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“I guess kicking ass is better than being a pain in your ass,” I laughed, trying to let the stress roll off me. I had everything I wanted right here. We were alive. And he loved me.
“Definitely.” He laughed and pulled me to him, moving me across the bench seat so I could lean into his chest as he drove us home—his arm around me keeping me safe and warm.
Epilogue
“Istillcan’tbelieveyou actually married someone,” Jessica said as she leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed over her chest. She was tall, curvy, and blonde—the exact type I had always gone after. She was also bitchy, judgmental, and blunt. She hated me, and I couldn’t blame her. I had been an ass to her for years because she refused to let me get my way, and yet she wanted money constantly.
She and I would never see eye to eye, but I was glad she was giving in now, even if just a little.
“Yeah, sometimes I can’t believe it either,” I replied as I took a sip of the lemonade she had given me. It was sweet and cool, which I liked. It also gave me something to do. My gut was a giant ball of nerves. “I wasn’t too excited about it at first, but Natalia is amazing. She’s hard not to love.”
“For once, I actually agree with you Jimmy,” Jessica said and took a sip of her own drink. “Any woman who comes for a visit and brings a basket of homemade soaps is fantastic in my book. Where did you find her?”
“It’s a long story,” I chuckled and looked over to the living room where Natalia was playing on the floor with Casper, who had brought out every LEGO set he owned to show her. It looked like they were building some sort of castle. However, every time Casper made a tower fall, Natalia would mock scream and pretend to cry, which made Casper laugh and attempt to cheer her up, which would result in another tower being built.
I had been playing with them for a while, but I thought having some alone time would be nice, so they could get to know each other. Also, I figured having a long talk with Jessica was much overdue.
“Look, I owe you a big apology, Jess,” I started, and she looked at me like I had nine heads. I went on, ignoring her look. “I treated you like a whore when we were dating, and I use that word loosely. But, well, I didn’t treat you right, and then when you told me you were pregnant, I didn’t deal with that well either. I realize that offering to pay for an abortion was a dick move, and I am so happy you didn’t go along with it. I love Casper more than I have ever loved anyone, and I really want to be there for him as a dad, not just the guy who stops by sometimes and brings him toys.”
“Ooookaaay,” Jess drew out, raising her eyebrow at me. But I wasn’t done.
“I would like to have him sleep over at my place every other weekend, so I can do more with him than just sit in your living room. I also want to go on family trips together, Jess. I want us to be friends because no matter what, you are the mother of my child. I should have been taking care of you as much as I was taking care of him. Somewhere along the line, I forgot that, and I’ve been terribly selfish. I hope you can forgive me.”
She blinked at me, her large blue eyes as big as saucers.
“What has gotten into you? Who are you, and what have you done with the real Jimmy Morelli?”
“I don’t know… I grew up I guess,” I shrugged.
“It’s her,” Jessica said, gesturing in Natalia’s direction. “She’s changed you somehow. Be honest… is she a witch? Has she put a spell on you or something? Blink twice if she’s beating you into a better version of yourself.”
I snorted.
“Yes, I think it has a lot to do with her. She makes me want to be a better person, and I want to be a better dad.”
Jessica nodded and stepped towards me, putting her hand out to shake. I shook it, also putting my glass down on the counter.
“Truce,” she said. “I will give you a chance, starting withoneweekend a month that he can sleep over. As long as she’s there. Right now, I trust her more than I trust you. If that goes well, then we’ll see. Now go play with your son. I have laundry to do.”
She walked away, and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I had just had the very conversation I had been dreading since I realized that I actually loved Casper, and I didn’t blow up at her. There was no yelling, screaming, or threatening to call the cops. It went… well.
I walked over to the living room and kissed Natalia on the top of her head, then sat down next to her across from Casper.
“Everything go okay?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Thanks to you, we get him one weekend per month. If that goes well, she’s open to more.”
“That’s amazing, love! Oh, I’m so proud of you. I know that was hard for you.”
“It was,” I said, putting two Legos together. “But not as hard as when I thought I was going to lose you. After that, everything else seems kind of simple.”
“I know what you mean,” she smiled at me and put her head on my shoulder. Casper ran back to his room to grab something he had forgotten, and I stole a deep kiss from my wife.
Things had certainly started in a strange and undesirable way for us. But by facing our fears and insecurities together, we ended up both being and being with the persons we most desired.
the end
