Page 91 of Love At Close Range

I looked at her for a second. Reiana had worried about the move from every angle before she finally agreed to it, so hearing her say she didn’t feel like she had lost anything that mattered.

“I’m glad you came.” I smiled down at her.

“So am I,” she simpered.

“I love you, Ree,” I confessed as I held her tighter.

“I love you too, Lennox,” she reciprocated.

After her confession, I kissed her slow at first before it deepened when her arms tightened around my neck. She stayed close when we finally pulled apart, and I kissed her once more before letting her go.

Later that night, Reiana was curled against me in bed with her head on my chest. The house was quiet except for the television playing low across the room, and for once, there wasn’t anything pulling at my attention.

A few months ago, my life looked nothing like this. Now I had Reiana back, I was finally raising my son, and both my kids had the chance to grow up knowing each other. That changed what mattered to me.

For a long time, business had been the first thing on my mind when I woke up and the last thing I dealt with before I went to sleep. There was always another call, another problem or somebody waiting on me to handle something. That part of my life wasn’t disappearing, but it didn’t get all of me anymore.

I wanted to be present for my kids in a way I hadn’t been before, and I wasn’t letting business keep taking the best of me. Reiana had given me another chance too, and I planned to make sure she never had to wonder where she stood with me.

“What you thinking about?” Reiana asked as she shifted against me.

“Us,” I admitted. “Just thinking about how much shit changed.”

“For the better?” She questioned.

“Absolutely,” I confirmed.

She settled against me again, and I kissed the top of her head. I had spent enough years letting everything else decide where my time went. For once, I wasn’t thinking about what I’d lost; I was thinking about everything I finally had.

30

Epilogue

Reiana

two years later…

The first test came out positive, and I still took two more. All three sat on the bathroom counter while I stared at them, trying to let it register. The last time I found out I was carrying Lennox’s baby, everything around it had been complicated. This time, there was no wondering where I stood with him or whether I would have to figure everything out alone. The smile came before I could stop it, and I stood there for another minute before putting the tests in the drawer when I heard the garage door open downstairs.

I put the tests in the drawer and headed down just as Lennox walked into the house. He dropped his keys on the island and came straight to me, wrapping an arm around my waist before kissing me.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Interesting.” I smiled.

He looked at me. “Interesting how?”

I smiled and took his hand. “Come upstairs with me.”

Lennox followed without arguing, although I could tell he was trying to figure me out. Once we were in our room, I went into the bathroom, grabbed the tests and came back out with all three in my hand.

His eyes dropped to the tests before coming back to mine. “You’re pregnant?” He asked.

“Yes,” I responded nervous as hell.

He took them from me and looked again, like three positives somehow needed more confirmation. When the smile finally came across his face, mine did too.

His smile came slowly as he looked down at the tests again. “Damn, Ree. We’re really having another baby.”