Page 76 of His Wild Storm
Before I know it, we’re parking in front of Amelia and Beckett’s house. Well, not right in front because it looks like wearen’t the first to arrive. Knox doesn’t bother knocking at the front door and swings it open after we step up to it.
When I shoot him a look of horror, he shrugs. “What? It was unlocked.”
“That’s not an invitation,” I hiss as he leads me into the living room.
“Mommy,” Wilde screeches at the top of his lungs.
It’s the only warning I get before he slams into my legs. Thankfully, Knox is there, and he holds me upright, or else I would be sprawled out on the floor.
For a moment, panic fills me, but when I look down at my son’s smiling face, it disappears. The best I can do is wave toward the other people milling around and I have no hope of helping Amelia in the kitchen because Wilde starts to talk non-stop. He tells me all about his night, which was clearly a success.
When I look around, everyone is smiling and laughing. This family is all about love and it’s a beautiful thing.
“Best storm to ever blow into my life,” Knox murmurs as he kisses my temple before his attention goes straight back to Wilde.
He calls me the storm. Maybe I am.
But he’s the break in the clouds, the one that lets sunshine back in. And I couldn’t be more thankful we found each other.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
KNOX
I rush into the house after leaving Vibrant Ink even though I didn’t want to be there at all. It was my fault for scheduling an appointment on my birthday. Why did I do that?
The last place I wanted to be, when my family was waiting for me at home, was work. But I also wasn’t going to reschedule since it’s been on the books for a while.
When I step into the house, the first thing I notice is how quiet it is. Too quiet. My eyes narrow and I look around.
Nothing looks out of place. Wilde’s toys are on the living room floor, and it looks like he’s added some watercolors to his art supply pile in the corner where his plastic easel sits.
I remember the day I brought it home for him and the way his eyes lit up. But then he looked harder at the easel and crossed his arms across his chest. “This looks like a kid’s easel. It’s plastic,” he pointed out. “Aren’t they supposed to be made from wood?”
I crouched down after putting it down in the corner of the living room. “A lot of artists use easels made of wood,” I told him honestly. “I get how this one might not feel like a real artist’s easel, but it is a good size for you to use and will be easy to clean.Being able to use it comfortably is more important than what it’s made out of.”
He sighed and nodded while eyeing the easel. A few minutes later he looked at me, his voice strong and sure, “You’re right. Thank you for the easel, Daddy.”
I blinked at him a few times and tried not to cry. It was the first time he referred to me as his dad. It was a special moment I’ll never forget.
“You’re welcome, Wilde,” I rasped, my voice thick. “I love you, Bud.”
He threw himself at me and wrapped his arms around my neck. “I love you, Daddy.”
Then he ran off to get some of his art supplies so he could use his easel. For him, that was it. Just that simple.
For me, the moment was so huge all I could do was plop down on my ass right there. “You’re a good dad,” Haven’s sweet voice came from behind me.
I jerked in surprise and turned around to find her standing at the large entrance of the living room. My voice was filled with amazement, “He called me ‘Daddy’ and told me he loves me.”
Haven’s smile was sweet as she closed the distance between us. Her fingers ran through my hair, soothing me and giving me exactly what I needed.
I was climbing up to my feet by the time Wilde showed back up in the living room. He glanced at where my arm was wrapped around my woman’s waist, but it had become normal for him.
While thinking about how Wilde has settled into life here with me, with my family, I can’t help but smile. Haven did eventuallytell him their monster was gone in a way he could understand. Wilde seemed to be more relieved than anything else.
A few months ago, he was happy to help me redecorate the guest room Haven stayed in for a matter of hours. We did it one day when the ladies of the family took Haven out for a day of pampering, lunch, and girl time. The moment Avery drove away with Tenley, Monroe, and Haven in her car, the guys swarmed my house.
