by Steph Nuss
“Let’s go.” I led us out of the kitchen, switched the light off, and then turned into the hall. Zane’s door was still open, and light filtered out into the hall. We peeked into his room to find him sitting up against his headboard.
“Is everything okay?” Whitley asked, her voice concerned.
We walked into his room and Whitley took a seat on the edge of the bed as I stood behind her with my hands resting on her shoulders.
In his blue pajamas, he stared down at his comforter and traced the pattern with a finger, a look of uncertainty masking his boyish features. “Are you guys back together? Or were you guys just pretending because it’s my birthday?”
Whitley grabbed one of his hands. “Zane …”
“It’s a yes or no answer, Mom,” he said adamantly, gazing up at us.
“Yes,” I said with a firm nod. “We’re back together.”
Whitley agreed. “Do you remember the conversation we had about adults making mistakes?”
He nodded.
“We never broke up,” I stated, regretful over letting him think otherwise. “We both made a few mistakes which led to our first disagreement.”
“Yeah,” Whitley said, nodding. “We’re going to have those from time to time, but it doesn’t mean we’re breaking up. We don’t ever want you to worry about that.”
“I just missed having Max around,” Zane confessed.
You and me both, bud.
“I know, I did, too,” she said. “From now on, whenever we have a disagreement, it’s not going to be like that. I promise.”
“Okay.”
“But you have to promise something, too,” I stated, my voice precise. “You can’t give either of us the silent treatment.”
“Mom gave you the silent treatment,” he stated.
She sighed. “And I shouldn’t have done that.”
“If you’re upset about something, you tell us, and we’ll work through it. I know what happened at the hospital upset you—it upset me too—but you really hurt your mom’s feelings when you wouldn’t speak to her. Plus, it’s not healthy to keep all that anger pent up like that. So, the next time you’re angry, promise you’ll talk to us. The only way we can help make it better is if you let us know how you’re feeling.”
“I promise,” he said, crawling further beneath the sheets.
“Okay,” I said, “and I promise to always try my best to keep you both safe.”
He rested his head on his pillow and Whitley leaned forward and kissed him. “We love you. I hope you had a good birthday.”
“I did. My wish came true,” he said, sporting a tired smile. “I wished you guys would get back together.”
Whitley laughed. “I’m sorry you wasted your birthday wish on us.”
“Nah, it wasn’t wasted,” he said with a yawn. “You’re both here. I like it when we’re together.”
Squeezing Whitley’s shoulders, I smiled down at her. “We like that, too.”
“Goodnight, Z,” she said, turning off the lamp on his nightstand.
“G’night,” he replied.
We quietly left his room, leaving his door opened a crack, and then Whitley grabbed my hand and led me into her bedroom, shutting the door behind us.
“God, I love you,” she professed, cradling my face in her hands. She kissed me once, twice, and then a third time as I walked us back to her bed. “I mean, seriously, I love you. What you said back there, about him giving me the silent treatment … I love you for that. I don’t ever want us to make him think we’re broken up again.”
“I know,” I said, reuniting my tongue with hers. “Me either.”
She switched positions with me, and I sat down on the edge of her bed and pulled her in between my legs.
She ran her fingers through my hair and then continued with her adorable rambling. “If I could take back the awful words I said at the hospital, I would, but that wouldn’t change the way I made you feel when you heard them, and for that I’m sorry. You’re amazing with Zane, so it was inconsiderate of me to say you’re not his dad. And I didn’t even think about how the accident affected you. Your worst nightmare came true, and I blamed you for it.”
“You’re not perfect, Whit, and I don’t expect you to be,” I said. “I’m certainly not. I said and did some things I’m not proud of either. I should have listened to you. I shouldn’t have brought up Adam.”
“No, you were right.” She shook her head. “He’s part of our lives because he’s Zane’s dad, but he’s not here. You are, and I love you for that. I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m comparing you to him, because I can’t even do that. He made the decision to put himself in danger, and you make the decision every day to put us first, to be here with us.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I should’ve listened to you,” I argued. “None of this would’ve happened had we just stayed home.”
A smile hooked into her lips and lifted across her beautiful face. “Zane wouldn’t’ve learned how to throw a curve.”
I laughed lightly, running my hands down the back of her thighs. “True … You should’ve seen him. He was so determined to get it, and the moment it happened, he just lit up. He was so proud of himself, that he pitched until it came naturally to him. I’ve never imparted wisdom like that before.”
“How did it feel?” she asked, unbuttoning her jean shorts.
I watched her ass wiggle out of the material and felt myself grow harder. “It felt good.”
Her hands found the hem of my shirt and she lifted it up over my head and then tossed it to the floor. In her panties and tank, she crawled into my lap and straddled my hips, and I struggled not to rip the rest of her clothes off as she continued. “Then it’s a good thing you didn’t listen to me. I’m his mom, and I’ve held that title for years now, but I’m winging this just as much as you are being his mom’s boyfriend. We’re not always going to get it right. We’re going to make mistakes and piss him off, but as long as he knows we’re trying, that’s what matters most. We never give up on him … or us … or ourselves.”
