“Her water broke around five in the morning. By noon, there’s still no baby, but Lucy’s been in labor for seven hours. I’ve watched her, laying there in pain, listened to her cuss and cry for hours—”
“I was cussing because it was only the second time I had met your mom. The first time you were unconscious in the hospital and the second I was in the hospital having your child,” Lucy mutters. “That was awkward to say the least.”
“So,” I continue, ignoring that because I honestly have no defense, “I didn’t stop her from getting the damn epidural.” I shrug as I pick up my glass of water and take a drink. “But she was so sweet after the drugs kicked in.”
“The first time I said I wanted it, he caved,” Lucy adds. “He didn’t even try to stop me. And I wasn’t sweet. I was high.”
“He caved because he likes his vital organs attached to his body,” Bree says.
“You threaten to rip off one appendage in the heat of the moment and nobody ever forgets,” Lucy sighs.
Hope nods, flinging her hands in the air. “I know, right?”
Guy chuckles. “Lucy Lu, you were pretty damn scary.”
She narrows her eyes. “There was a person coming out of my vagina. Until you can say the same, no judgment.”
I have nothing to say to that because seriously, she has a valid point, but Guy cringes and Bree makes a strangled sound deep in her throat.
“So,” Annie says, looking for a subject change. “I heard a rumor about you, Park.”
“Yeah, I want to see it,” Jessie says, leaning into my view.
“What?”
“The tattoo. I have to see it with my own eyes.”
Oh, that. I smirk at Jessie and start unbuttoning my shirt.
“I have to get a picture to document this. Park Reed permanently inked his body with not one, but two girls’ names.”
“Me too,” Annie seconds.
I slip out of the dress shirt and lift my tee, exposing my chest. “Document away,” I say as they each snap a photo of Lucy and Emari’s names displayed proudly over my heart.
Lucy stands with Emari held snugly to her chest. Before she can move away, I drop my shirt and pull her into my lap, lacing my fingers through hers.
She looks over at Chase, inclining toward Annie. All of his attention is focused on her every word. “I can’t figure out if they’re together or not.”
“Chase and Annie?” I laugh dryly. “They’re like brother and sister. They usually hate one another.”
Lucy shoots me a doubtful look. “They don’t look at each other like siblings.”
“Boys are so clueless,” Bree sighs.
“Completely blind,” Hope adds.
I glance back and forth, from Annie to Chase. They haven’t heard a word we’ve said about them. I chuckle, squeezing Lucy’s hand, and drawing her attention back to me. “I see you.”
She grins, bringing her lips to my ear. “I love you,” she whispers.
I kiss her neck, letting my lips linger. And then I nod as I inhale her scent. “I love you, Lucy. You don’t even know how much. You make happy. I was miserable before you. Since we’ve been together, before now, everything has been incredible. But now—now that you’re my wife, I’m pretty damn blissful.”
“Blissful is good.”
“Hell yeah. It’s perfect.”
The End
Before Now Page 25