Page 59 of Wrong Car, Wright Guy
“She has great intuition. The first time we met she asked me if I was going to marry you, and you know, I think I just might. “
A massive grin curves up the sides of his mouth. “You’re not going to wait for me to ask? “
“You can ask,” I say with a huge smile on my face. “But just know, you’ve already got my answer. And this time, I don’t feel like it’s rushing into things. I waited three long months without you for this. And I want it all back. No more waiting. No more yelling at me then cutting me out of your life. If we’re going to do this again, we’re going to do it together all the way. You don’t get to be the boss anymore. “
“How about co-hosts?” he says. “Or better yet, co-station heads. I may or may not have just wiped out a chunk of my savings to buy WHGC so I can’t be forced out of it again. I also spoke to Tahlia and I think I’m ready to speak out against my father. Wright media can go to one of my cousins for all I care. I can do this all on my own. I’m done being their puppet. The only thing I’m not done with is you. I never want anything to come between us again. “
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” I say, pulling my head back a little so I can look him clearly in the eyes. “Because when our baby is born, he or she is going to need their dad around. So if we’re going to do this together, we need to do it right.”
His eyes almost bug out of his head and his mouth falls open, reminding me of my own penchant for gaping. It’s an unusual sight to see Tanner doing it, though. “You… You’re pregnant? “
I nod. “I just found out this morning. I was actually over here talking to Theo and Darren about how I was going to see you to break the news. But now you’re here. Like somehow the gods of fate were pushing us back together.”
“Fate,” he says, placing his knee against the wall to support my weight so he can cup the side of my face in his hand. “To the dick on my car, to the radio show and the baby in your belly. It’s all meant to be, Ruby. Fuck. I’m gonna be a dad.”
“And I have to push a watermelon out of my vagina. But yay! We’re gonna be parents.” We laugh and he spins me around.
“I love you, Ruby Casey.” He leans in close and I smile.
“I love you, Tanner Wright,” I whisper just before he brings his mouth to mine in a slow and sensual kiss.
“OK. We like him again,” Darren sighs from his vantage point in the doorway of their apartment. “But if you do one more thing to hurt this girl or you turn out to be a deadbeat baby daddy, I swear, I will send every drag queen in the city after you. You won’t be able to blink without seeing glitter and feathers come flying your way. So take that as a dire warning.” He places his hands on his hips and nods definitively.
“Duly noted,” Tanner says.
Theo places his hands on Darren’s shoulders and steers him away. “OK, Coco. We hear you. How about we give these lovebirds some privacy?”
“Thank you, little bro,” I say, grinning at him, loving how supportive he’s been over everything that involves Tanner and me. He gives me a wink.
“I’m happy if you’re happy, sis. “
“Oh, I’m happy. Actually, I’m more than happy. I have my Mr. Wright. I’m perfect.”
Epilogue
RUBY
One year later…
“Are you ready?” I ask as I straighten the flowers in Camille’s hair. We’ve got her signature red bob in ringlets and she told me just before that she feels like the most beautiful fairy in all the land. I have to agree.
“I have my flower crown. Check,” she says, touching her hair with her working hand. “I have my dress. Check.” She touches the dress. “And I have my petals. Check.” She touches the basket we’ve attached to the side of her chair so she can toss them as she’s wheeled down the aisle. “I am ready to be your flower girl, Ruby.” She tilts her head up and gives me a glowing smile.
“Fantastic,” I say. “You’re going to be great.” I turn to Tahlia. “How about you? Are you ready to be Maid of Honor? “
Tahlia repeats the same motions Camille did, touching her flower crown, her dress and checking that she’s holding her flowers. “I sure am,” she says, giving Camille a wink.
“And what about you, little munchkin?” I say to my three-month-old son, Bradley, who gurgles in Darren’s arms.
“Oh, this little ring bearer is going to steal the show,” he coos, tickling Bradley’s cheek with the tip of his finger. “He’s so beautiful I just want to eat him up. Aren’t you just the cutest? Yes, you are.”
“I never expected you to be such a mother hen, Darren,” I say.
He flutters his long lashes. “What can I say, I'm the queen of many things.”
Bradley gurgles in response.
“And what about you, Darren? Are you ready to walk down that aisle too?”
