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Instead, I sit down and force myself to read my textbook.
But the words keep shifting.
Family and future and love all clashing together.
The days just keep improving as we slip into a routine that always ends with me in his arms, with our lips fused, laughter, closeness, and all those things I never thought I’d get, not with Jamie.
Kelly has accepted Matt and Jamie’s help finding a new apartment, and she’s also considering starting college to study psychology. “Maybe then I can figure out why I keep falling for jerks.”
It’s so sweet and welcome to know she’s not talking about Jamie. She couldn’t be. They were never together.
No, he was doing the right thing, like my man, my husband-to-be always will.
“Jennifer?”
I look up to find Jamie standing in the doorway. The light has changed while I’ve been sitting here, lost in thoughts.
“What?” I whisper, taking in the sight of my man, his tattooed arms hanging dangerously from his vest, his intense eyes narrowed.
“Something’s different,” he says intensely, stalking across the room, Benny and Lucifer walking at his feet.
“It is.” I stand and take his hands. “I’m pregnant!”
He cheers, and I cry out in happiness, and as we hug like only soulmates can, Lucifer and Benny yap in joy.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Jamie
I stand on the balcony of our suburban home that faces our backyard. Benny is curled at my feet as I look down at my wife and child.
They’re walking around the garden together, Jennifer barefoot as she carries Zachary, named after her father, from one end to the other. She’s wearing her PJs, an oversize silver hoodie that falls all the way to her knees, and big chunky boots. Her hair is beautifully messy, and her voice is sweet as she softly sings, rocking our child.
She doesn’t know I’m watching. We’ll often walk Zach around the yard if he can’t stop crying since he seems to like it, and this early morning it was Jennifer’s turn.
But since sleep didn’t return to me, here I am.
And it’s a joy to watch my wife when she doesn’t see me. She’s so wonderful with Zach, the way she rocks him, her soft voice rising up to the balcony. The early morning is dim, but her silhouette and the moon showing that big hoodie is enough.
The beast inside stirs when my gaze strays to her legs.
All throughout her pregnancy, she became more beautiful, enthusiastic about her studies, engaged, and more…just more.
She’s grown so much, kicking ass and ready to start her career, all while planning a wedding and bringing our little one into the world.
She turns, looking up and then pausing. With her back to the moon and stars, it’s difficult to tell, but I’m sure she’s smiling.
“Who’s that, Zach?” Jennifer whispers softly.
She has that magic ability. She can get Zach to sleep and then whisper to him, but if I speak sometimes, he’ll spring up, grinning, crying, grabbing. Ready for anything. I can’t wait to take him hiking.
But at the same time, I never want him to grow up.
“It’s Daddy,” she says, her soft voice carrying.
“I think he’s happier with Mommy,” I call down gently.
We pause, waiting to see if Zach will start crying again. When he doesn’t, she laughs, and so do I. Love envelops us so much it’s difficult to believe sometimes.
And it only gets stronger every day.
She only becomes more mine every day.
“I love you,” she whispers, kissing Zach on the top of the head. She looks up again. “And you, so much.”
“I love you,” I say fiercely. “And I always will.”
EPILOGUE
TEN YEARS LATER
Jennifer
“Mommy, doesn’t it hurt?” Zach asks as he perches on a chair, leaning forward.
He’s getting as close to the line his father said he couldn’t cross, his mess of black hair around his face.
“It’s okay,” I say, as the tattoo gun buzzes, my husband handling it deftly.
I look past Zach at the wall mirror, studying Jamie.
His arms are leaner these days, but still huge, bigger than most men’s. Leaner for him. His body ripples. His tattoos have grown over the years, his arms complete sleeves. His hair is full, the long strands swept back, and he grins when he catches me watching.
“Daddy, focus,” Lila says, waving her hand at him with all the fury an eight-year-old can.
I smile, love flowing when I see how concerned she is. She’s got my hair, people say, except she likes to wear hers in a braid over her shoulder.
“Mommy won’t be able to teach me next year if you….”
Jamie chuckles. “Relax, Lila. I promise I’ll be careful.”
Lila smiles. “Kidding, Daddy. I know you’re the fastest gun in the whole Wild West.”
Jamie laughs again, and my heart soars with even more love. That’s something Lila started saying after a movie her dad took them all to. My gaze moves over to Kyle, sitting on the floor, his head buried in a book. He loves reading with a passion that makes me so proud.
