Alex nods. “I know. I love you, too.” Butterflies flit around in my belly and tears fill my eyes.
“I wanted to know, would you be my son? Can I be your dad? Because I’d really like to be.” I cover my mouth to silence the cry threatening to burst from my mouth. He mentioned wanting to adopt Alex once, but we never really discussed it again.
Silence surrounds them and I don’t know if I should step outside or not, but finally my son opens his sweet little mouth. “Can I call you Dad?”
“Whatever you want bud.” Alex stands up and throws his arms around Brock’s neck. “I love you, Daddy.”
Tears streak down my face. I don’t care. I just make my way outside to kiss and hug on my boys.
Life is good.
EPILOGUE
BROCK - Four and Half Years Later
“Babe, hurry up,” I holler down the hall to my wife, who is moving slowly these days. Things between us have been nothing short of a dream. I keep waiting for things to fall apart, but Ripley’s convinced this is my reward for surviving my childhood. My wife is crazy, but I wouldn’t have her any other way. While I wait for her to come down the hall I pick up Nerf guns and darts that liter the floor after our latest battle.
A minute later, she waddles down the hall. Our daughter is due in a couple of weeks. Once she reaches me, I place my hand on her belly and my lips on hers. My daughter already loves her daddy and gives my hand a firm kick. I smile at Ripley and say, “I love when she does that.”
“I’d love it more if she’d stop kicking my bladder. None of the boys did that. She’s going to be a stinker, I can tell already.” I promised her that after this baby we’d be done, since we’ll have three kids under the age of three. Tyler is three, and Cameron is one and a half. Our little girl will be Mara.
“Who’s ready to go to Uncle Jonah and Aunt Jessica’s?” Alex and Tyler both scream yes and Cameron just screams. I gaze at my wife and smile. We’re heading to Jonah and Jessica’s for their three-year-old twins’ birthday party. They didn’t have any more kids after the twins; Jessica had a difficult pregnancy and birth, so Jonah said two was enough.
Tiny passed away two years ago from cancer, and it was hard on all of us, especially Alex. We’ve talked and talked about getting another one, but with the kids, we don’t really have time for a puppy. Maybe once the kids are older we can discuss it again.
“All right my beautiful babies, let’s go.” We get the kids loaded up and head across town to Jonah and Jessica’s place.
It’s hard to believe Jonah and I have become so close, and that I’d even call him my best friend. We’ve been through a lot and it brought us all closer together. A bond like ours is unshakeable.
“Before I forget, Mom can watch the kids for our date night, unless of course our princess decides to come sooner.” My mom is great. Apparently Cheryl wasn’t into my mom like that; they’re just best friends and super close. She’d come out of a marriage kind of like my mom’s so she was able to guide her through the healing process.
When my dad died, we did have a small service for him; we owed him that after he helped save Alex. Of course, my mom still doesn’t know the truth. No point opening those wounds. I’m Alex’s father, and that’s all anyone needs to know. She treats him the same way she treats her other grandsons. Ripley’s mom is doing well too; she’s begun dating but hasn’t met anyone ‘special’, to use her word. She spends a lot of time with her grandbabies.
My grandparents are getting around a little slower these days, but they’re never too busy for a visit with their great-grandchildren. I swear they love Ripley more than me, but really, who could blame them? Ripley only works part-time now so she takes the kids to see them as often as she can.
Pulling up in front of the house I shake my head; there is a huge bounce house on the front lawn, balloons, and streamers everywhere. I park on the street and we all pile out. With Cameron in my arms, we make our way up to the front door, which swings open as we approach. Out comes the twins, Samantha and Seth, and they hug each of us before they run back into the house. As always when we get together, chaos ensues.
I ease my softening cock out of Ripley, loving the sound of her whimper as I snuggle against her back. On our sides seems to be the only comfortable way for us to make love these days, and I’ll take her any way I can get her. I kiss the back of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent as it wraps around me and soaks into my soul. She rolls over until she’s facing me. “It was a fun day.”
