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I pull away from his embrace and look up at Carlton with a grateful expression, unable to express how much it means to me that he is so forgiving, and then almost immediately, I sigh.
It still doesn’t resolve our current situation, I think worriedly.
But Carlton continues to speak.
“You know,” the handsome man says. “Mrs. Linder was hot,” he grins impishly. “Like, her centerfold was the stuff of dreams for a thirteen year old boy, if the situation hadn’t been so fucking awful.”
I stare at Carlton, agog.
“But as much as I crushed on her, that woman has nothing on you, Ramona Monk. You are ten times sexier than any woman I have ever known, and I can’t wait to see you grow heavy with our baby. You’re going to be beautiful with your tummy round and big.”
Did he just say…? I blink rapidly, trying to process what I’ve just heard.
“You want the baby?” I ask him breathlessly.
Carlton nods, his blue eyes dancing. “I want to have this child with you, yes. And I want you, frustrating woman that you are. What do you say?”
I have no words.
Instead, I leap into Carlton’s arms. I kiss him with every ounce of love I have in my body, wanting him to know just how much I care for him. He laughs before returning my affections with his own passionate kiss, his mouth equally desperate against mine.
“I love you,” I say through my tears, my heart feeling like it’s about to explode.
“I love you too, Ramona Monk,” Carlton says as he once more presses his lips against mine. “Even if you drive me crazy, woman.”
And just like that, even after twelve years apart, we finally fall into our forever.
EPILOGUE
Ramona
Two years later.
“Hey mister, you better eat your dinner,” Carlton caresses our son’s chubby cheek with one finger as he speaks to him. The baby, Andrew, giggles delightedly and shakes his head no. He bounces around in my lap, too excited by the fact that we have company over to be able to focus on his food.
“I can’t believe how big he’s getting,” Carrie croons adoringly as she gazes at the tiny toddler.
“I know,” I sigh in return as I stroke little Andrew’s back. “And he’s quite the handful, just like his father.”
I wink at my boyfriend who merely shakes his head. “No way, you’re the stubborn one,” he insists.
Across the table, Bruce laughs heartily at our exchange.
“Having known Carlton for years, and Ramona for at least two, I can safely say that you are both the stubborn ones.”
“I don’t know, Bruce,” I tease, “Andrew does look just like his dad so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s like Carlton in personality too. Strong DNA, you know.”
But I smile as I speak, happy that my joyous little boy resembles his father so closely. From the jet-black hair to the vibrant blue eyes, I have no doubt that Andrew is going to be quite the handful when he’s older. More than his looks, however, the precocious baby seems to have also inherited his father’s indomitable spirit and determined aura.
At the moment, he’s trying to share his dinner with me, picking up bits of spaghetti noodles and lifting them to my face.
“Mommy has her own food, buddy,” Carlton says as he tries to wipe the toddler’s face with a napkin.
“Da, da!” Andrew coos, reaching out his grubby, marinara stained hands for his father. Carlton, never able to resist his son’s requests, reaches for the eager boy and settles him into his lap for a moment.
“All right little man, but just for a minute,” Carlton says with mock strictness.
I roll my eyes at Carrie and Bruce. “Carlton’s putting on a show for you two,” I inform them with a mischievous grin. “He tells him it’s just for a minute but secretly he’s a big softy when it comes to Andrew.” In response, the baby giggles delightedly and bounces in his father’s arms while waving his arms about.
“But how could you resist those chubby cheeks?” Carrie says with a sigh. “What a cutie pie.”
I smile at my pretty friend, and take a moment to observe her and Bruce. They’re sitting across the table from Carlton and me, and I can’t help but notice how well they get along. It makes sense because Carrie’s gorgeous with her big brown eyes and voluptuous figure, while Bruce is every inch the alpha male. Plus, the two of them have gotten to know each other a bit ever since Carlton and I started dating.
I look at my boyfriend and raise an eyebrow, but he shakes his head subtly, his cue for me to butt out of their blossoming flirtation. Carlton never likes to play matchmaker, but I love it and decide to ignore him.
“Carrie,” I say innocently, “you didn’t get any bread.” I pick up the basket and hand it across the table to Bruce. “Do you mind passing this basket to Carrie, Bruce?”