My lips took hers and our tongues tangled together and sucked, tasting the lingering hint of chocolate and frosting on our breaths.
“You’re a wonderful mom,” I said, sliding her tank off of her. “Even when you’re apologizing.”
She giggled against my mouth, undid her front bra clasp and let it fall off as she rolled her hips into me. “You’re already an amazing stepdad, and that’s not even your title.”
“Yet,” I emphasized, laying her back on the bed. I kissed my way up her chest, scoring her skin with the scrape of my stubble and arousing her supple breasts. Hovering over her, my body eager to make up for time spent away from hers, I took a second to admire the magnificent woman I hoped I’d take to bed every night for the rest of my life. “Stepdad’s not my title yet.”
Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks later, Max and I were in the Hamptons for Justin and Tessa’s wedding. The sun was setting on the beach near Fletcher’s house, and the simplistic beauty of their setting was breathtaking. They had a two-post arch with white drapes at the end of a sweeping aisle lined with starfish and conch shells. Eight chairs sat on both sides of the aisle, and guests were given their choice of where to sit. Justin and Tessa had opted for no wedding party, since most of their audience would have been gone if they had. They had a big white tent set up further down the beach where their dinner and reception would be taking place.
“This is gorgeous,” Harper mused, smiling back at us. “I love their decorations.”
Maverick and Harper were seated in front of us, and the minute we’d sat down, Max had stolen their adorable little girl, Seghen, from them. Bayler and Fletcher were seated next to Maverick in the front row.
“It is really pretty,” I agreed with a nod. “I’m excited to see her dress!”
Harper beamed with pride. “It fits her style well. I’m glad she let me design it for her.”
Let her? I th
ought. I’d be honored to have the woman running Jen Harper’s fashion empire design my wedding dress for me.
Elly walked down the aisle, said something to Cash, who’d gotten ordained for the special occasion, and then she took her seat on the other side of the aisle next to Carter, who was holding their son, Cooper. Next to them, Paige and Drake also sat in the back row, leaving the front for Justin’s grandmother, Mrs. J, and Tessa’s brother, Treylor.
Beside me, Max cooed to Seghen, making it incredibly hard for me to ignore the hot man with an adorable baby in his arms.
“Isn’t she just adorable?” he stated, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I think you’re the cutest baby girl I’ve ever seen. Yes, you are, Seghen girl.”
I smiled, admiring him with his best friend’s daughter. The site of them together undid that maternal need for another baby that I thought I’d locked up years ago. I’d never imagined having another child after Zane, but now the thoughts harassed me on a regular basis. Babies surrounded me. Harper and Maverick had Seghen. Elly and Carter had Cooper. Paige and Drake had one on the way. It made me imagine what it would be like to have another child.
Especially when I was so in love with the man holding one right now.
“What?” Max asked, glancing over at me. Seghen’s hand fell upon his cheek and he laughed. “I can’t give any attention to Whitley, huh?”
She laughed and pressed her other chubby hand to this other cheek.
He kissed her on the nose and she laughed again.
“Gah,” I whispered, resting my head on his shoulder. “You can’t be doing that type of stuff.”
“What stuff?” he laughed. “I’m just entertaining her.”
“I know, but a gorgeous man with an adorable baby …” I said, touching her small baby sandals. “It’s too much. And it doesn’t help that she’s practically wearing baby couture.”
He laughed. “Have you met her mother?”
“Hey,” Harper retorted, smiling back at us. “I heard that.”
I laughed lightly. “I wish I had her style.”
“We all should’ve worn mermaid attire,” Bayler added sarcastically. “Tessa would’ve loved that.”
Fletcher eyed the low neckline of Bayler’s maxi dress. “I wouldn’t mind you in just a bra.”
“Of course you wouldn’t,” she deadpanned.
“That skirt slows Seghen down,” Maverick stated. “The girl is on the move all the time now.”
Harper nodded. “It’s cute, too, but it does keep her from toddling away so quickly.”
They had Seghen in a glittery mint green mermaid maxi skirt and a light pink halter top made out of the same stretchy, shiny material. She had a flowery crown in her dark brown hair that didn’t seem to bother her. She didn’t fuss in the fitted skirt, although unlike most mermaid skirts, hers stretched enough that she could actually move around in it. Small gold sandals adorned her chubby little feet, and she kicked them around like she wanted down to roam around. Her adorable baby belly was on display from beneath her halter crop top, and she giggled louder whenever Max would blow a raspberry on her belly.
Max blew on her belly again and laughing ensued amongst all of us.
“Max, you have to stop doing that. You’re getting her all riled up,” Harper said, shaking her head. “I don’t want her making a lot of noise during the ceremony.”
“Oh, she’ll be fine,” Max argued, smiling up at Seghen. “Won’t you, pretty girl?”
She grabbed his cheeks again, and I rolled my eyes at him and then leaned forward to Harper. “I’ll make sure they behave.”
“Thank you,” she laughed.
Relaxing back in my seat, I reached my hands out toward Max. “It’s my turn anyway. Let me have her.”
