Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
I nod eagerly as he sets me down, and gasp when I get my first good look at the ring. It’s perfect, classy but unique, the diamonds making me drool. He slides it onto my ring finger, and just like the dress and the man, it’s the perfect fit.
EPILOGUE
RHETT
Two Years Later
“Papa!” Roman shouts out as Paul comes through the front door, running down the hallway in his little footie pajamas right into his grandad’s arms. Paul laughs as he scoops him up, spinning him around as he giggles wildly, the sound infectious.
“You’re supposed to be tired at this time, little man,” I tease, shaking my head lovingly as my one-and-a-half-year-old son ignores me in favor of trying to yank Paul’s glasses off his face.
“Don’t let him fool you. He’s been yawning for the past twenty minutes,” Rayna says as she strolls into the hallway from our bedroom, putting her earrings in as she goes.
I have to bite my tongue so I don’t make a comment about how edible she looks in that slinky black dress and sparkly heels, given that her dad’s right there. Paul and I are still best friends—hell, he was the best man at our wedding—but I think I might be pushing it if I tell my wife how hot she looks right in front of him.
“He can chill on the couch and watch the game rerun with me until he falls asleep,” Paul decides, making me chuckle and Rayna roll her eyes.
“Be good for Papa,” Rayna tells Roman, giving him a cuddle and kiss on the cheek. She goes to hand him back to Paul, but I swoop in and snatch him up, making him giggle as I kiss his chubby cheeks. Being a dad is truly one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me, and seeing Rayna grow into the amazing mother she is only makes me love her even more. There are no words for how grateful I am to her for making us a family.
When we’re finally finished saying goodbye to our son, Rayna and I head out. Despite the fact that I get behind the wheel, I have no idea where exactly we’re going. Since it’s my birthday, Rayna’s set up our plans for the evening, refusing to tell me anything except that she has a special surprise. It’s not in my nature to give up control like this, but she’s excited about it, and I can’t help but be curious about what the surprise is.
“You gonna tell me where we’re going, or are we going to sit in the drive all night?” I ask, teasing her.
She grins, practically bouncing in the passenger seat with excitement. “Fine, fine,” she relents, finally telling me the name of one of our favorite restaurants.
The drive there is short, and no amount of questions is getting Rayna to budge on whatever has her so excited. My suspicions and curiosity are through the roof by the time we get shown to our table, and the wide grin my wife is giving me isn’t helping.
“You look gorgeous, baby,” I tell her, admiring her in the low lighting.
“You’re not too bad yourself,” she says back, winking at me. I laugh, so in love with her it’s overwhelming. “Ooh, they’ve added new starters since last time!”
We order our food, multiple dishes to share so Rayna can try a bit of everything as always, and despite how delicious it all is, it’s clear Rayna’s a little distracted the whole time.
Finally, just after we finish our main meal and order dessert, I can’t take the anticipation anymore.
“All right, baby. Spill,” I say, pinning my wife with a look. “What’s going on?”
Rayna shifts in her seat, biting her bottom lip. “I was trying to wait until after we were done to tell you,” she says, unable to hide her smile from me. “But I can’t wait anymore.” She reaches for her bag, pulling out a present wrapped in paper that I distinctly remember being used for Roman’s first birthday, one with cartoon dogs all over it. She catches me laughing and grins. “I didn’t have time to grab new wrapping paper!”
“God, I love you,” I chuckle, taking the present as she holds it out to me.
“Yeah, yeah. I love you, too. Now open it!” she demands, bouncing in her seat as her eyes light up.
Not one to deny my wife what she wants, I dutifully open up my gift. Inside is a little babygrow, and I hold it up to read the words My Daddy Loves Me on the front.
Confused, I look at Rayna and joke, “I don’t think Rome is going to fit into this anymore.”
“You’re right, Roman won’t,” she agrees, her words buoyed by joy. “But his little brother or sister will.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, shocked and absolutely thrilled at the same time.