Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45063 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Eva’s video.
“I only have one question for you, Harper,” I say. “But first, I must say I love you, and I’m so proud of the person you are and the person you’re becoming. I’m proud of the amazing mother you’re going to be. I’m proud of your passion, your kindness, your generosity, and your resilience.”
“I love you, too,” she whispers, but the clip-on mic makes her voice loud. “So, so much.”
A collective gasp goes up as I kneel, but everybody else drifts away. It’s just me. Just my woman, under those bright lights.
Taking out the ring box, I open it, which is a little awkward since I’m still holding the mic. Then I hold the ring up. The diamond is large, the white gold band glistening.
“Harper Jones,” I say into the microphone. “Will you marry me?”
But she’s gone. She’s not on the stage anymore.
My thoughts rush. Am I moving too fast? Why did she flee the stage?
I hear footsteps and turn to find her climbing down the stage steps, and then she runs toward me, her arms out. I just about have time to stand before she throws herself at me.
Joyous laughter erupts from me as I catch her and spin her around.
“Yes,” she sings. “Yes, yes, yes. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
EPILOGUE
ONE WEEK LATER
Harper
“I want you to read it,” I tell him, squeezing his hand as I guide him across the bedroom to the desk.
We’re at our new rental apartment, a three bedroom so we can each have an office, with views of the park, so much natural light when the sun’s out it’s like being inside a big disco ball. It makes me smile just being in here.
When I asked Tiffany if she was going to miss me, she said, “Obviously, I will. But I’m so happy to see you happy. With the money the podcast has suddenly started bringing in… I might not need a roommate.”
Bryson chuckles, not at all self-conscious about being naked. I’m naked too, my body flecked with sweat after we just had sex. The curtains are closed against the winter darkness.
I’ve got to tame myself as he sits naked at the desk, his muscles bulging, his silver-black hair shining in the light. The silver shining bright like the happiness in my chest, expanding and bursting inside of me.
“Your crush book?” he says, turning to me.
I stand at his shoulder, my heart beating fast, my smile spreading widely across my cheeks. “I want you to see how crazy I am.”
He reaches back, a teasing note in his voice. “I already know that.”
I giggle as he tickles me, his hand trailing up my thigh. “Be good. Read the book first. Humor me.”
He opens it, turning the pages.
I love Bryson.
Bryson loves me.
We’re forever.
We’re going to be together.
He’s going to be my husband.
“So far, so good,” he says, turning the pages. “Am I looking for anything in particular?”
“Oh, I don’t know. There might be something on the last page.”
He flicks dutifully to the end. We both stare down at the words. There shouldn’t be any aspect of shock for me since I’m the one who wrote them, but that doesn’t stop the starlight from expanding inside of me—the joy for the future bubbling into the present.
Over and over, I’ve written, I’m pregnant. It covers the entire page.
Bryson stands, turning to me, broadly grinning as he pulls me into his arms, our naked bodies pressing together, no clothes to stop the heat and the love from burning between us.
“Our first child,” he whispers, guiding his lips to mine.
I lean back, studying the glistening of his eyes, the tears almost falling.
“Our first,” I say, a sob making the word tremble, the pure happiness of it difficult to handle. “The beginning…”
“I love you so much.”
He kisses me, and life keeps on being perfect.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
NINE MONTHS LATER
Bryson
I was proud of my woman when she worked diligently on the podcast throughout her pregnancy. I was proud of her when she and Tiffany put in long stints at their new office downtown, pre-recording episodes, so she’d have time to be with the baby for maternity leave.
Proud when she spent countless hours completing her marketing course, learning the best way to promote her business when she implemented the techniques, and they started to work.
And, of course, I was proud when she bravely stood in court, four months pregnant, and gave testimony against the creeps who tried to do the unspeakable to her… creeps who, since this wasn’t their first offense, are going to spend a long time in prison.
But nothing compares to this.
Sitting next to my woman as her chest rises and falls, her hair plastered with sweat to her head, her cheeks bright red, with a sleepy smile on her face as she slumps back on the birthing bed. Her smile widens as our daughter cries from across the room, the doctor checking on her.