“Yeah baby it was. The kids wore themselves out,” I say, smiling and chuckling. Ripley’s eyes glisten in the moonlight, and I stroke her cheek. “What is it?”
“I love you, and even though our path to this point was rocky, I wouldn’t change anything.” Tears leak from her eyes; pregnancy seems to make her emotional and sentimental, so I just do what I always do—pull her as close as I can and stroke a hand over her hair.
First I touch the necklace around her neck. After we got married I found the promise ring I had bought for Ripley in high school, and I never had the chance to give it to her. She’d cried for two day after, especially since it didn’t fit over her finger. I ended up buying her a chain for it and she’s never taken it off.
“I wouldn’t change anything either. You, the boys, and this little girl—” I smooth my hand over her swollen belly— “Are my everything. Now no more tears, you know I hate when you cry.” I dry the wetness and kiss her lips.
It doesn’t take long before my girl drifts to sleep. How is it that one horrible night and one horrible moment set us on a path that led here? After that night so long ago, I swore my life was over. Instead, a higher power had a different path for me, and in the end, it brought me to them. Easing out of bed, I check on my boys, finding them all sleeping peacefully.
First, I look in on Alex. Right after Ripley and I got married I adopted him and he officially became my son. He’s eight now and is our little athlete already. Alex strives to be the best at everything he does. He’s a good student and loves helping with his brothers. I know he’ll be a great and protective big brother to his baby sister when she comes.
Next I peek in on Tyler and Cameron. Tyler looks identical to me when I was that age with dark hair and dark eyes. He’s always intense, but he sure loves his mom. Cameron is asleep in his crib, but he’s starting to get too big for it. He’ll be moving up to a big boy bed in no time. He’s a combination of both of us. He’s blond like Ripley, but has my dark eyes. Cam just loves being wherever his brothers are.
I can’t wait to see what our daughter looks like. I hope she looks like her momma. Of course I hope she doesn’t get her momma’s sassiness or we’ll all be in trouble.
Crawling back into bed with my sleeping wife, I send up silent thanks for the many blessings in my life, and I do it with a smile.
The End
About the Author
A Midwesterner and self-proclaimed book nerd, Evan has been an avid reader most of her life, but one day an idea came into her head and a writing career was born. She's a sucker for happily ever afters and loves creating fictional worlds that others can get lost in. Evan loves putting her characters through the ringer, but loves when they get to that satisfying, swoony ending.
When the voices in her head give it a rest, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Aurora Rose Reynolds, (the queen) Kristen Ashley, Joanna Wylde, Madeline Sheehan and Harper Sloan. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, movies, TV shows and life.
She's a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and (the real) Evan, a friend and a writer. How does she do it? She'll never tell.
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HEARTBREAKER
A Bulletproof Butterfly novella
Anna Brooks
1
OPAL
Today is one of those days where I’ll end up in bed chasing a gallon of ice cream with a bottle of chardonnay. After I burned my arm taking
a pizza out of the oven, my daughter, Olivia, woke up crabby from her nap, argued with me about having to wear shoes, and acted like she couldn’t hear a word I said the entire time in the car. This is, of course, after she threw her banana across the kitchen and spread toothpaste all over the bathroom counter. She doesn’t get like this often, but when she does, she’s a spitfire. Just like me.
Instead of playing along with her tantrum, I ignored her right back in the car. She thinks she can play that game with me, but little does she know I was the one who invented the silent treatment. Besides, I’m at the point where I’d rather just have her be quiet than listen to the sass. We’re meeting my sister for lunch today, and even though I contemplated canceling, I’ve been looking forward to it, so I selfishly kept the plans.
After I find a parking spot, we rush to meet my sister since we’re running late. She’s standing on the sidewalk outside the restaurant with her fiancé, Jay. Her pregnant belly is adorable. Every time I see her again, I can’t help but feel so lucky she’s back in my life. I wish she’d been here when I needed her the most, but I’m glad she was safe.
