Page 31 of Secret Baby with My One Timer

“You know I’ll always be her best friend,” he replies.

“I hope so.”

I open the sketchpad and flick through the pages. Hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations of Taylor in different poses.

“I sold the app,” he says as I stare at a smiling Taylor.

I laugh. “She’ll be famous.”

“And she’ll have enough money to continue funding her mom’s medical care.” He smiles. I don’t mention my father is funding her health care as I continue looking through the intricate details and subtle nuances that capture the essence of Taylor. The lightness of her hair, the brightness of her eyes.

I turn another page and choke back the emotion when I see Taylor pregnant with my baby.

I look up to see Taylor walking toward me. The wide smile on her face turning to horror when she sees what I’m looking at.

“Oh my God, close the book. I was so fat when I was pregnant.” Her voice filled with horror.

“You’re gorgeous, Taylor, then and now. I just wish I was around to see it.”

“You’ll have to give Holly a sibling,” Harrison says. “You’ll see how perfect she is for yourself.”

Taylor’s mouth opens wide before she shakes her and hisses, “Stop it, Harrison.”

“I’d love that.” Her eyes lock on mine, letting her know how serious I am.

Her head tilts to one side, like she doesn’t believe me, so I drop to one knee, my heart beating in sync with the ocean waves.

“Oliver!” My name is like a warning but disappears in the wind as her mouth open wide.

I smile. “Taylor, will you make my life and marry me? I want a life with you. With Holly and with all the children we are going to have together. And I want it to start now.”

A wide-eyed surprise replaces Taylor’s initial warning. “Oliver...” she utters, the word hanging in the air again.

I grin. “I love you, Taylor. I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you and not once did that waver. And I know you feel the same. But I want to prove to you and myself that we can do it different to our parents. Not for Holly’s sake, but for ours. Obviously, I want her to have an amazing life with two parents who adore her, but I want us to spend the rest of our lives with our other half, because you are my other half.”

Tears are in her eyes as she nods, and it’s everything. I’ll remember this moment forever.

I reach into my pocket, producing a small velvet box. As I open it, revealing a delicate gold band, the moon dances on the surface of the large emerald-cut diamond.

“I didn’t want to make it a grand affair, but I wanted it to be special, just like you are to me,” I say.

Harrison, ever the instigator, nudges me playfully as my hockey friends rush over and the music dims.

“It’s about time,” Nate calls.

“Don’t do it,” Oscar yells. “He’ll kiss you to death.”

I chuckle, appreciating their attempts to lighten the moment. Taylor’s smiling face is fixed on the ring as her fingers gently trace the intricate design. “Oliver, this is beautiful,” she whispers.

“Taylor, will you make me the happiest man and agree to be my wife?” I ask again.

Her eyes meet mine, glistening with unshed tears. She nods. “Yes, Oliver. Yes, a thousand times.”

Everyone cheers as I slip the outrageously large ring onto her finger and kiss her. At that moment, the moon seems to shine a little brighter, casting a warm glow on the two of us. Probably on her. The woman who made me want nothing more than her. The woman I fell head over heels years ago and started to believe she was a figment of my imagination. The woman I can’t wait to marry. Live with and spend the rest of our lives making babies.

“To the happy couple.” Harrison raises his glass in a toast, and the loud cheers of our friends and family surround us.

“I love you, Oliver,” she whispers against my lips.

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