Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I waited for the reaction as Hunter perused the document. When his eyes went wide, I knew he’d read the date of birth.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope.” Our new boy had been born the same day as Hunter’s brother.
“You know that’s Jayce’s birthday.”
“Yep. I’d say this foul-mouthed bird was meant to be with us, wouldn’t you?”
After Hunter thanked me for his gift—and tried to feel me up in the process—he told me to wait in the living room because he had a little something for me, too.
He handed me a black box with a silver bow. Arnold was perched on his shoulder. I got the feeling he would be spending a lot of time there.
“It’s not nearly as awesome as Arnold, but this is for you.”
I slipped off the bow and opened the box. My eyes flared. “Is this…?”
Hunter flashed an impish grin. “It is.”
I lifted the familiar blue garter out of the box. It was the one he’d caught at Anna and Derek’s wedding and put on my leg after I’d caught the bouquet. “I asked twice if you knew what happened to this, and you said no.”
“I know. I lied. Something just told me I needed to keep it. I think deep down I knew I’d be taking it off your leg someday when I made you my wife. And even though I thought forever was impossible at the time, I held on to that thing like hope I refused to give up.”
“That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said.” I reached out and linked my fingers with his.
Of course, he used the connection to yank me against him. “Oh yeah? Does that buy me admission to your pants now?”
* * *
I married Hunter Delucia at dusk in a small ceremony in our backyard with our families and friends watching. I’d put tea light candles in all of the birdhouses that hung in the tree we stood beneath. It made it feel like his mother and brother were watching over us from above.
We’d found true love and health and were happy beyond what either of us could have ever imagined. When the minister said he could kiss the bride, my teary-eyed husband cupped my cheeks.
“I love you, Natalia Delucia. You’ve showed me what living means, and my heart will always be yours.”
His lips came down on mine before I could reciprocate the sentiment. But he knew. He knew.
I used to think Hunter Delucia had stolen a piece of my heart. But I was wrong. Because eventually, even the heart stops beating. This man stole a piece of my soul—because the soul lives forever, and so will my love for this beautiful man.
Epilogue
— Hunter —
TEN MONTHS AFTER THE WEDDING
“Did you figure out a name yet?” Izzy ran the side of her knuckle along Baby Girl Delucia’s cheek.
“Well it certainly isn’t going to be Sebastian,” I said. After months of fighting over our soon-to-be son’s name, Nat and I had finally settled on Sebastian Jayce. I think we were both still a little shell-shocked from when the doctor lifted the baby last night and announced, “It’s a Girl!” We’d had two sonograms, and both times the technician seemed pretty confident the baby was a boy. Apparently, the umbilical cord sometimes becomes positioned in a way that made it appear to be a penis.
“What about Elizabeth?” Izzy said. “Then we can call her Lizzy for short and be Izzy and Lizzy?”
I chuckled. “I’m not even going to attempt to come up with names. Whenever I pick anything, Nat wrinkles her nose. But a month later, when she comes up with the same damn name, it’s a great idea.”
Izzy looked up at me, her eyes filled with mischief. “Can we take her socks off again?”
“What is with you and your sister’s toes?”
“I have no idea. But I really want to play with those little sausages some more.”
I smiled. “Go for it.”
The bathroom door opened, and Nat walked out shuffling her feet in her slippers.
“Any luck?” I asked.
Her shoulders slumped. “No.”
“How about if I go out and find a nurse and ask if she can give you something now that this little guy … I mean girl … is on the outside? Just a little something to help you go.”
The last few months of pregnancy had been tough on Nat. She’d had constant sciatic pain shooting down her leg, couldn’t seem to stay asleep more than an hour at a time, and had terrible hormone-induced constipation. The latter could’ve been helped with over-the-counter medication, but my wife wouldn’t even take an aspirin during her pregnancy.
Nat nodded. “Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.”
While I was out at the nurse’s station, the Rossi girl gang arrived. They had balloons, flowers, and more gift bags than they could carry. Then I got a load of Bella, Nat’s mom.