Alcohol You Later (71)

I nod, sniffling.

“But I misspoke.”

Huh?

“It’s not that I can’t raise Alex and Ava without you.” He takes my trembling hand in both of his, bringing my fingers to his lips. “It would be hard as hell, but I could. The truth is, I don’t want to. I don’t want to spend another moment without you by my side. I can’t picture my life without you in it.”

He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a black velvet box and flips the top open.

“Will you marry us?” His eyes divert to the children, still held in his best friends’ arms. “Will you be my wife, and stepmother to my kids?”

“Yes,” I say, blubbering as he slips the emerald cut solitaire onto my left ring finger. “I will marry you.”

“I don’t know if you all heard that,” he shouts, “but she said yes!”

My feet go flying out from under me as he swoops me, bridal style, into his arms. “This gorgeous woman is going to be my wife!”

His lips smash to mine, and he proceeds to kiss me with a passion that sets my blood on fire. The heavy thump of our heartbeats somehow manages to drown out the cheers of a stadium filled to near bursting.

In the span of this brief kiss, a million moments flash in my mind. My God, Nick and I have been through so much. The highest highs and the lowest lows. But the one thing that’s remained steadfast through it all is our devotion to each other. He truly is my best friend. My soulmate. And sure, it took a while to get to this place, but I’d endure it all a thousand times over to land here in his arms. Because this man who I love with my whole heart is worth it. He is worthy of love and every bit of the sacrifice it took to get him to the point where he believes it too.

“I’ll keep you safe,” I whisper against his ear as we break apart and he sets me to my feet.

He scrapes his lower lip through his teeth, eying me like he wants to eat me for dinner while I back my way off the stage. “And I’ll keep you wild.”





1 year later


“Edna? David?” Nick uses his key to unlock the door, peeking his head inside the little shotgun house. The scent of fresh baked cookies greets us, making my tummy grumble. Grammy is such a good cook. “We’re home.”

“Daddy’s home!” The sight of Ava’s little blonde ponytail bobbing as she runs into her father’s arms makes my heart skip a beat.

“Ray-ray!”

I scoop Alex up, smothering his chubby cheeks in kisses. We were only gone a week, but it feels like so much longer. These kids have become our whole world. “Where’s your pullup?” I ask, shocked when I feel nothing but cloth covering his bottom.

“I peepee in toiwet yike a big boy.”

I raise my brows at Mrs. Ritter. “It’s true.” She throws her hands out. “Finally decided he was gonna be a big kid like his sissy.”

Ava’s been using the toilet for a few months now, but Alex has been petrified to even sit on the damn thing. Of course he does it for his Grammy…not that I’m jealous or anything.

Maybe just a little.

“What?” Nicholas turns to give him a high five. “Little dude! That’s awesome.”

“No more shit diapers,” my husband whispers into my ear, making me laugh. He couldn’t have been met with better news.

“Y’all come inside,” Mr. David insists, waving us into the living room. “How was the honeymoon?”

“Yeah,” Edna says, gripping my wrist. “Should I be expecting a new grandbaby in nine months?”

I burst out laughing. “Definitely not.” These two keep us so busy, that’s the farthest thing from our minds.

Ava rushes at me the second her dad puts her down. “Ray-ray, I miss you.”

“I missed you too, sweet girl. You ready to go home?”

“At my house?” she asks, squishing my cheeks.

“Yep. Right after dinner,” I promise.

We’ve been living a few miles away from Ellie’s parents for about six months now. Nick and I both felt it was important to keep the kids near them. We’re fortunate enough to have the resources to put down roots anywhere. So, we purchased a few acres and built our dream home right on the outskirts of Nashville, in the quaint little town of Boulder City.

Of course, it’s been great for the children, but it’s also done wonders for Nick. These two have become like parents to him. The bond he’s formed with David especially has been heartwarming to watch.

The kids stay glued to our sides while we tell their grandparents all about Bora Bora. Our wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. Just the two of us, in a tropical paradise, surrounded by pristine blue water.

The kids take a particular interest in hearing about the part where we swam with sharks.

“Did it bite you?” Alex asks for the tenth time, his eyes wide with wonderment.

“No, son.” Nick laughs. “They were nice sharks.”

“How big was their teeth?” Ava bares her choppers, pointing to her mouth.

“I don’t know. They didn’t open their mouths.”

“Hey,” Mrs. Ritter says, touching my arm. “Come with me to the kitchen. I have something for you.”

“Sure,” I say, setting Ava next to Nick. “I’ll be right back.”