Liv picks Olivia up, and she giggles. “Baby still in your belly?”
“Yes. The baby is still in there.” She rubs her stomach, and I can see just how happy she is. She’s pregnant and planning her wedding with the man of her dreams.
“What am I? Chopped liver? Auntie Livvie has a baby in her belly, so you just ignore me now?” Jay crosses his arms, feigning a pout. “I see how it is, Olivia.”
Liv sets her down, and then she throws herself at Jay and wraps her arm around his leg. “Hi, Uncle Jay. You’re silly.”
“I’m not silly. You’re silly.” He picks her up and turns her upside down. “Why are you upside down?”
She laughs so hard she can barely catch her breath, and I’m reminded of just how awesome he is. He’d been the one who helped me when I was at my worst. He let me cry on his shoulder and steps in as the man in Olivia’s life since her father isn’t in the picture. “Put me down.”
He tickles her before he turns her around and ruffles the hair on the top of her head. “Well, I’m heading back to work now.” His eyes go to Liv’s, always putting her first. “Pick you up from your parents’ or is Opal dropping you off?”
“I’ll drop her off. It’s no prob…” I’m distracted by a man walking with purpose toward us. His dark brown hair is styled perfectly, but not too pretty boy, and his body screams I work out. His face is unreadable, but his cocky swagger says he knows he’s hot. “Uh, who is this guy, and why is he walking this way?”
Jay’s body tenses, and he turns, grabbing for all of us. He’d use his body as a shield in a heartbeat.
“I thought that was you guys,” the hot stranger says with a laugh.
Jay relaxes and the two men shake hands, and then Liv hugs him, which assures me he’s not someone to be afraid of. “Hi.”
“Hi, Olive. How are you, pregnant mama? Congrats.”
She rubs her belly. “I’m great. How are you?”
“I’m doin’ all right.” God, his voice is sexy. Husky and low, like you want to lean in to listen to what he has to say.
“What are you doin’ here?” Jay puts an arm around Liv’s waist in a way that says she’s his. I don’t know who this guy is, but they both know him, yet Jay still lays claim to Liv. I want that. A man as devoted to me as Jay is to my sister. But that’s just not my life. I have my daughter. She’s the only one who has any claim to me.
“Work.”
“Transfer?”
Before he can answer, Olivia walks up to him and tugs on his pants. “Hi.”
He squats down, and it baffles me that he stops talking to Jay to give her his attention. “Hi there, short stuff.”
“I’m Olivia, and I’m three.” Of course, now she’s sweet as pie.
“I’m Ryan.”
“How old are you?”
He starts to answer, but I interrupt with a hand on Olivia’s head. She can sometimes talk too much and say things and ask questions that aren’t appropriate. Much as I like that she’s not crabby anymore, I can’t let her be rude. “Don’t ask that, Olivia. It’s rude.”
He looks up, and when his sky blue eyes stop on my face, he stands and slowly smiles at me. Holy shit. I can feel my face heat.
“Ryan, this is Opal. Olive’s sister and Olivia’s mother.” Jay emphasizes the word, but Ryan doesn’t flinch at Jay’s harsh tone, which shocks me. I haven’t encountered many guys who aren’t intimidated by Jay.
I’m prepared for him to say something sarcastic about our ‘O’ names, but instead, he sticks out his hand. I put mine in his and giggle from the nerves creeping up on me so fast. God, his hand is huge; it engulfs mine. “Ryan Breaker. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi.” I sigh. Oh my God, what is wrong with me?
Jay’s phone buzzes, and he grabs it to check it, then roughly shoves it back in his pocket.
“You’ve gotta go?” Liv guesses.
“Yeah.” He rests his hands on her belly and then kisses her cheek. “Love you.”
“You too.”
Jay squats down and holds his arms out. “Give me a hug before I have to go.”
Olivia runs to him and plants a sloppy kiss on his cheek. He says goodbye to Liv and shakes Ryan’s hand. “You’ve still got my number, man. Hit me up and we’ll go grab a beer sometime.”
