by Laci Maskell
“So how exactly did we get away with keeping Everly?” I ask them.
“Your boy here is pretty convincing when he wants to be,” Wren says.
“And a little scary,” my mom says.
They all laugh at something I clearly missed.
Greyson says, “Hey now. I got the job done didn’t I?”
“What else did I miss?” I ask, feeling like I’ve missed out on so much.
“Jesse is now back in good graces, well, okayish graces with Greyson and me,” Leah says.
“My parents basically kicked me out of their lives,” Greyson says.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Don’t worry about it, pretty girl.”
“Greyson,” I say.
“Lux,” he scolds.
“We will be talking about this,” I say.
“Fine,” he says.
My brother mimics the sound of a whip then says, “Dude, you’re already whipped? Pah-thetic.”
“Hey,” Greyson says, throwing up his hands. “I got the girl and the baby. I’ll be whipped any day of the week.”
We all laugh and I can’t help but feel blessed and content. I really did get everything I wanted. Maybe I am living in a fairy tale.
“What about college?” I ask him. “How are we going to pay for the baby? How am I going to finish school?”
“Lux. We will worry about it another day,” Greyson says.
“Yeah, but,” I begin but am cut off.
“Lux.”
“Alright.”
Wren again mimics the whip sound and everyone laughs.
For the first time in my life, I feel like the luckiest person alive. Everything I went through, everything we went through. It was all worth it. It was all to bring us to this moment. I have everything I could ever want. And I know, in my heart, that everything is going to be okay.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Lux
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Everly. Happy birthday to you, everyone in the house sings.
I set Everly’s cake in front of her, then step back and wait for her to dive in.
Greyson stands beside me and holds a video camera out in front of him.
Everly pokes just one finger at her cake and takes away a swipe of frosting. She sticks her finger in her mouth and tastes the frosting. Her eyes go wide and her whole body starts to shake. She lets out this surprised yelp then shoves both of her hands into the cake. Everyone who can see her bursts out laughing.
I spend every day with her and yet I still can’t get over her. She makes me laugh and smile every day. Granted, I have had less sleep in the past year than in my entire life, but she is so worth it.
Greyson keeps hold of the video camera but uses his other hand to lace his fingers through mine. I lean up to kiss him on the cheek then place my head on his shoulder while the two of us watch our baby eat her first cake.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, pretty girl,” Greyson says.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Greyson,” I tell him.
This year has been the hardest year of my life. I have had little to no sleep. I barely get to see Greyson and when I do, I have to share his time with Everly. I picked up a job during the summer so I could feel somewhat like I was pulling my weight paying for the baby I promised I would give up. I have no social life whatsoever, not that I had one before, but now I can mourn it where before I never had to think about what I was missing out on.
But it’s days like this, my family around me, my hand in Greyson’s, watching my baby experience another first, that makes all the hardships okay.
Greyson
I sit around a table talking to my friends when Everly waddles up to me. She’s just getting the walking thing down. I pick her up and lean in for a kiss. She leans in and plants her slobbery lips on mine. Her kiss tastes like saliva and frosting. It’s gross but I can’t get enough of them.
“Watch it, Everly. Those are mommy’s lips,” Lux says, coming up behind me.
She leans down and kisses me with lips that also taste like frosting, just less slobber.
“I have another leg,” I say, patting the leg Everly isn’t sitting on.
“Get a room,” Jesse says from his seat next to me.
“How do you think they ended up with the baby?” Leah says.
“Seriously, that’s my sister,” Wren says from the other side.
Lux laughs then licks my nose. I wrinkle my face at her as Everly tries to do the same thing.
This is a good day. I have my family and friends around me. The rest of the days are hard. I am living my dream. I am a Nebraska Husker. But every day I am away from Lux and Everly is excruciating. This has been the hardest year of my life. For the first five months of Everly’s life, Lux and I didn’t get any sleep. We stressed out and yelled at each other at the tiniest thing. Every time Everly got sick we panicked and had to run to Lux’s parents before we were stupid and rushed to the hospital. The first few months were especially hard because Everly was so premature. She never slept, she had trouble breathing even after we brought her home. She had trouble gaining weight for a while. Pretty much any stress a new parent could think of, we went through. But we made it. We all made it.
Some things found a way of working themselves out, while others didn’t. My parents finally came around. Finally as in three months ago. They’d seen my games on TV. They saw Everly with Lux or her parents in the grocery store or around town somewhere. They got tired of living on the other side of the window. They wanted into our family so badly they took care of every medical bill for Lux and Everly. Then they went and bought us any supply we could possibly need. Let’s just say we are going to have diapers long after Everly is out of them.
Jesse may have told me to get a room but from where I’m sitting he needs one too. Jesse and I played each other in football this year. We met up after the game, a game the Huskers won, and talked. He told me he and Amelia were no longer a going concern. He caught her cheating on him and ended things. The girl now sitting on his lap reminds me of Lux and I can’t help but laugh at how stupid we were for so many years.
Jesse’s new girl turns to Lux and I and asks, “Was it worth it? Keeping Everly?”
I look at Lux and smile and answer, “Every single day. Every time she smiles at me. Every time her tiny little hand wraps around my finger. Every time I get a sloppy kiss. It’s worth it. I love that little girl more than anything.” I turn to Lux and say, “And the girl who gave her to me.”
Lux winks at me then says, “It’s hard. I’m not going to lie. It is so hard. But you get this little thing that loves you unconditionally and who is your forever best friend.”
“But seriously,” I tell them, “Wait till you’re at least thirty.”
Everyone around me laughs but they have no idea how serious I am. I would kill for eight straight hours of sleep.
Everly slaps my face until I turn towards her. She places her hand on my cheek and says, “Dada.”
Everyone in the kitchen says a collective “Aw.”
“See,” I tell them. “So worth it.”
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review.
Thanks
Laci Maskell
Acknowledgments
There are many people I need to thank for making this book possible.
My parents. You continue to encourage and believe in me. I can’t thank you enough. You have always let me be who I am and I can never repay you for that.
My siblings, Leah, Brett, and Andy. I’m not sure you know how much I look up to each of you. You give me courage and strength in this crazy endeavor I’ve chosen.
My niece, Kate and nephew, Max. The two of you bring so much joy and light into my life. I love the two of you with my whole heart. The two of you have inspired so much in this novel. It wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have the two of you.
Lisa, A
lexie, and Milah. The three of you are the best beta readers an author could ask for. Thank you for continuing to encourage and support me. I need you more than you can imagine. I’m sorry if I ask too many questions or annoy you.
Rachel and Zach Higginson. I can’t thank you both enough. Rachel, you have given me answers to questions I didn’t know I needed to ask. You have given me support I’m not sure you’re aware of. You’ve given me a vision to look up to and forward to. If I am ever half as successful as you are I will count myself lucky. And Zach, your cover designs are so beautiful and inspiring. There is no one I would rather have designed the cover for this book.
About the author
Laci Maskell was born and raised in Nebraska. She has been devouring books since she was a freshman in high school, when she discovered Harry Potter. She has four loves in her life, reading, writing, listening to music, and watching movies. Her love of writing began at a very young age. She has a great love of tattoos, rock music, and swearing.
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