I ask when I know Ezra and Celine won’t hear me.

“Nah. He’s crushing on her, but she doesn’t want to be tied down her freshman year of college. I think they’ve both decided that being friends is probably best. Ezra is going to med school in the fall, so he won’t be around for much longer.” I nod. “Thanks for coming tonight. It was important to me that they meet you and love you as much as I do.”

“I think they like me.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” He smiles at me and brings his lips to mine. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We’ve got to give Ozzy and Stella a run for their money.”

“Oh my God, Wes!” I feel my cheeks heat even though it’s just the two of us.

“Come on, baby. We both know you’re a screamer.” He takes my hand and pulls me from my chair toward the stairs. “And I love to win a challenge.”

EPILOGUE

HAZEL

1 year and 4 months later

“Dada Dada Dada,” Emerson says, calling for her dad as she runs across the backyard of our home in Atlanta.

Wes runs towards her, swooping her up in his arms. “There’s my birthday girl.” He twirls her around, making her laugh so hard. I may have carried her for 40 weeks, but our little Emerson is a daddy’s girl through and through. She even got his blonde hair and green eyes.

I snap a picture of them in their moment of happiness. Most of my pictures these days are the two of them together. I can’t get enough of them.

“Hey, Wes? What time are you going to start grilling the burgers?”

“I’m just about to start them, babe.” He smiles over his shoulder at me.

Today is our girl’s first birthday party, and we decided to have a little family party at our house. It’s the first time we’ve had both of our families over to our new house.

We moved in a few months ago, just in time for me to transfer to the Economics department at Georgia State University for the spring semester.

Wes graduated in the summer, right after Emerson was born. And just like he planned, he immediately started working with his father in Atlanta. He would be in Atlanta all week, then drive down to Brunswick on Friday nights to spend the weekend with Emerson and Me.

It sucked.

Really sucked.

But we made it work, and I think it even made us stronger in the end. We both had to trust each other so much since we didn’t see each other every day.

Stella helped me with Emerson if I had to work late or anything. It’s been really nice having her around, and I’d consider her one of my closest friends these days.

After spending six months away from Wes, I put in a transfer request to Georgia State when I saw an opening. They offered me the job, and I accepted without hesitation.