Page 67 of Hurt to Love
“Yeah, right.” I ripped the paper off gift number two. Three baby grows fell out into my lap. I picked the first one up and read the words emblazoned across it. “I’m cute, Mummy’s beautiful, and Daddy’s lucky. Yep, that sounds about right.” Paige rested her head on my arm and then laughed when I held the second one up. “My Daddy is so jealous. I had boobies for breakfast and he didn’t.” I threw it into Paige’s lap. “Nope, not happening.” Then the third one. I gave a slow sarcastic laugh as I read this one aloud. “My uncle is like my daddy, only cooler.” I rolled my eyes at Ryley. “That’s one baby grow they’ll never be wearing.”
“That was Jackson’s favourite,” Ryley added, grinning like the fucking Cheshire Cat.
“What’s number three?” Paige grabbed the smallest of the four gifts out of the box, as the room waited with bated breath for my impending humiliation.
“I don’t know, lovely future wife of mine, let’s see.” There was a gasp here and there at my declaration, and I could see people glancing down to check her left hand. She wasn’t wearing her ring; it was tucked into the box and nestled safely inside her bedside table. I wanted her to wear it now, but she’d told me she’d wear it soon enough, once we’d told everyone the news.
To distract the gossips, Ryley carried on, “Number three is your something borrowed. It’s something Paige may want to borrow to get a decent night’s sleep.”
Inside was a box of heavy duty ear plugs.
“For the nights when it’s your turn to get up and do a night feed. Paige can get a rest and you’ll have no excuses.”
“I’ll always do the night feeds. I have every intention of pulling my weight,” I said, with as much conviction as a man who loves his sleep almost as much as his future wife could muster.
“We’re a partnership, we’ll do it together,” Paige said, kissing my cheek and smirking.
“Good luck with that,” Chloe piped up, raising her fourth glass of bourbon in a sign of cheers to us.
“Last one. Come on, slow coach.” Ryley rubbed her hands together and giggled. I feared she’d saved the worst for last.
“Gift number four,” I read aloud, “is your something blue. Remember the wonderful blue gift you gave me? Well, I hope I’ve matched your creativity today. Happy baby shower, Daddy. Love Jackson, Ryley, and baby Jack.”
Ryley had kept to the boobs theme and given us a pile of porno movies, much like I’d given to her and Jackson on their wedding day. I fucking loved the titles. Million Dollar Boobie, The Boobyguard, Moan Alone. Classics.
“I know what we’re watching tonight.” I grinned, rubbing my hands together.
“He has no shame.” Paige laughed and picked one up to read the blurb.
“I think the titles speak for themselves, babe,” I whispered and she laughed, just for me.
That was a sound I’d never grow tired of, and as I looked at her, glowing and happy, I wanted to freeze time. Live for as long as I could in this moment. We had people around us who loved us. Family that would do anything for us. Not always blood family, but that didn’t count. It was what we felt that was important. I was a rich man. Rich with love and a wealth of happiness to come.
I sat back with Paige nestled in close to the side of me as Chloe grabbed the DVDs and joked about borrowing them for her and Luca’s next date night. We’d had a special cake made, one of those gender reveal things that everyone does these days, according to Paige. We already knew what we were having though. It was a little girl, and we were going to call her Hope. There was no other name. She was our Hope. Hope for a better future and a happier family life than the two of us had ever known. Hope for a lifetime of love that would never die. Hope for our happy ever after. She was our happy ever after.
I had everything I needed in my arms, and I couldn’t wish or hope for more.
The End.
