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Theo scrunches up his eyebrows as I smack my forehead and Savy cackles. “Dude, Mom doesn’t have a garden. She killed the mum I brought home from school. And the cactus. That should tell you something about her gardening skills.”
Panic fills Greyson’s face and I figure it’s time to fess up before the man keels over. “Theo, honey, your dad and I… well… we—”
“We’re getting married, kid.” Greyson blurts, his face lighting up like a red Christmas ornament.
“What?” Savy screeches, swinging her hazel eyes between me and Grey, my bare left hand, and back up at us.
“Okay, well, that wasn’t exactly how I planned on telling anyone, but surprise.” I laugh and clasp my hands, watching my son take in the information.
Theo stares at us both, Greyson now beside me, resting his hand around my waist, giving me a reassuring squeeze. Or is that a nervous squeeze?
Our son, our darling baby boy, appears to mull over this information, biting his lip and crinkling his eyes, sending my already shredded nerves haywire. What if he hates the idea? I might be sick, and I cling to Greyson’s hand.
Picking his camp bag off the floor at his feet, Theo flings it over his shoulder as a smile curves on his boyish face. “Bout time, you guys.” And then he saunters to his room and shuts the door.
Silence falls around us before Greyson leans his head back and jets out a loud laugh at the ceiling. I sag in relief and mild irritation at how easy that was and how much grief I put myself through over the entire ordeal.
Savy squeals and hauls her arms around me for a hug before giving one to Greyson. Clapping her hands, she jumps up and down, joy on her cherub face. “I’m so happy for you two, I could split in half. Engaged? Oh my God, Turtle, when is the wedding? You’d look gorgeous as a winter bride. Obviously, you’ll be gorgeous no matter what season, but with your favorite lipstick… Oh, Preston is gonna flip. In a good way. He’s secretly been waiting as well for this day, or is it just because he’s pacifying me?”
Chuckling, I put an arm around my friend. “Savy? Want to be my matron of honor and help me with all these tough decisions?”
She shrieks again, causing Greyson to plug his ears. Ecstatic in her new role, she grabs her things and rushes from the house, blowing us each a kiss on the way out.
Greyson wraps his arms around me and tips my chin up. “That went well, don’t you think?”
“All that worrying for nothing.” I sneak a peek at Theo’s door and then back at him. “We lucked out, didn’t we?”
He leans down, brushing a kiss against my lips. “Absolutely.”
* * *
The light summerbreeze tugs through my hair, and the noonish sun warms my face. I’m sprawled on a plaid blanket, stomach satisfied from the lunch Greyson put together for us. Well, Lynn prepared it, but he picked it up and planned this date.
Rascal and Rebel munch on grass a few feet away and the sound of a busy forest reminds us how truly alive it is. Much of how I feel today—vibrant, cherished, loved beyond doubt.
Greyson packs up the remaining food and shoves the basket to the side, then plops down beside me, his body blocking out the bright sun rays.
“You know, I couldn’t really tell if it was you doing all that noisy chewing or the horses.” He dodges my fist as I try to playfully punch him in the arm.
“Not as bad as your snoring. I’m buying earplugs next time I’m at the store,” I retort.
He growls, scoops me up, and rolls us to our sides until we’re facing each other, his smile and dimple stealing all the air in my lungs.
“But I’ll gladly take your snoring if it means I get to lie next to you every night.” I run a finger down his tight blue T-shirt to hook into his belt loop.
“Damn straight.” He pulls me in for a kiss, quickly deepening it, sending shivers down my body despite the heat.
Coming up for air, he slides my windswept hair behind my ear and brushes his thumb across my swollen lips.
“I’ve been thinking, and I have one last request for you, well, really us.” He bites his lip, his brow crinkling, and I patiently wait for him to continue. “Can I please put another baby inside you? Theo needs a sibling, and I missed so much of your pregnancy with him. I want another chance to experience it all with you. I understand if you don’t want any more, but I had to ask.”
The yellow light of the sun glints off his dark glossy hair and highlights those bottomless blue eyes I love so much. My chest expands as if my heart’s increasing in size. He’s already an amazing father, and the answer is simple.
I rest my palm against his stubbled cheek. “I’d be honored to have another baby with you.” Then, I seal the deal with a kiss.
Later, as the night falls and our shadows dance and writhe along the walls, I thank the stars and the moon and everything in between for giving us our very own happily ever after.
