Page 61 of Adonis: The Cost of a Billionaire's Heart
“No. Never. You could never be a mistake to me, Sim. Everything I said to you last night, I meant.”
“Okay, then. So, what about the wedding?”
“I don’t want to wait a long time to make you mine officially,” I urged, getting up to join her in the kitchen.
“How long is a long time?”
“I want to get married next week, like you told Ellis we would.”
She held out her hand as if to stop me in my tracks. “Slow your roll there, D. I know you’re used to having things move when you say so, but we have to tell Mason first. I won’t feel comfortable moving forward without knowing how he feels about all of this, . . . you included. I mean, I know he adores you, but he’s still a kid, y’know? He doesn’t know what me marrying you really means, and I want to take the time to explain it.”
“We can do it together as soon as he wakes up.”
She nodded. “Okay then. I’d like that.”
“But in the meantime,” I said, inching closer and snaking my arms around her waist. “I got something better than coffee that’s sure to wake you right up.”
She smirked before folding her arms across her chest, hiding her diamond-hard nipples. “And what’s that?”
I picked her up and placed her on the edge of the counter. “Vitamin D.”
Later that morning, I heard the soft shuffle of mini feet racing down the hall before Mason came into view. His curls were wild from sleep, and his favorite stuffed animal was clutched in his hand. He looked at Sim and me, who were seated next to each other on the couch, talking about our future.
“Mommy?” Mason called out, followed by a yawn as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Where’s my rocket?”
Sim chuckled before shooting her eyes over to me. “I told you he loves it.” She outstretched her arms toward him, waving him over to sit on her lap. “Come here, baby boy. Mr. H and I have something important to talk to you about.”
“Am I in trouble?”
She swung her head in a no. “Not at all. What we have to talk about is pretty exciting news.”
Mason’s drowsy brown eyes instantly perked up as if he’d had a shot of espresso. “Really? What is it? Are we going to a fun place?”
I glanced over at Sim, and she nodded, giving me her blessing to carry on with what I was about to say. I leaned in to look him in the eye. “Mason, I asked your mommy to marry me last night.”
He blinked a few times, slowly processing my announcement. “Like a wedding? With cake?”
Sim giggled. “Yeah. There will be a wedding and a cake. But most importantly, the three of us will be a family.”
“Like forever?” he quizzed, eyes pinging between us.
Sim flashed him a smile before kissing his temple. “Yeah. Forever. What do you think about that, Mase?” she inquired while running her hand gently through his curls.
Mason was quiet for a few agonizing seconds as his big brown eyes explored our expressions. My heart dropped. I hadn’t considered what would happen if he didn’t give his blessing. He was the only man with more power than me when it came to matters of Simora’s heart. If he wasn’t comfortable with us getting married, then we wouldn’t be. Then, his small lips slowly began to curl into a smile.
“Like, you’re gonna be my dad?” he inquired, his tiny voice was soft but delighted.
I swallowed the thick lump lodged in my throat before dipping my chin in a firm nod. “Yes. If that’s okay with you, lil man.”
Instead of answering, he flung himself from his mother’s lap into my arms and wrapped his arms around my neck, squeezing as hard as an excited four-year-old could. I was a bit caught off guard, so it took me a second to return the hug. But when I did, a breath of relief eased out, and I closed my eyes for a second, instructing myself to be in the moment and cherish it for what it was—a brand new beginning to our unconventional love story.
Mason slightly pulled back to whisper something in my ear. “I’ve never had a dad before. I’m glad it gets to be you.”
Hearing his words felt like I’d received the final piece to a puzzle I’d been constructing all my life. And in that moment, everything fell into place, just like a final piece clicking into position. I decided to keep everything about my involvement with Jadarius’s death a secret.
Still positioned in my arms, Mason looked between his mother and me. “So . . . when are you getting married? And can it be chocolate cake?” he requested, voice overflowing with excitement.
Sim and I exchanged knowing looks and shared a quick laugh before she looked at her son with so much love in her eyes.
