Or apparently a lot nervous.
Gasps are heard around the crowd, and I brace myself for Tucker’s reaction.
“FUCK YES!”
Okay, not exactly what I was expecting.
“Uncle Tuck!” Joey shouts from somewhere in the horde of people.
“Shit! I mean ‘shoot.’ Sorry, kiddo!” he says, rushing through bodies of guests, making his way straight to me. He scoops me up in a hug, spinning me around and whooping loudly. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
He puts me down and plants a wet kiss on my lips. “I’m going to be a dad?”
I nod. “You are. And I’m gonna be a mom.”
Tucker places his hand on my stomach and whispers, “How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks. The doctor confirmed it Thursday. I was going to tell you after the wedding, but I guess Rae took care of that for me.” I place my hand on top of his and peek up at him. “Are you happy?”
“Did you not hear my outburst?” he smirks, his eyes blazing with delight. “Hell yeah, I’m excited. I’ve never been happier.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“It’s never too soon with you, Maura. Never. I already planned on spending the rest of my life with you, so the timeline of how things happen doesn’t matter to me. As long as you’re by my side, I’ll have everything I’ll ever want.” Tucker reaches up and wipes the tears falling down my face that I hadn’t even noticed. Nuzzling my nose, he pecks my lips again. “I’ve gotta go play a few songs for the happy couple. Save me a dance?”
I nod and watch him walk away with a new swagger to his step. Several people walk over to congratulate me, and before I know it I’m swooped up in another hug. I immediately know who it is.
“Dallas!”
“You little hussy! I let you move out and you go get knocked up. Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, setting me back down.
I shrug. “I just found out Thursday.”
“Well, congrats, baby girl. Little Dallas is gonna make a great addition.”
“Dallas, huh? I like that.”
“No way,” Gaige says, walking up to me. “If they are naming that baby after anyone, it’ll be me. Come here, girl.”
I’m squeezed tightly again by Gaige. Just as I’m pulling away, he whispers, “Thank you for not breaking his heart, Maura. I would have hated to hate you.”
Laughing, I plant a kiss on his cheek. “You’d never.”
A throat clears, Tucker’s signature move, and I turn toward the stage.
“Congratulations to my best friend and brother from another mother, Hudson. I see you, dude.” Hudson raises his glass to his friend and mouths the words back to him. “And to his bride, Rae. You’ll always be Hudson’s favorite first wife of mine.” Rae flips him off with a smile. “This first one is for Maura. She’s my yesterday, my tomorrow, my forever.” Staring at me, he gives a sly smirk, and in typical Tucker fashion, adds, “And my sugar baby mama.”
I place my hand on my stomach, beaming up at the man I love.
Just last year I’d have said I was a liar, a fraud.
Now? Now I’m honest and real. I’m loved and healed. And that mask I used to wear? I’ve hung it up. For good.
Because of Tucker. Because of us. Because of yesterday.
First (always first), Henry, I love you. It’s as simple as that. You’re perfectly imperfect and everything I could have ever asked for in a husband. Thank you. For everything.
sMother, remember that one time when I worked at the gas station and you stopped by, giving me a note on that yellow paper you always write on? I still have it and carry it around in my wallet. I love you.
B, fuck the distance, dude. I miss you. I miss giving you hugs and hearing your laugh. Let’s fix that, okay? Oh, and thanks for being the Maura to my Rae. Love you, hooker!
Murphy, I think I wrote something nice about you last time, so this one is just gonna say this: you’re okay. Thanks for fixing my commas. (No, but for real, THANK YOU.)
Dawn Billings, this is regarding a certain television show I knew you’d love…I TOLD YOU SO. And thank you.
Jamie Walker, really, dude? Get the fuck out of my brain already. This is getting ridiculous. I love you. #BrainTwinsForLife
D, thanks for letting me be your fluffer. ;-) Now really, go finish that damn book! I want to read it already.
Beth Thomason, remember how I said I was out of words? I lied. Your encouragements and snarky comments kept my creativity flowing when I believed I was all tapped out. Thank you for forcing me back into my brain and pulling those words from me. You were right, as always. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.
ChristinA, Asshole Sr., Nikki, and Carrie, you beta bitches rock! Thanks for taking a chance on me. Special shout out to ChristinA for her voice messages and trying to murder me all the time. You’re too sweet. And to Nikki for reading the book twice. You’re the best!
Somehow in my last set of acknowledgements I forgot about a very special person: Colleen Motherfucking Hoover. You’re inspiring, grateful, and giving. You make me want to be a better person. I’ll go old school yearbook on you: don’t ever change.
Dawn L. Chiletz, thanks for always being around, giving me courage, and sharing your wisdom.
My BS family, I hate you all. And by hate, I mean love. Kind of.
My other husband…RUDE!
To my sister: thank you for always being there. I love you.
To my family, by blood or marriage, your support means everything. Thank you.
And to everyone I’m forgetting, because I so know I’m forgetting someone…thanks, dudes!
Reader, thank you for all your support. It means more than you could ever know. I hope I did Maura and Tucker justice. I knew they’d end up together from the beginning, I just never knew how they’d get there. You’ll see more of them and their new family in the future. I have at least two more books planned.
With love and unwavering gratitude,
Teagan
TEAGAN HUNTER is a romance cover artist by day and a writer by…well, every free moment she gets. She lives in Boring Town, MO with her wonderful husband, two dogs, and lots of saltwater fish. Teagan enjoys reading, binge-watching TV shows (especially Supernatural!), cold weather, and never matching her socks. She’s weird. It’s kind of her “thing.”
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Copyright © 2015 Teagan Hunter
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Cover photo by Lindee Robinson Photography
Cover by Najla Qamber Designs
Mo
dels: Chris Maher and Mikeala Galli
Editor credit: Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae www.murphyrae.net
Interior format by The Killion Group http://thekilliongroupinc.com
Here's to Yesterday Page 26