Page 123 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

Drake squawked the moment Knox’s hand slid beneath the hem of my shirt.

He tore his mouth away and shot a scowl toward the play mat. “Son, we will work on your timing.”

Son. “He is, you know? Your son.”

“I know. We’ll get married, then make him officially mine. Whatever it takes.”

“Okay.” It felt strange to smile after everything that had happened. But I did it anyway. I smiled so wide it pinched my cheeks. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He kissed me again. “Until the end of my days, Memphis. You, me, Drake. We’re good, honey. We’re so fucking good. And we’ll add in a bunch of babies to the mix to keep it interesting.”

I laughed. “Oh, really?”

“I want a big, chaotic family to fill this house. I want to step on toys in the middle of the night. I want to break apart fights and bandage up skinned knees. I want the mess. I want the passion. I want to watch you grow our kids.”

In his piercing blue eyes, I saw that future. It was full of best days. It was full of love for the man who’d stolen my heart. “Promise?”

Knox grinned. “I swear it.”

EPILOGUE

KNOX

One year later . . .

With my hand splayed on Memphis’s rounded belly, I locked eyes with my sister. “You’re sure?”

Talia scowled. “Every appointment you ask me if I’m sure.”

“Well? Are you?”

“I wouldn’t say that Memphis and the baby were fine if they weren’t actually fine.” She rolled her eyes and glanced down at my wife who was resting on the exam table. “He’s exhausting.”

“Try living with him. This morning I bent to pick up one of Drake’s toys and he practically tackled me to grab it first.”

“I thought it might be too heavy.”

 

; Memphis gave me a flat look. “If Drake, the one-year-old, can pick it up, it’s not too heavy.”

“Just being cautious.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Memphis was six months pregnant, and considering what had happened when she’d gone into labor with Drake, I wasn’t taking any chances. They could complain with every breath that I was being overprotective. It wouldn’t make me change. I’d been like this since the day she’d come out of the bathroom with a positive pregnancy test in her hand. If picking up every toy, fussing over Memphis’s every move and pushing a little at these checkups was the only control I had during this pregnancy, so be it.

“How’s her weight? Is she eating enough?” I asked Talia. “She didn’t have much dinner last night.”

“Because I wasn’t very hungry. You’re cooking for me six times a day. I can’t keep up.” Memphis planted a hand on the table, but before she could push herself up, I gripped her elbow. It earned me another eye roll from my sister. Still didn’t care.

“Her weight is fine, Knox. Everything is fine. Would you chill? God, you’re worse than Griffin, and I never thought I’d say those words.”

I frowned. “Am I?”

Talia nodded. “Ten times worse.”

“Hmm. Whatever.”

Memphis simply shook her head and laughed. “I love you.”