“You’re a smart ass.”
“I’m your smart ass.”
“Hey, Ben?”
“Yes, baby?”
“I’m planning on changing Sofi’s last name.”
“You are?” She didn’t need to, but I was over the moon with her news. Nothing could be more perfect than this.
“And I was wondering if you’d want to add something to her name. So she wouldn’t be just Sofi.”
“I’m happy that she’s just Sofi. As long as she’s a Hayes.”
“How about we let Billy Anne decide then?”
“Are you sure?”
“Is that a bad idea?”
“Not unless you want to name her Sofi Lady Glitter Sparkle Hayes.”
“Then we’ll give her three chances and choose the best one.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
A week later, Sofi Rosemarie became an official Hayes.
Epilogue
Chloe
Itwirledmyringsaround my finger as I closed my eyes to smell the salty air.
Ben proposed the night we changed Sofi’s name. It was the silliest yet the most adorable proposal ever. Charlie was supposed to be involved by fetching Ben the ring from under the bed. He said he trained him for so long.
But then Billy Anne found the ring when she was looking for something. We were in the kitchen preparing dinner when Billy Anne asked why there was a ring under her daddy’s bed.
He wasn’t mad at Billy Anne, just disappointed that his surprise was ruined. In the end, he got down on one knee in the kitchen with a messy apron on. Billy Anne felt like she was witnessing a Disney moment, and she squealed and screamed. Ben popped the question, and I told him I was going to marry him.
Five months after that, we got married in front of a judge with Maggie, Janice, and the kids as witnesses. Charlie was also wearing the fanciest bow and the biggest smile. It was my choice to keep it intimate. I’d always wanted a family, and I was so happy that I got to marry Ben in front of them.
Now, on our honeymoon, there was nothing better than the ocean breeze of Hawaii.
It had been our family tradition to go see the sunrise every day by the beach. And it was one of the many traditions we had kept doing as a family—the Hayes.
I felt Ben hug me from behind, and he rested his chin on my shoulders. I loved the way the ocean kissed the shore. The sound of it was almost therapeutic.
“Do you think in another life I was a sea creature?” I asked, closing my eyes as we swayed a little to the imaginary music only we could hear.
“Because you love the beach so much?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t care what you were in the past life, as long as you’re mine in the next.” I giggled at his words and then turned my head to kiss my man good morning.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hayes.”