by Parker, Ali
On his first night staying over, he’d learned that the house had belonged to Olive’s mother. His eyes had grown huge, he’d shaken his head for so long I thought we’d broken him, and then he’d just started laughing.
Later that night, after Olive and Valerie went to sleep and we were alone, he confessed to me that the location of the house where we lived had convinced him that I was some kind of rich girl. And that was why he’d avoided bringing me to his old apartment.
It was also why he had felt the need to buy the fancy new house where we lived very happily now, but which had also almost torn us apart initially. I’d called him an idiot, but he’d simply crawled onto the bed, kissed the shit out of me, and then he’d told me that all people in love were idiots.
He’d said it with such a sweet smile that I’d let him off the hook, but the next day I had introduced a “no assumptions” rule between us. We’d started communicating so much better after, and I couldn’t believe people didn’t do that right from the outset of any new relationship. It sure would have saved us a hell of a lot of heartache.
Everything we had gone through had made us better together, though, so I couldn’t be too sorry about any of it. Olive and Valerie still didn’t know the full story behind the story, but even they were both happy that Will and I had figured everything out.
They’d come to see me as soon as they could after Adam was born, but they’d met the little man himself when Will had taken him outside. They both came crashing into the room the second they were allowed to, crying and laughing and both gushing about my boys.
The movement of Will’s arms when he picked Adam up again after he had safely guided me to the glider, made me realize that I wasn’t having some kind of a flashback dream, even though I was so exhausted that it had started to feel that way.
Will gently cradled Adam, his gaze locked on his son again. “You’re such a brave little boy, and you’re already such a fighter. You’re going to grow up to be so big and strong, maybe even strong enough to rob banks like your daddy.”
“Will!” I gave him a look, my eyes huge as they darted between him and the door. It was still shut, though, so at least no one would have overheard him.
“Relax.” He chuckled. “I was just trying to figure out if you were sleeping with your eyes open or if you were still with us.”
“I’m here all right.”
“Good.” He glanced back down at Adam. “Don’t worry, buddy, I know you won’t do those things. Also, I promise never to mention it to you again.”
When he looked back up to me, he was blinking away moisture in his eyes. “I can’t believe how close I came to losing both of you. I couldn’t imagine my life without you two. I love you, babe. And I’m so fucking in awe of you after today. Well, I always have been, but never more so than today.”
“I can’t imagine our lives without you either.” My own eyes filled with tears, which confirmed that the pregnancy hormones didn’t disappear as soon as the baby was out, but it was really a testament to how much I loved my two men.
I was sure I wouldn’t keep crying about how much I loved them, though, I hoped not because then I was in for a boatload of crying. Since today was a pretty special day, I was giving myself a free pass for tears.
They slid freely down my cheeks as Will moved over to the glider. He placed Adam gently in my arms, seeming reluctant to give him up but also excited about something.
“If it’s true that you couldn’t imagine your lives without me either, then I have something for you.” Will dug around in his pocket, pulling something out and keeping it in the palm of his big hand.
I craned my neck to try and get a look at what it was without jostling Adam, but then Will sank onto one knee. He turned the hand in question around so his palm was facing the ceiling, unfurling his fingers.
“Heidi, baby. I love you. You and Adam are the best things that have ever happened to me. You’ve brought light, love, and laughter into my life. You own my entire heart, even if I’m pretty sure I grew a second one earlier today that’s reserved for Adam there, but I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you two. You’ve done so much for me already today, but can I ask one more thing of you? Will you please say yes to being my wife?”
Wishing I could throw my arms around him, pull him close, and hug him tight, I simply tightened my hold on the boy that owned both of our hearts and smiled at his daddy. “Yes, Will. Yes, yes, yes. Of course, I will. I love you too.”
Closing my eyes for just a second as Will took my hand gently in his and slid the ring onto my finger, I heard a little voice in the back of my mind whisper “and they lived happily ever after.”
It was a scary thought for someone who valued simply being in the moment as much as I did, but I had a good feeling in my gut about it. This was the happily ever after I’d never let myself think too much about. The one I hadn’t even known I wanted until it was mine, and it was the best feeling ever.
The End
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About the Author
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. Hanging out is for those little creepy elves at Christmas. No tight green stockings for her.
She’s an entrepreneur at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Texas with her hubs and three kiddos and looks forward to traveling the world in a few years. Writing under eleven pen names keeps her busy and allows her to explore all genres and types of writing.
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Copyright © 2019 by Ali Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Eric Martinez
Cover Designer: Ryn Katryn Digital Art