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“Take me home, Wes,” she says between kisses.
And that’s just what I do. Not even questioning where home is, because it’s not a place; it’s exactly where Lucy and Katie are.
Epilogue One
Lucy - Three months later
Oomph.That caught me off guard.
“Okay, I’ll give you that one, Johnson. But I’m not holding back anymore,” I joke as I pretend to wince from the “hit” I just took. Wes and I have been sparring now for the past few months, and he’s really holding his own these days. Not that I’m a boxing pro or anything, but I always had technique on my side. He’s catching up.
“Alright, Mathers…show me what you’ve got.” Wes raises his gloves to his face and bounces on his toes. It looks more like a dance move than a boxing one and he knows it gets a rise out of me. Every. Single. Time. It’s why he still does it.
I try hard to bite back my smile, but when he starts comically shadowboxing, I’m done for.
“You need to stop,” I huff out between laughs, shaking my head. “You don’t fight fair.”
“I’m always fair when it comes to you, Luce. You know I only do it because I love seeing that smile.”
Ugh. Then he says stuff like that and I’m swooning. It always puts me completely off my game and allows him to—
Jesus! Got me again.
“Nice hook, Wes,” Summer calls out, and I shoot her a glare before my annoyance turns back to Wes.
“I thought you were always fair.”
“I am, mostly. But I’m also one to seize every opportunity.” He shrugs as though he’s unfazed by my reaction, but I know deep down he’s waiting for my smile, so I give him one.
“And all is right in the world again,” Summer jokes, and I can’t help but laugh.
She’s been having withdrawals, she claims, but I actually think she’s nervous about the impending arrival of her little one, and wants to be around friends. While Cory had a fairly straightforward childbirth, mine was anything but, and Summer was my support person. I may have traumatized her. Though, as always, she’s acting like she’s fine.
“Want to tag in, Summer? Wes will go easy on you. Or at least he’ll say that’s what he’s doing. But really it’s his lack of—”
Oomphagain. Only this time I’m thrown over his shoulder in a move so fast, I never saw it coming.
“I think training is over for the day,” Wes announces. “I’m taking you home.”
Summer laughs as he carries me toward the ropes, only letting my feet drop again when we’re there.
Surprisingly, getting in the ring with Wes has done wonders for my self-confidence. He’s a strong guy, and unlike when we first boxed together, he no longer holds back—within the bounds of boxing—meaning I get to test my skills on someone who could easily overpower me. While he never actually forcefully connects, it’s been really helpful and it’s extremely therapeutic. Not to mention the fact that it’s a fun way to keep fit. As he once said, “couples that sweat together stay together,” and I think he’s spot on. It’s our time. Almost like a date night, and we both love it.
It may have only been three months since we officially got together, but our relationship already feels different to the others I’ve had in the past. It’s more solid. More grown-up. Maybe it’s because we’ve got Katie to think about, so the stakes are higher. There’s no time for messing around and Wes knows that. He knows Katie and I are a package deal, and he’s completely embracing it. He went from a grumpy bachelor to having an instant family overnight, and it seems to have settled him. He’s no longer an asshole to everyone at work, he’s enjoying his job and the team, he juggles multiple balls at once… He’s taking everything life throws at him and just rolling with it.
Which is kind of how you have to be as a parent. And make no mistake—Wes is a parent. He took on that responsibility the second I let him and there’s never been anything but smiles.
“What time’s Katie due back?” he asks as we reach Summer, with Katie never far from his thoughts.
“Dylan just called to say he’s on his way home, so he’ll pick her up from your mom’s,” Summer answers for me. “Want us to keep her for a while?” she adds, bouncing her eyebrows.
I’m about to say yes when Wes beats me to the punch. “Nah, I miss the little bug. I didn’t see her much yesterday because of the game.”
And there goes my heart again. This man.
“You, Wes Johnson, are a keeper. Dylan would definitely have said yes to alone time,” Summer says with a smile on her face.
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I say with a raised eyebrow. “We’ll see what happens when my nephew enters the world.”
