Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“I’m just so happy. You not only gave me you but your family too.”
“I’m the lucky one, babe. I’ve got you. There is nothing more in this world I could ask for.” I sniff. “Did you just wipe your nose on my shirt?”
“Maybe.” I hear Alice and Jim laugh.
“Food is here,” Alice says.
“I’ll go down and get it,” Jim volunteers. My stomach growls, thinking about food.
“You’re hungry.”
“We never got our food last night.” Bear’s jaw ticks.
“I’m okay.” I put my hands on his chest. He drops his forehead to mine.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“You two are so cute together. I was starting to think Theo wasn't into girls or boys. Just football.” I snort a laugh. I kind of love that there is no string of girls in my Bear’s past. That his only love has been football and his family. Now it’s me.
“Can I invite Reid and Zoey over for dinner too?”
“Babe, this is your house. You don’t have to ask to have people over.” He pulls his phone out, and I watch him text Reid.
“That’s actually perfect. I’m sure Zoey will want to help plan the wedding.” Alice beams at me. My insides melt at how excited she is to have me in her family.
Jim comes back with boxes of pizza. Reid and Zoey show up a few moments later. I grab plates for everyone, carrying them into the dining room. Bear wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his lap. I can feel the blush in my cheeks, but I don’t try to move. I’ll happily eat my pizza while sitting in his lap.
I look around the table at everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. Bear brushes my hair off my shoulder to kiss my neck. I lean more into him. His hand wraps around me to rest on my stomach in a possessive hold.
Our baby is going to grow up with so much love. I smile at Zoey and Alice as they bounce around ideas for the wedding. This is my family. And I love all of them.
“I love you,” Bear says against my neck, placing another kiss there. I lick my lip as his other hand cups my sex under the table.
“I love you too.” I elbow him.
It only makes him chuckle. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
“You’re going to get it,” I warn.
“Good because I want it. I’ll take anything you’ll give me.” His hand comes to my chin to turn my head. He drops a kiss on my mouth.
He’s my forever love.
Epilogue
Many Years later
“When the pancake batter starts to bubble, you want to flip it,” I tell my oldest son Peyton.
“I know.” He picks up the spatula. Not only does he flip it, but he shoots it up a good three feet, and it lands back in the pan perfectly. He did not get that from his mom or me. “Nana taught me.” Of course she did.
“Don’t burn mine,” Oliver says, not looking up from his iPad.
“You’ll get what I give you.” I turn to grab some plates and hide my laugh. These are the times I love the most. These small moments when we make memories together doing the simplest of tasks.
I get them set up at the breakfast bar and then make a plate for my wife. She tossed and turned most of the night. I’m glad she’s getting to sleep in. She needs it.
Willow got pretty big each time she got pregnant with the boys. They both came out weighing almost ten pounds. They’re built big like I am.
“You guys good?”
“Yep,” they both say at the same time. I grab some orange juice and put it on the tray. I also put some Reese’s cups too. The woman is obsessed with peanut butter. It’s always something new with each pregnancy.
This pregnancy is a little different. She’s carrying two of our sons at once. I don’t know how her little body does it, but nothing slows Willow down.
I push the door open to our bedroom. Our cat, Jinx, jumps off the bed, making his exit. He’s headed straight to the boys, knowing he can sucker them out of some bacon.
I set the tray down at the end of the bed on the bench. “Do I smell bacon?” Willow’s eyes spring open, making me laugh. There is never a dull moment with her.
I’m just fucking happy that football is over, and I have three months to be here at her side. Twins are going to be a lot to handle.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t much of a scandal when everyone found out we were together. I’m sure winning the National Championship helped with that. It had been almost three decades since they’d won one. I’ve gone on to snag them another five.
I’ve been offered so many jobs over the years, even in the NFL, but I turned them all down. We didn’t want to move. Everyone is here, and I know how much this family we’ve built means to my Willow.