Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Once Carson’s tucked in, I return to the porch, finding Layla where I left her, except Cameron’s now sound asleep in her arms. I sit down beside her, the night air cool against my skin.
“She’s out like a light,” I say, nodding toward the baby.
Layla smiles down at her. “She’s had a big day. So have I.”
“You complaining?” I ask, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from her face.
“Not even a little,” she says, her eyes locking onto mine.
The silence stretches between us, comfortable and full. The stars start to peek through the sky, their light reflecting in Layla’s eyes.
“You know,” she says, breaking the quiet, “I never thought I’d end up here.”
“Where’d you think you’d end up?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Anywhere but here,” she admits, her tone light but tinged with something deeper. “Some penthouse in the city, probably. A life filled with things, but not much else.”
“You don’t miss it?”
“Not for a second.” Her answer is immediate, and I believe her.
I lean back in my chair, stretching my legs out. “Good. Because we’re not letting you go.”
Her smile softens, and she reaches over to rest her hand on my knee. “I wouldn’t leave if you tried to make me.”
I cover her hand with mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got a family now, Layla. A real one. No running.”
“No running,” she echoes, her voice steady.
We sit there like that, wrapped in the quiet hum of the ranch and the steady beat of our hearts. And as the night deepens, I know with absolute certainty that we’ve found something here—something worth fighting for, worth holding onto with everything we’ve got. Our love shines brighter and more steady than the moon that hangs over Devil’s Peak. She’s my entire heart–my family. My everything. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The End.