Page 118 of Wild Ever After
“I’m going to be just fine,” I tell her, before sliding into the seat with all my stuff.
She closes me in, and Declan glances at the box in my lap.
“Hey, thanks for the ride.” I lean over to kiss him.
“You’re welcome.” He jabs a thumb toward the box. “What’s all that?”
“Notebooks, pens, some photos, and a cactus that might be dead.”
“O-kay.”
I thought I’d be more scared, but I feel hopeful and excited about what’s next. A smile spreads across my face. “I quit.”
“Seriously?” Both of his dark brows lift.
Nodding quickly, I talk at a rapid pace. “I realized that I was never going to get to write the things I want while working there. I’ll be thirty and still writing about my life married to a Wildcat. And I guess I realized that I don’t want to share that part of my life anymore. You’re all mine.”
“Should have borrowed the spreader bars,” he mumbles.
“What?” I ask with a giggle.
“Nothing. That’s amazing news.”
“Really? You’re okay with this? It might take me a little while to find another job.” Letting another person take care of me isn’t easy, but no one ever has, or will, love me as much as he does. It seems like the perfect time to take a leap of faith.
“Really, really. You’re too talented to be writing about me. I’m not that interesting.”
“Oh, I beg to differ.” I drape a hand behind his neck and thread my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “But thank you. I’m excited. Maybe I’ll try to write a book or something while I look for another job.”
“I can think of all sorts of ways to keep you busy.” His mouth slants over mine and his tongue sweeps into my mouth.
We make out in the parking lot until the windows start to fog and Declan complains his sweats are feeling tight in the crotch.
“One more thing,” I say, while catching my breath.
“What’s up, baby?” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear.
“About having a kid.”
He looks like he wants to interrupt, but I keep going before I lose my nerve. “I do want kids, but not yet. Is that a deal breaker?”
“With you, nothing is a deal breaker.” He drops another kiss on my lips and brushes his thumb across my cheek. “You were worried about this?”
“I know how important family is to you. It is for me too, just not yet. Maybe in a year or so.”
“I want kids with you, if and whenever, you’re ready. I’m sorry you felt pressured. It was never a deal breaker. I knew upping the stakes and asking you to have a baby would force you to figure out what you wanted, but it was still a shitty thing to throw at you.” His grip is firm on my neck, and he ducks his head, so we’re inches apart. “You’re my family. If it’s just the two of us, that’ll be enough.”
My stomach dips and I lunge forward and capture him in a tight hug. “I love you so much.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.” His hand cradles my head. “I love you too. But just so we’re clear, I think you’d be sexy as hell in some mom jeans with a baby on your hip.”
“And you with a dad bod, making pancakes for a couple of twin girls.” I sigh at the image, then press my lips to his.
“Twins? Girls?”
I smile at the slight panic in his voice.
He swallows the laugh that slips from my lips. “Boys. Maybe one girl. Fuck it, let’s have a dozen of both.”
