Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
I’d finally gotten that happily ever after I sure as hell deserved. And God, it felt good.
Epilogue One
Beckham
Six months later
I stared at Lenora and tried to wrap my head around what she just told me. It was like someone just kicked me in the balls.
For the last year, she’d been living with me. We’d made this house a home for both of us. She decorated it, helped renovate the upstairs. She even had her own little room, one where she could read in the nook I created for her by the window, where she had her many books lined up in the bookcases I’d gotten for her at her favorite antique shop.
And I’d never been happier.
And although I always dreamed about this moment, I hadn’t thought it would be yet.
“Please say something,” she said so softly I almost didn’t hear her. She kept twisting her hands together, her nervousness tangible.
I didn’t want to make her feel this way.
Lenora was having my baby. She was pregnant, carrying my child, and I was going to be a father.
“I—I—” Hell, I had no fucking idea what to say. The sonogram picture she’d given me to break the news was still in my hand, and I stared at that black-and-white picture. That was my baby, although it didn’t look much aside from a little bean-shaped thing. But it was my baby. “I don’t know what to say, baby.” I was being honest.
“I took three pregnancy tests when I realized how late I was. So I made an appointment with the doctor. I didn’t know they were going to do the ultrasound.” She was still twisting her hands together. “I should have just talked to you about it, but… here we are.”
I looked at her again, anticipation and excitement filling me even though on the outside I probably looked shell-shocked. I couldn’t help it. She watched me with wide eyes, her lips parted, her fear tangible. She was afraid of my reaction. Could she possibly think I wouldn’t want this?
“Please say something, Beckham.” She took a stuttering breath. “Are you just as scared as I am? I know this isn’t planned—”
“Lenora, baby, you’re pregnant.” I grinned from ear-to-ear. I pulled her in for an embrace and buried my face in her hair, inhaling deeply. God, the woman I loved was pregnant with my child.
“I wasn’t sure if showing you the picture was a good thing, but when I saw the ultrasound from when I got the pregnancy confirmed, I thought—hoped—you would want to see it.”
I pulled back and cupped her cheeks, kissing her until we were both breathless. “This is all I’ve ever wanted. A family with you, Lenora.” Yeah, we were young, but we were also doing well in life, and I had a good job. I could provide for her and our children.
“I don’t want you working at the café anymore.” I realized what I said. “I mean, you can if you want, you know, being an independent female and all, but I want to take care of you.” I chuckled softly when she smiled. “At least after the baby is born, think about staying home for a while? Let me take care of you two.”
I saw the amusement in her eyes. Yeah, I’d been possessive before, but knowing she was carrying my child made me downright territorial and protective.
“You’re happy? This doesn’t freak you out?”
I shook my head right way. “No fucking way.” I leaned in and kissed her softly, so softly.
“I’m a little scared, Beckham.”
I couldn’t blame her. This was all new. But it would be good, perfect. “Let me show you, prove to you that I won’t fuck this up, Lenora. Let me show you I’ll be the best man, the best father to our baby, and the best future husband to you that I can be.”
She smiled, cupped my cheek with one hand, and said in a soft voice, “You’re already the best partner I could ask for. I know you’ll be the very best father too.”
I pulled her in close and just held her. I’d never been happier than when I was with Lenora, and right now, the euphoria that filled me told me so much. It told me that she was my soulmate, that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I was with exactly who I was supposed to be with.
Epilogue Two
Beckham
One year later
I’d never fucking get tired of this, never wish I’d done things differently. Because no matter what, no matter how things had progressed, transgressed… no matter how life had changed so drastically, I knew I was the luckiest bastard in the world.
I had my woman, the girl I loved for longer than I even wanted to admit.
The mother of my child.
My wife.
And as I took my woman, claimed her, made her mine over and over again, my pleasure increased tenfold like it always did.