Page 66 of Marring an Athlete

Epilogue

Michael pulled into the parking garage and turned off his car. He took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe this was happening. It was what he wanted for so long, and today, it was finally happening.

Anna turned around and smiled at him. When her gaze met his, she gave him an understanding look. She reached out and patted his hand. “It’ll be okay. McKenna’s a fighter. Besides, a C-section isn’t the end of the world.”

Michael just nodded. This wasn’t how he’d imagined the birth of his niece going, but they were both doing well, so that was all the mattered.

Michael leaned over, and Anna met his kiss. They’d been married for three months now, and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about tiny Michaels or Annas running around.

When Anna pulled back, she shot him a suspicious look. “Michael?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“What?” he asked, reaching over and pulling the door handle.

“You have a look.”

He shrugged as he stepped out of the car and Anna followed him. “Remember when we told Sefina the reason why we weren’t having sex at the Rekindle Resort?”

Anna nodded. “Something to do with only for procreation. Why?”

“Well, thank goodness you don’t only feel that way.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

“Was there a reason why you brought this up?”

He tried to seem nonchalant as he threw his keys into the air. “Is it so bad that I want to have babies with the woman I love?” He smiled to himself as he pulled open the back door of his car and grabbed out the giant teddy bear he’d shoved back there.

“What?” she asked.

“I want to have babies with the woman I love.” He stood and met her gaze. Her lips were parted as she studied him.

“You’re ready?”

He shrugged. “Are you?”

She squealed and raced around the car, throwing herself into his arms. “Yes!” She pressed her lips against his.

He grabbed her with his free arm and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart, he glanced down at her. “Not here, Mrs. Jones. We can start tonight.”

He winked at her, and she swatted him. She disappeared in the backseat and then emerged with a handful of balloons. Once they were free of the door, he pushed it closed and slung the teddy bear over his shoulders.

“You had to go with the biggest one the store carried?” she asked as she followed him.

He shrugged. “It’s for my first niece. I need to establish myself as the favorite.”

She laughed. “Well, you’re not spoiling our kids.”

Michael fell silent as he reveled in the feeling that hearing her say our kids brought him. He was married and talking about a family with Anna. He was pretty sure his life couldn’t get more perfect than this.

He turned, halting her in her tracks. “I love it when you say that.”

She glanced up at him. “Our kids?”

He nodded and then bent down to meet her lips. She giggled as she returned the kiss. If his hands were free, he would have wrapped them around her and never let her go.

“Michael, McKenna’s expecting us.”

He groaned, but then took a step back. “Tonight?”

She nodded. “Tonight.”

Happiness rushed through his body as he smiled down at his wife. It’d taken years to get to this point, but he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Anna was his and that was all he’d ever need. And this time, he wasn’t going to screw it up.

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