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“Oh, Jake,” she protested tearfully, shaking her head. “Don’t even go there…”
“I’m not him. I’m not special or beloved. I’m nothing. Flawed, full of doubt and frustration, another soul on this planet just like the billions of us stranded here… but I can’t help but think that I would do it all over again to have you by my side - forever.”
A tear ran out of her eye and into her hair as she held his gaze so full of love, humility, and open admiration.
“I would give up everything, every rib, just to be here now… with you.”
Instead of answering him, she leaned up and kissed his lips tenderly.
That was all that needed to be said.
EPILOGUE
LENA
Five years later…
“I swear,” Lena muttered under her breath, causing Jake to stop moving where he was unbuckling his belt and preparing to undress for bed.
“Is there a problem, Lumberjack?”
“That’syourchild, you know…” she hissed, pointing over her finger and laughing. “I swear, there is nothing of me in Colton. It’s literally one hundred percent Jake Ortega through and through –especiallyat bedtime.”
He grinned at her proudly and chuckled, shaking his head.
“C’mon now, babe. It can’t bethatbad.”
“No child needs five glasses of water before bed,” she retorted. “I take a little glass in there; he takes one sip and then wants to talk. I lay him back down again, and then twenty seconds later, I hear it…”
“Mommy?” came a high-pitched voice from down the hallway.
“That!”she sighed in frustration and put her hand on her forehead. “I love you both dearly, but my goodness, I need a break and to get some sleep. He never wants to go to sleep… just like you. The baby is keeping me up all night between the heartburn and having to go to the bathroom all the time.”
“Maybe it’s the boobs…” he said huskily.
“Oh yeah, don’t forget my husband’s never-ending carnal desires that have to be addressed before I can get some actual shut-eye,” she sassed, laughing at him. “Between you, Colton, what’s in your sexy jeans and this baby kicking all night? I could sleep for five years and still be tired.”
“Oh, Mommmmmy?” came the little high-pitched sing-song voice she treasured so much and she sagged, as Jake smiled tenderly at her. “I’m so thirrrrrrsty. Could I have some water? Please?”
“You’re up, Ortega,” she said bluntly.
“You’re Ortega too,” he retorted, and she threw her slipper at him, causing him to laugh loudly as he handed it back to her, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. “I’ve got him, Lena. Why don’t you go soak in a bath and relax.”
“Will you wash my back in a bit?”
“Can I wash your front, too?” he said intimately, giving her that heated look that always made her knees weak.
“We’ll see,” she replied tenderly, smiling at him.
“That’s not a ‘No’…” he taunted before heading down the hallway of the small house they’d bought three years ago when she found out she was pregnant.
Smiling, she sat on the edge of the bed and listened as the memories washed over her. It had been a beautiful five years full of laughter, tears of joy, so many moments of struggle, while others that would make her heart swell with love. No, things hadn’t been easy, and life in Wyoming was so different than in Texas, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
“Hey Colton, Mommy is tired, so you are getting me, buster.”
“Hi, Daddy. Can I have a glass of water?”
“Sure can, but I need to set a reminder on my phone.”
