Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I…”
“Should I get down on one knee?” he asked. “Would that be better?”
He clasped my hand as he moved to one knee, still holding the ring box toward me.
“Chloe?”
I couldn’t say a word.
“Chloe, please say something. Anything.”
“I think my water just broke…”
Tell Me So
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
The delivery room’s bright lights nearly blinded me as the nurses helped me onto a bed. The doctors’ orders, my friends’ frantic cries, and security demands all melded together in a painful cacophony.
“Relax, Miss March,” “You’ll need to push a lot harder,” “Can you hear me talking, Miss March?”
It was all too much, too soon, and all I could focus on was the look in Tyler’s eyes.
I slipped in and out of consciousness, gripped his hand with every painful push, and before I knew it, the lights dissolved into darkness.
* * *
Tyler was running his fingers through my hair when I came to, and we were alone in the room.
The white board ahead of me was marred in blue and red notes, but I could only make out a few of the lines.
4 lbs. 7 oz. 19 inches. 4 lbs. 8 oz. 18 inches. Running exams.
“What happened?” I croaked. “Where are our babies?”
He pressed a button next to my bed, and slowly slid his hands under me. Gently positioning my body so I could sit up, he placed a kiss on my forehead.
“Is there a reason you’re not talking a mile a minute like you usually do? Is something wrong?”
“Not at all.” He smiled. “Everything is fine.”
Before I could ask about our babies again, the door opened and two nurses walked inside, holding bright blue blankets. They smiled at me and gently placed them against my chest.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the nurse whispered, “I’ll need you two to give us these little guys’ names, okay?”
“Okay.” I felt my heart expanding with each passing second as I stared at their tiny faces.
While the one on my left slept, the one on the right smiled as I touched his cheek.
“I need you to give me an answer, Chloe.”
“I like the names William & Tyler Carrington,” I said. “We agreed on that months ago.”
“I’m referring to you marrying me.” He caressed my hand. “You never said yes or no.”
“I thought that was quite obvious,” I said, smiling. “Yes.”
The End
Epilogue I (E)**
Tyler
Seattle, Washington
Kristin: Are you holding Chloe hostage?
Madison: Why haven’t you shown up to my shop this week to try ‘Royally Yours?’
Kristin: We can see that you’ve read these messages, Tyler. O_o
Madison: We ‘allowed’ you into this group chat and made the rules very clear…You’re a part of our family now, but you’re NOT too good to be kicked out at any time.
Kristin: Hos over bros.
I laughed and set down my phone, deciding to answer their messages later this evening on purpose. Pushing away a stack of manuscripts, I stood up from my desk and drew the drapes open.
Even in heavy rain, the press was holding firm outside, hoping for the first glimpse of our children. For anything to launch a new, never-ending news cycle.
As far as I was concerned, they’d never get anything from us again.
Walking down the hallway, I adjusted the frame that held me and Chloe’s private wedding picture.
“Your friends are threatening me again.” I stepped into our bedroom. “I think they’re trying to say they’d like you to bring the babies out for a visit.”
Chloe held a moon toy above William & Tyler, smiling as they attempted to grab it.
“Chloe?”
“We’ll take them by tomorrow,” she said softly. “We were just there Friday.”
I’d already forgotten. The first months with the twins had flown by in a blur of visits from my family, Chloe’s friends, and the people at Rogue Publishing I’d grown to respect.
“Do you know if they have a scavenger hunt planned for your birthday this year?”
“I told them not to do one since you said you’re planning to handle it for me.” She picked up William and placed a pacifier in Tyler’s mouth. “Why?”
“Just curious.”
“I want them to do something different this year,” she said. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Give me a chance to talk to them.” I caressed her cheek. “I think we can all figure out what it is…”
Epilogue II (E)**
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
Weeks later
“Happy re-thirtieth Birthday to you! Happy re-thirtieth Birthday to you…”
Bright gold candles flickered on my cake as Kristin and Madison sang at the top of their lungs.
Tyler stood next to me, holding our sons against his chest with one arm and my waist with the other.
Tears pricked my eyes with every note, and as much as I fought to hold them back, a few trickled down my cheeks.
This was exactly what I wanted, the perfect “redo” with the people who meant the most to me.
“Happy Birthday, dear Chloe! Happy Birthday to you!”
I smiled as I blew out the candles, and they all applauded.