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“When you’re ready, we’re here,” Rachel said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “You just do what’s right for you, and I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Rach,” I said. “Not only for being supportive and caring but for everything. Sometimes, I catch myself wanting Mom to be here to see all of this, and that won’t ever change, but I’m in the lucky position that although Mom is gone, I still have you to experience all of this with me, and that’s just as perfect.”
Rachel laughed, and I knew her cheeks were bright red.
“I’m not going anywhere. We’ve already established that I’m not going down without a fight. I’ll be here to seeallyour babies.”
I laughed at that.All my babieswas right. Troy and I hadn’t discussed a number, but I knew that I wanted a big family with him. I’d grown up almost as an only child; my brothers had all been so much older than me, already out of the house. Troy had had Scott but they’d grown up with a hole in their lives, too.
Instead of running from the pain, we were going to embrace it and fill the holes that were in our lives with children and memories and family.
“I’m meeting with the wedding planner on Friday,” I said. “Troy wants to get the ball rolling.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear about it!”
“I’ll tell you everything when I see you,” I said. “I have a couple of ideas already.”
“It’s going to be amazing,” Rachel said, and the excitement was clear in her voice. “This is everything you deserve, Mackie. You worked so hard to make a good life, and now you’re there.”
“I didn’t work hard to makethishappen,” I laughed. “It was all an accident.”
“A happy accident.”
“Those are the best kind.” I giggled. “I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rachel said.
We’d decided to have a small family day with Scott, Rachel, and the kids over the weekend. Both to celebrate Jake’s coming home, to let the kids see the baby since they hadn’t been able to come to the hospital and see him, and to spend quality time together.
Family was everything. We both felt that way, and we were going to do everything in our power to keep that idea front and center. I envisioned a life with Troy where the house always had laughter and love within these walls and family coming and going as they pleased because they were welcome here.
When I found Troy in the kitchen, he’d prepared two cups of coffee for us, and a white cake stood on the counter. It readWelcome Homewritten in beautiful blue icing.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s to spoil you,” he said. “It’s actually for Jake, but since he can’t eat it, I think we should dig in and take one for the team.”
I laughed and wrapped my arms around Troy’s neck.
“You’re incredible.”
“I love you,” Troy said.
“I love you, too. All of this… is amazing.”
Troy kissed me, and we stood melded together in the kitchen, two halves that created a whole.
When I met Troy, he’d been nothing more than a one-night stand. Then he’d become my rival, the man who stood between me and a better future.
Now, hewasmy better future.
Could a girl be any luckier?
Thank you for readingKnocked Up by my Rival!
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