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“No, I…” I take a moment, letting the emotion I’m feeling thunder through me, rushing through every vein and artery, and lodging in my heart. “Thank you for finding me. For believing in us. For loving me through everything. This is the future I never dreamed of. Something so much more than what I thought I’d have. It’s because of you. Because of the way you love me. You made me feel safe enough to open my heart and let in the love I deserve, and to love so deeply in return.” Pushing our food to the side, I turn to him, wrapping my hand around the side of his neck as I look into those shining emerald eyes. Ones that captivated me the first night I met him. “I love you with everything I am. From every muscle and bone, from every crack in my heart, from the deepest parts of my soul I love you and I always will. So, thank you for this moment and all the moments that got us here. I’ll cherish them and you forever.”
He stares at me for a moment, his eyes filled with love. “Damn, baby. You know how to hit me right in the heart.” He cups my cheek, his voice gravelly as he speaks. “I love you too. You have my heart and my soul. Every fucking inch of me belongs to you, and it always will.”
Then he kisses me, long and deep, and I melt. I fell so hard for this man I’ll never get off the ground again, but I’m okay with that. As long as he’s lying beside me, holding my hand, that’s all that matters.
When he breaks our kiss, he doesn’t let me go right away. He cups my cheek and rests his head against mine for a moment. Then he kisses my nose and we turn back to the TV, pick up our food, and cuddle up again.
As we eat, I revel in this moment. My perfect wedding night and a glimpse at the future I’m excited to have with my alien unicorn man.
I never saw it coming. I never saw him coming. I’ve never been so happy about the way life surprised me with a family and a future more beautiful than I ever could’ve dreamed.
Chapter nineteen
Futures and Forevers
Miles
I twist my wedding band around on my finger as we walk up the front steps of my parents’ house.
I love wearing this ring, finally able to show the world I belong to her. To them. I live and breathe for my girls and our life together.
For the last week, we’ve been enjoying a staycation honeymoon. My mom took the week off, and with the help of my sisters, has been watching Emmie during the day all week so Amelia and I could take some little day trips within a couple of hours of Ida. Today was our last full day trip since we’re spending tomorrow getting settled back in before I go back to work on Monday.
Amelia had her last day working at JWAC last week before the wedding, which gives her time to attend the on-campus orientation for her online program, and get everything ready to start in a couple of weeks. I’m so fucking proud of her. It’s insane. Anytime we ended up in a small talk conversation over the last week, I dropped in there that my wife is going to law school.
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of calling her my wife.
When she strolled across the dance floor toward me at Sarah and Joel’s engagement party, I couldn’t have guessed we’d end up here, but I think it was inevitable. She captivated me from day one, and I’ve been worshipping her ever since. I’ll never stop.
Amelia squeezes my hand as we walk through the front door and slip our shoes off. It’s nearly eight at night, but since today was our last hurrah, we went up to Joel’s family’s lake house early this morning. I took her to some of my favorite spots around the little town where I went to college. We enjoyed swimming in the lake, we had some crazy hot sex, and we took a boat around the lake. It was the perfect way to cap off our staycation honeymoon, and now I’m ready to steal my daughter back from my mother.
“Oh look, it’s Mommy and Daddy,” Addie says, walking over to us with Emmie in her arms. “Do you want to go back with them or stay here with the cool kids?” My mom is right behind her, laughing.
“Give us our child back,” I say flatly, but Amelia just laughs and takes Emmie from Addie’s arms.
Emmie nuzzles into her chest, and fuck me, I’m a puddle. Absolutely melted and gone for the girls I love more than anything.
“Want to see your daddy?” Amelia coos, handing Emmie to me.
Emmie looks up at me with her light blue eyes, and she smiles, then wiggles in my arms, letting out a happy shriek. This is it. I’m home. My heart is home as long as I’ve got Emmie and Amelia with me.
It’s a two-minute drive from my parents’ house to our apartment building, a one-minute walk to the elevator from the car, and another two minutes up to our apartment. Five minutes door to door, but in that time, exhaustion has set in. I’m so happy to be home. Even happier that we have tomorrow to settle back in and just be together as a family. But all that slips away as I get to the door and remember what’s waiting inside. One final surprise.
I unlock and open the door, carrying our bags inside as Amelia carries Emmie, but she stops short as she looks at the kitchen counter. She quickly shuts the door and slips off her shoes, then walks over, mouth hung open.
“What is all this?”
On the counter is a large bouquet featuring sunflowers, carnations, and some wildflowers. Sitting next to it are plans.
I come to stand next to her and wrap an arm around her.
“It’s our house. Generally speaking. I didn’t plan the interior, but based on what we talked about liking stylistically and what you’ve pinned on Pinterest, I had Vince make that up for us. I talked with Rae and Sarah about a plot of land, and we all thought the spot between their house and the neighboring property would be perfect. They’re willing to parcel it off, but they won’t let us pay for it. And I talked to Leo about a timeline and cost. It’s within our budget if we cut back a little and use their payment plan, especially if we choose wisely with our furnishings. Leo said he’d waive the interest on the payment plan for us.”
She runs her hands over the plans and looks up at me, teary-eyed.
“I know I shouldn’t be surprised but… you did all this for me?”
“For us, sweetness. For our future. It’s all starting right now, and as much as I love this apartment and it’s a great first home, I’m ready for a house. I’m ready for the community of being with our friends. There’s so much goodness coming.”
