The Chase is Over (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation Book 5)

by Toni Aleo

  I do hate that I missed the birth of Amelia’s daughter Leann, but I didn’t miss the birth of my nephew, Zachariah, who I call my little Zackie. Boon hates it, but I don’t care. I love that little baby in a way I never thought I would love a little person. It’s to the point where I get super jealous of Aiden when he gets to see Zachariah without me. He’s so squishy and looks so much like Posey. This show was needed in my life, but I am beyond excited to get home to play my newest roles.

  As the play ends, the applause is thunderous, and it reminds me of our wedding. When I sang “Come What May” for Aiden as he bawled like a baby for me. Never in my life did I think I’d see him cry like that, but he reminds me that he never thought he would ever feel such overpowering love as he did in that moment. That sentiment kept me warm at night, but I won’t need it any longer. I’ll have the real deal that is Aiden Brooks. My husband. As I take my bow, I hear Aiden shouting my name, and I’m overcome with love. I am going to miss this character. Her strength, her kindness, and her boss-ass moves are some that I’ll implement in my life.

  In my future roles.

  God, I can’t wait.

  I don’t get far when I come out the side door before I am wrapped entirely in Aiden’s arms. I giggle loudly as he kisses me all over my face, singing my praises. “My God, you were unbelievable. And I know I say that every time, but for real, Shelli, hands down the best actress up there.”

  I shush him as I laugh, wrapping my arms and legs around his body. I don’t care if people are watching, and I sure as hell don’t care what they think. I’m in the arms of my forever, and we don’t have to part for the foreseeable future. He kisses my lips, and I squeeze his neck in my arms as I kiss him back. Snowflakes land on us, and like he always does after a show, he moves his lips to my ear. I laugh loudly, holding him tight as he whispers, “You know we’re about to do it all night, right?”

  With a grin that is unstoppable, I say, “Oh, totally.”

  Our laughter is loud and over the top, but so is our love. He carries me for a few blocks before he finally says, “Okay, I can’t throw out my back before I get you to bed.”

  I snort as he sets me to my feet. He wraps his arm around me, and I cuddle into his chest as we head to my apartment. “So, I’m pretty sure I’m Zac’s favorite.”

  “Never. He just doesn’t know the love of his auntie yet.”

  He gives me a dark look that’s completely playful. “That’s not fair. You’re all perfect and shit.”

  I giggle, leaning into him as I kiss his jaw. “Funny, I think the same of you,” I sing to him as he kisses my temple, grinning as hard as he did the morning after our wedding night. I’m proud of that night, though my hip may never be the same.

  “Everyone is ready to have you home—me, most of all.”

  “Well, duh.”

  “Duh,” he agrees with a wink. “We have that house to go look at, but I don’t like the pictures.”

  “Then we won’t go.”

  “Maybe we should try building again.”

  I nod, thinking that over. “I could be down for that. Though, it’s gonna be expensive ’cause I’m expensive and we’ll need someone trustworthy.”

  He laughs. “Isn’t that the damn truth. You’re gonna drive me to the poorhouse. Shit, who am I kidding? I married into money.”

  I jab him in his ribs, but he just kisses me as we both laugh. As we part, our eyes lock, and snow begins to swirl around us.

  Within seconds, I feel on top of the world.

  “I can’t wait to wake up to you every morning,” he says, his words thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you like crazy.”

  “Same. All same,” I say, cupping his jaw, and my heart starts to beat out of my chest. I’m unsure how he is going to take what I’m about to say. “I need to be honest, though.”

  His eyes narrow. “That sounds very much like you have a side guy.”

  I give him a dry but serious look. “Excuse me, I only throw my hip out for one man.”

  Aiden’s face changes to naughty automatically as he chuckles. “That was a good night.”

  “It was,” I agree, moving my thumb along his knuckles. His eyes gaze into mine, and I almost can’t say what I need to. “But I’ve been offered three more parts.”

  Gone is the naughtiness, replaced by seriousness. “Oh, okay,” he says, exhaling hard. “Which ones?”

  “They want me to travel with the Hamilton show, but three of the actors are returning, so I don’t know. Then I got offered Lola in Kinky Boots, but I don’t really want to break an ankle,” I say as a joke, but when he doesn’t laugh, I start to become self-conscious. “The last is a part in Moulin Rouge as the lead, which would be pretty fantastic.”

  “I mean, you’ve got ‘Come What May’ on lock.”

  “Agreed,” I say slowly, and his eyes are killing me. He wants to be supportive, but he also wants me home. “Problem is, I think I want to take on another role instead. Actually, I don’t have—or want—a choice.”

  His brows pull in. “Huh? What role?”

  Tears rush to my eyes as I get lost in his. “As a mother.”

  Chills rush through me as I watch emotions play across his face like a moving picture. “What?”

  “I’m pregnant, Aiden.”

  His eyes widen, and like he did on our wedding day, he covers his mouth in shock. “No way,” he says behind his hand, and I nod. “But you’re on birth control.”

  “I forget to take it sometimes. And then you came with my parents and yours, and that night, after that really good loving you put down, you knocked me up.”

  “I knocked you up?”

  “You knocked me up,” I say, grinning at him. “So, what do you think? Want to be my costar and raise us a baby?”

  His silence catches me off guard, but then he wraps his arm around my neck, pulling me in. “This is the role I’ve wanted for you since the day you agreed to marry me, right here, in New York.”

  “It’s not home, but it’s a part of our story, so I had to tell you here. Now.”

  “You leave me in awe, Shelli Grace. I love you.”

  I laugh in relief as our lips meet in a lavish kiss. When we part, his hand comes to my stomach, and I can feel him shaking.

  “Really, a baby?”

  I nod. “Our baby,” I promise, my eyes swimming in tears.

  He pulls me in ever so tightly, and looking deep into my eyes, he says, “I swear you continue to make me the happiest man on earth.”

  I wink, grinning up at him as I cup his jaw. “I’m just getting started.”

  Snow continues to fall around us as his love envelops me and our growing child, his eyes so full of emotion. Fear, excitement, nervousness, everything. All for me. For our future. He drops his lips to mine, but he doesn’t kiss me. Instead, he says, “I love you… Jesus, so much. I do. You’ve got to know that.”

  “I do,” I promise, running my fingers up into his hair. “And I love you just the same, if not more.”

  He grins, our noses touching. “Our baby.”

  “Ours.”

  He laughs before his lips capture mine, and as he kisses me, emotion fills my soul. But then he tears his lips from mine. “Shit, your dad might come after me with a Zamboni. He’ll know for sure we’re having sex now!”

  My laughter rings over the bustle of New York as our lips meet once more, marking the moment our new adventure starts. Our future, our unknown, and I couldn’t be more excited.

  Because I get to do it all with Aiden Brooks.

  The one I always knew was my forever.

  A+S 4Ever.

  Stay Tuned

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