Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“I love you so much,” I say fiercely, “and I’m going to love our little lord or lady until they get sick of me.”
She laughs adorably, leaning back in my arms, looking up with reflected love beaming in her glistening eyes. I can tell they’re happy tears.
“Lord or lady?”
“Have you forgotten? You’re a queen, remember, my queen.”
“I love you so much. You’re going to be the best dad, but we will have to decide if we’ll give them cell phones. They might get as addicted to texting as us.”
I laugh, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around, knowing this is the happiest I’ve ever been and more happiness awaits us.
EPILOGUE
FIVE MONTHS LATER
Zoey
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything else?” I ask the builder.
He’s a kind older man. It’s weird because he’s probably around Jax’s age, but I never think of my husband as old. He’s always so full of energy, especially since the wedding when we moved into our new home and began renovating it.
“This fresh-squeezed OJ is enough, ma’am. Thank you.”
That’s right. I’m a ma’am now. It’s crazy what having a husband like Jax will do.
The builders have been respectful, even turning their music down when I asked.
How’s it going in the madhouse?
I smile as I walk into the backyard, my phone in my hand, the sun beaming down at me. My bump shifts, our baby kicking, eager to enter the world to meet the family that will lavish them with all the love in the world.
It’s coming along nicely. When it’s finished, this is going to be a dream home. I still have to pinch myself. I know, I know. Your editor would kill me for the cliché.
LOL. Your editor might feel the same. I’m so proud of you, Zoey.
I sit on the chair, looking across the tidy yard. There’s lots of space for flowerbeds, a trampoline, and a pool, separated by a small fence. That warmed my soul when I saw it, knowing our toddling children won’t be able to access the pool unless we let them.
It’s not THAT impressive.
No, no, no. I won’t let my beautiful, talented wife put herself down. You showed me there’s another way to do things. You hammered those words out. YOU found an editor who’s a right fit for you. You decided to self-publish, and now look. You’re storming the charts without relying on my name.
I couldn’t have done it without you, I reply. You’re my inspiration. Is Peter annoyed you’re texting me at the gym?
Ha, ha. No, he’s in the bathroom and knows how addicted we are to each other.
Do you think the addiction will ever go away?
Nope, not even a little bit. I know I’m going to want you and need you forever.
I feel the same. It’s never going to fade.
It’s time for my set. I’ll speak to you soon. I love you, Zoey.
I love you so much.
Leaning back in the chair, I close my eyes, letting the sunlight glow orange against my eyelids.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Jaxson
I grin as my phone buzzes on the desk. It’s never faded, the smile which appears every time my wife messages me.
It’s a photo, but not like the photos we first sent when things were getting steamy. Things still get steamy, but since we live together and are all over each other as often as possible, there’s no need for photos anymore. A picture of Riley appears. She’s lying on her back in her crib with a big smile.
My heart melts every time you send me a photo, I text.
Does it make working difficult? she replies.
Nope, not even a tiny bit.
Are you lying to me, husband? she texts. Even if it DID make working difficult, you’d never tell me because I might stop.
I swivel in my office chair, fighting the urge to jump to my feet, forget my work, walk downstairs, and be with my family instead. We’re working alternate shifts, one of us doting on Riley as the other writes. Then we switch and keep going until we’ve hit our word counts. It’s a great setup, but we enjoy distracting each other.
You’ve got me there, I type, but can you blame me? She’s the most adorable baby who’s ever lived, and no, I’m not biased.
Hey, I wasn’t going to say that! I happen to agree!
In the end, I can’t stand it anymore. I quickly finish the sentence I was working on and stand. Thankfully, my writer’s block released its hold the day Mallory gave her blessing. Walking through our house, I admire all the feminine touches Zoey has added—the framed photo of all three of us after Zoey gave birth. She looks brave and beautiful in her hospital bed, the image seeming to glow with all the love. I pause outside Riley’s room, listening to Zoey, my soul warm, my world secure, everything going just as it should.