Page 23 of Hot Response
“Get that out of your head right now,” he demanded, tipping my head back so I would be solely focused on him. “You and I are going to work out.”
“But—" I started to say, but he shook his head.
“No buts. We’re going to have good times and not so good times. We’re going to love one another even if at times we don’t like each other for a moment. We are going to fight and argue,” he stated. I frowned, and when he noticed that, his gaze softened. “That’s just what happens in relationships, baby girl. Highs and lows on the rollercoaster of life. But as long as we’re together, holding each other’s hand, cheering one another from the stands, we can do anything. We can overcome anything. We’re going to grow and change. Evolve from who we are in this very moment. And that’s okay. That’s life. But we’re going to do that together.” His words were like a balm to my soul and exactly what I needed to hear.
“You really believe that, don’t you?” I asked, suddenly so calm I wanted to cry tears of joy.
“I know it. You think I’m given a chance at something like this with you in my life, and I’m not going to know or appreciate the beauty of it? That I’m not going to hold on to it with both hands?” Of course, he would. He’d told me all about his high school sweetheart, and it had broken my heart for not only him but her as well. I couldn’t imagine the depths of loss and hell he’d gone through, especially as a young nineteen-year-old.
Just the thought of losing Ronnie right now made me shiver with fear. Not when our lives together and the future looked so bright it could blind us.
“I love you,” I whispered. Ron leaned in and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I love you,” he said. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice cracked. I felt his palm press against my belly. “Thank you for this. For you. For… giving me a damn chance and making dreams come true I was too scared to even dare to hope for.” He pressed his lips against mine before pulling away to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Grand opening time,” I whispered.
“You sure you’re up for it? We can ask Kylie“—my new manager—“if she can handle things.” I shook my head.
“I’m sure. I’m ready to launch and get that baby up and running smoothly again so we can have this baby.” I pointed at my stomach.
“Fuck,” he grunted and shook his head. “We’re having a baby,” he said with awe and surprise. I laughed, and he wrapped his arms around me in one of the best hugs I’d ever received in my life up until that point.
We stayed there for a long while.
Just two people who had been through their own share of good and bad times who had found someone out in the world who saw them for them. Who appreciated and loved them and were both now willing to promise their lives to one another and help make a family together.
And it was more than worth being late to my own grand re-opening for a hug!
EPILOGUE
RONNIE
I watchedmy beautiful wife dance and laugh with her friends across the dance floor.
“Shouldn’t you be rushing off to some honeymoon?” I heard a deep voice behind me.
“Babymoon,” I corrected before glancing over my shoulder to see Nate come and stand next to me.
“Babymoon.” He smirked. “No honeymoon?” he asked with a know-it-all brow raised high.
“Every day is our honeymoon,” I answered, and my buddy chuckled just as Logan strode up beside him.
“Happy for you, man.” Nate patted my back, and I nodded, unable to say a word since so many damn emotions rolled through me.
“Same, Ron.” I glanced over at Logan, and we both nodded before my attention moved back to my wife and her baby belly.
A baby belly that hadpoppedin the last two weeks. Our little cupcake or muffin was about three months out from making his or her grand appearance into our life. I couldn’t wait.
I looked around our backyard and smiled at the friends and family who had joined us to witness us sayI do. Evie didn’twant anything fancy. She’d insisted on something homy and comfortable, and when I’d suggested having it in the backyard, she had jumped at making all the plans.
My woman was crazy smart and organized.
Not only did she run her business, but I swear Eveyln could have easily started a side gig as an event planner with how fast she pulled this together. I could only imagine the great birthday parties she would plan for our little one. Or little ones, god willing.
“Happy?” Logan asked. I nodded.
“Never knew it could be like this,” I rasped and heard the rough grunt he made. It wasn’t any shade on Sara or what we had, but we’d been kids back then. We’d been happy, but I’d lived decades alone after she passed away. This thing with Evie felt so different.