Seghen came to me without any issue, and I immediately loved the feel of her in my arms, resting against my chest. I no longer held my own child like this anymore, but what surprised me the most was how much I missed it. The loving gestures of kisses, high-fives and cheek grabbing. Seghen reached for my necklace and admired it closely, the same way Zane used to when he was her age. Luckily, she didn’t pull on my hair like Zane used to—I certainly didn’t miss that.
Max leaned over and whispered into my ear. “I’m not the only one who looks good with a baby in their arms.”
“Stop it,” I pleaded playfully, pushing him away. “The ceremony is about to start, and you can’t be whispering that type of stuff in my ear.”
He laughed and tickled Seghen under her chin, causing another giggle to fall from her.
I glared at him and he held his hands up in defense. “I know, I know.”
From a nearby stereo, the instrumental of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” started playing, and we watched as Justin, in a pair of khaki pants and a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, walked Mrs. J down the aisle to her seat and hugged her before taking his place up at the altar with Cash.
Cash motioned for the rest of us to rise, and then we watched as Treylor led Tessa down the aisle. She moved gracefully across the sand in flat, ivory-jeweled sandals, without a bouquet in her hands or a veil covering her face. Her ivory A-line gown had a sweetheart neckline and lace-accented off-the-shoulder sleeves. Her satin bodice was appliquéd with lace, and her chiffon skirt had an airy slit up the front and a sweeping train that followed behind her. Her long, wavy hair was swept over to one side and accessorized with a floral crown made of ivory roses, white pip berries and vine wire.
Harper was right; Tessa’s bohemian look matched her style perfectly. I loved when a bride looked more like herself on her wedding day than just a generic bride all done up for her special day.
I gazed back at Justin and watched him admire his bride with a smile spread wide across his handsome face, not an ounce of fear or anxiety evident in his features. Once they met him at the altar, Trey hugged Tessa, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then took his place next to Mrs. J in the audience.
Cash motioned for us all to sit again, and Seghen found my earrings and admired them as he started the ceremony.
“As the last single man in our group of friends, it’s an honor to be standing up here this evening with Justin and Tessa. I’ve learned a lot from watching all of you fall in love, but with each couple, it’s always been a new learning experience for me. With you two, love isn’t just patient and kind, but it is determined. It gave you two the strength and confidence to be yourselves and allow the other to love you for who you are. And that kind of love is what led you two to this moment right here.”
He turned and smiled at Justin. “I never thought I’d see the day where Justin Jameson would be the second one of us to get married, but I know when you say your vows, you’ll mean them. You’ve never gone a day in your life without saying what you mean, even if it’s in words none of us understand.”
We all laughed, remembering how the genius of our group enjoyed correcting us.
“And Tessa,” he continued, turning to her. “You’re unlike anyone else we know, and our family of friends wouldn’t be the same without you. In this body of love between you and Justin, you are most definitely the heart. You’ve always followed your heart, listened to your gut instincts, so I know you’ll do the same when you say your vows. On behalf of everyone here, thank you for never giving up on Justin, even when his obliviousness got the best of him.”
More laughter ensued. For years, Justin had had no idea how Tessa felt about him; now, here they were getting married.
“As you become husband and wife today, may you both remember to always better one another even on your worst days. May your love’s determination never cease.”
He nodded at Tessa and then had her repeat after him as she and Justin went on to exchange their vows.
I wiped a tear away and Max handed me a tissue from his pocket.
“Thank you,” I whispered, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
He studied my face, wearing that charming smile of his, and then he put his ar
m around my chair and whispered in my ear. “I want that to be us someday, standing in front of our family and friends getting married.”
Then he leaned forward and his smile grew wider as he playfully waved at Seghen and she waved back. “And I want at least one of these with you.”
“Anything else?” I asked in a soft, teasing tone.
“Just forever.” His lips and stubble grazed the sensitive skin of my neck as he kissed me, causing a shiver to tingle down my spine. “What do you think?”
“I want all of that, too.”
Chapter Eighteen
One Year Later
“Why do I have to dress up?” I asked, rolling my eyes at Zane.
“It’s Comic-Con, Mom!” he exclaimed. “Everyone dresses up! Come on, it will be fun!”
Damn you, Max.
Going to Comic-Con had been one of Zane’s dreams ever since he’d started reading and collecting comic books and drawing his own comics. Max made it come true this year by getting me a badge as part of Zane’s birthday present, since Zane was still considered a child and could get in free with an adult. As part of the Secret Warriors 2 cast, Max was on a panel during the convention to promote the upcoming release of the movie. So, we flew out to California and spent the first part of our week with Max’s parents. After a few months of being with Max, both Zane and I had adjusted to having our own security and dealing with the press and his fans. His filming schedule was also an adjustment, but in the year we’d been together, we’d managed to make it work. Sometimes it felt like we were constantly jumping from one end of the country to the other, but Max was worth it. It gave us the opportunity to travel to places I never imagined visiting.
Now, we were getting ready for the first day of Comic-Con, and my ten-year-old was torturing me. He’d used his boyish charms for evil, persuading me into wearing a super-heroine costume that looked like it would be uncomfortably tight. The costume was a black, full bodysuit with gray knee-high boots, matching gray gloves with the fingertips cut out that went all the way up to my elbows, and two utility belts.