Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“A-are you sure?” I sputter, unable to contain my joy.
“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything.”
“I love you so much, Snapshot.”
EPILOGUE
ARRIANA
One Month Later
Me: I may have some news for you when you get home.
I type, giddy with excitement. I’m almost running around our apartment. There’s so much uncontainable energy in me.
Lilly grins at me from across the table. She doesn’t know all the details about what happened after Enzo tried it on with her in the club but has gathered enough to know how much Nico and I risked for our relationship. She’s heard my husband-to-be calling me Snapshot. She’s seen how much we love each other.
“Have you told him?” she asks.
“I can’t tell him over text, can I? Wait a sec. He’s texted me.”
Nico: Are you playing games with me, my angel? You’ve got my mind going to all kinds of creative places now. Does it involve what we were talking about last night?
“He’s essentially just guessed it,” I murmur, chewing my lip. “What do you think I should do?”
Lilly grins. “To me, it’s obvious. You two fell in love by texting each other. If you’d asked me before I saw you two together if that were possible, I would’ve said no way. But you’re proof. It works. I’ve never seen two people more in love. Why don’t we take a photo?”
I laugh. “With the pee stick?”
“You can use a paper towel to hold it. Go!”
Following her instructions, I grab a paper towel and wrap it around the pregnancy test. Lilly raises her phone and snaps a photo of me. She doesn’t have to say smile or cheese or anything like that. The positive test has kept my lips curved in a permanent smile since I saw it.
Me: How’s this for not playing games? You’re not just my love, my savior. You’re going to be a daddy now.
For once, texting isn’t enough.
A photo of him wearing a dapper suit appears on my screen as he calls me.
EPILOGUE
NICO
Eight Years Later
“I’m the Nightmare!” Rocco Jr says, puffing his chest up and throwing his arms out to his sides.
I look at my son in shock. It’s like the years melt away. These past almost ten years have been the best of my life, from the wedding, the birth, and holding my son and his little sister in my arms for the first time. Spending long, lazy days with my wife, attending her exhibitions as I swell with pride.
Rocco JR hesitates. “Daddy? The Nightmare?” He rolls his eyes. “From my favorite show?”
I grin. “Of course I remember him.” Walking into his room, I scoop him up. Sometimes, he wriggles, telling me he’s not a little kid anymore. Today isn’t one of those days.
He smiles at me as he wraps his little arms around my shoulders. “Daddy, have you checked your phone?”
“That’s a random question…”
“Just—uh—maybe check it?”
I take out my phone. A text from Snapshot is on my phone; she’s been saved like that for years.
Snapshot: I think we should give the kids all the treats they want, especially chocolate, because chocolate is actually fantastic and tasty for strong and funny kids, and I think they should have three birthdays from now on.
From outside, Mia giggles. In my arms, Rocco JR can’t hold back his laughter, either. I carry Rocco JR into the hallway to find Mia in my wife’s arms, laughing like crazy. My woman has become even more beautiful as the years have passed.
“Did you send it like I said, Mommy?” Mia asks.
“Mia,” Rocco JR says, pretending to be annoyed, but he can’t keep the big brotherly love out of his voice. “It was supposed to be a trick.”
“What do you think, Snapshot? Are three birthdays a year enough for these two?”
She glows with love. My wife—the only woman I’ve ever wanted or needed.
“Why don’t we make it four, huh, kids?”
“Yay!” Mia cheers.
“We’ve got the best mommy and daddy ever!” Rocco JR yells.
THE END