“Sounds good.”
Jay takes off, and there’s an awkward silence between us as my sister watches her man walk away. “So, uh, how do you know Liv and Jay?”
“He’s a marshal.”
A marshal. As in US Marshal. “Oh, really. That’s interesting. Is that what you’re doing here?” I ask, hoping my voice doesn’t betray my anxiety.
He winks at me. “If I was, I couldn’t say.” His voice drops even lower, and the way he says it makes my stomach fall right along with it.
Olivia absentmindedly tugs on my arm, and I bend down to pick her up, hitching her on my hip. “I’m hungry, Mama.”
“I’ll let you ladies go. It was good seeing you again, Olive.”
“You, too.”
“Nice meeting you girls.” He addresses Olivia and me, his gaze lingering. But I don’t mind. I could look in his eyes all day. They have this lighter blue on the outside and then the ring around it is black.
“Did you eat lunch?” Liv asks him.
I give Liv the universal face for I can’t believe you just did that, and Ryan shakes his head. “I haven’t.”
“Do you want to join us?”
He smiles and moistens his lips, and oh my… I can imagine those lips doing many other things. “I’d love to.”
“Great.” She turns and reaches for the door, but his beefy hand grabs the handle before her. “Thank you.”
We’re led to a booth right away, and Liv slides in. Ryan starts to follow her, but Olivia squeals. “Me sit wif Auntie.” I set her down since she’s squirming, and she crawls in next to Liv. She really knows how to ham it up and act adorable when it suits her.
“Okay, then,” I say under my breath as I slide in across from my sister, completely unnerved that I’m going to be so close to the hulk of a man.
Ryan plops down next to me and grabs a menu, but Olivia reaches out and takes it from him. He pulls it from her fingers then gently taps the top of her head with it. She laughs and reaches for it again, but he’s too fast for her.
Jesus, he’s amazing with her. I wonder if he has any kids of his own. But then that would probably mean he has a wife. I quickly glance at his finger to find it empty, and an unusual sense of relief floods me. I pick up my menu with shaky hands, then set it back down too afraid he’ll notice my nerves.
The waitress comes back with waters and four silverware packets. “Can I get a booster seat for her, please?” Ryan asks before her aunt or I have the chance, like it’s his right or something. I feel like it should bother me, but the truth is, it’s nice. “You’re too short to even se
e over the table, little one.”
Olivia is totally loving him. She’s giggling and batting her eyelashes. Liv presses her lips together to suppress her laughter and glances over at me. “Oh, my God,” I mouth to her. Who is this guy, and why is he so perfect?
We order our food and chat amongst ourselves, me mainly taking in the conversation around me. Ryan’s thigh bumps against mine a couple of times throughout the meal. I can tell how muscular it is from just a slight brush. I bounce my leg, and he clamps his hand over my knee while still talking to Liv. I don’t look at him but feel more than heat from his touch. When I stop bouncing, he gently rubs it and then lets it go before he answers Olivia’s question about his favorite kind of pizza. Great. He knows he makes me all twitchy and stuff.
When the bill comes, Ryan grabs it and tosses some cash at the waitress before either of us have a chance to even see the total. “You don’t need to do that. I invited you,” Liv insists.
“It’s my pleasure.” He slides out of the booth and holds his hand out to help me.
More heat floods my face when he wraps his fingers around mine and tugs me out. The force of it combined with my shaky legs causes me to lurch forward, and my other hand lands on his chest. His hard, strong, muscular chest. “Sorry,” I whisper before backing up, mortified.
“Don’t be.” Then he holds his hands out for Olivia, who immediately allows him to lift her. Her sleepy head falls on his shoulder. With one hand, he boosts her up higher and helps Liv out of the booth with the other. I want to be surprised, but I know my daughter. If she likes someone, which doesn’t happen often, but if she really, really likes someone, she clings to them. And apparently, she likes Ryan.
Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection Page 58