Page 85 of Learning at 40

My mouth falls open. In the span of a conversation, we went from moving in to marriage.

“If that was too fast, it’s okay. You don’t have to answer me—”

“Was there a question in there?” I tease. “You normally don’t ask permission.”

“I’m asking—” His sheepish tone turns my insides, and my heart flutters faster.

“Yes.”

His brows lift, and he draws his head back for a better look at me. “Yes?”

Swiping my hand through his hair, I look up at him. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

The smile that breaks out on his face is nearly blinding. Dazzling. “God, I love you so much. I never thought I’d feel so free . . . free to just love.”

“I love you, too, honey.”

“Is it wrong to say I want to get naked with you?”

Tipping my head back, I glance at the house behind me, noting the second-floor window of Anna’s house. “What will the neighbors think?” I laugh, drawing back to Zack’s face.

“Keep your clothes on,” he teases, leaning down for my neck and nipping at my skin.

“Keep your eyes to yourself.” The words recall what I said to him at our first meeting.

“Never,” he hums into my skin.

“Whatever makes you feel better.” I squeak because he bites the juncture of my neck and shoulder while grinding his heavy length into me.

“You. You make me feel better, but what would really feel better is if you were naked under me and I was buried inside you.”

Well, that’s something we might be able to compromise on.

Epilogue

[Zack]

July – the following year

After losing her young patient, River realizes her heart cannot continue with the pain of her career. She’s dedicated fifteen years to oncology nursing and the toll it’s taken on her gentle spirit. Death has taught her to cherish life in a different way than most. She sees the simple things, loves the bigger things, and counts every day as a blessing.

She’s the blessing the boys and I needed, and we moved in shortly after I proposed. Jeanine still had visitation rights, but her constant cancellations warranted another trip to family court, where I petitioned for full custody. I agreed that when Jeanine wants to see her boys, she simply had to call. She hasn’t called, and I don’t encourage the relationship.

If my friends think it’s strange I proposed to a woman after a one-night stand—finding out two months later she was pregnant—they say nothing about my deciding to marry a woman after a month of knowing her. It was only supposed to be a ten-day fling, but I knew within ten seconds of watching her out that second-floor window I wanted her. Within ten seconds of meeting her, I knew I’d never be the same without her in my life.

“Okay, who’s going with who?” I say, standing at the counter, trying to organize our crew.

“I want to go with Bryce,” Trevor says, holding up his arm, and I notice Lorna’s face fall. Huh. I glance up at Logan, who shakes his head to ignore the teenage pout of his twelve-year-old daughter. She’s stuck with her father. Mason takes Mila, and I have Oliver. Bryce is a good sport at sixteen to spend the day with the gang. If he’s missing his dad on this excursion, he’s too old to admit it.

“Thanks, pal.” I clap Bryce on the shoulder after he high-fives Trevor in acceptance of the call. Turning back for the counter, I pull out my credit card, holding the plastic to the man behind it.

“Your money isn’t good here,” he says, and I meet his eyes, hoping not to have an altercation with him before my friends. Logan and Mason know who he is. They’re here for support as well as an afternoon of canoeing.

“I’d feel better paying,” I admit, holding his eyes. “But maybe the kids could have free ice cream afterward.” There’s an ice cream freezer inside the shop offering bars and sandwiches. It’s a concession to his offer.

“That’d be fine,” he says.

“Okay, guys. Robert says free ice cream later, but that doesn’t mean it’s a race.”