“Congrats, man.” He sticks out his hand, and I shake it.
“Thanks. Glad you could make it.”
“Me, too. Listen,” he steps back and crosses his arms, “Charlotte’s like a sister to me. I don't want to see her hurt.” There’s the protectiveness Char and Meara warned me about.
“You don't have to worry about that.” I cross my arms, too, not backing down. “She’s my responsibility, now. You can trust she’s in good hands.”
He takes me in, then nods. “Alright.”
We shake hands again, and then he walks away. I should be pissed he questioned me, but seeing her swaying her hips washes away any anger that had begun to build.
I walk to Char on the dance floor and wrap my arms around her waist, inhaling her vanilla scent.
She turns and wraps her arms around me. “Hi.” She smiles and sways a little.
“Hi. You ready to go?” I rub my hard dick against her, and she nods eagerly.
She says goodbye to Meara and Mary, then we walk off the dance floor. It takes another hour to thank everyone for coming and when we finally get outside alone, I slip my hands under her dress and lift her by her perfectly round ass, setting her on the hood of my car.
“You’re not wearing underwear?”
“Nope.”
She grabs my head and pulls it down to kiss me. Needy and desperate.
“Baby, we gotta go to the hotel. I can’t wait any longer.”
She rubs herself against me, and I feel her heat through my pants. “Now.”
I lift her and set her feet on the ground, making sure she’s steady before opening the door. Just as she’s about to sit, she turns to face me. God, she’s perfect.
“I love you, Travis.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.”
“Husband.” She smiles.
“You’re so much more than a word, Charlotte. You’re everything. And I promise to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
Epilogue
One year later
Travis
“NOOOO,” CHAR WHINES. “I’M so tired.” She slides her arm from over her eyes and glares at me with a smile on her lips. “And now I’m all worn out, there’s no way I can move.”
We just finished with a round of morning sex, and I hate to admit I’m exhausted, too. Sleepless nights at home followed by sleepless nights at work are wearing me out. But I’m leaving for work this morning for three days, so there’s no way I’d miss this opportunity.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, I’ll get her.”
“Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
I kiss Char on her bare stomach before I throw on a pair of sweats and walk down the hall to Caroline’s room.
“How’s my angel?” I stare down at my perfect six-month-old daughter in her crib. Her hair is dark like mine, but she has blue eyes like Char. We argue about who Caroline got them from since both of us have blue eyes, but they look like Char’s. Pink onesie and matching socks, she smiles a toothless grin at me and kicks her legs. I lose a piece of my heart every time I look at her.
Caroline Elizabeth Parker is an angel, and aside from Charlotte, the absolute best thing in my life. Char didn’t know she was pregnant until she was almost four months along. We were already married and had moved into a house on the lake. She was so stressed about everything else going on, she forgot to get her birth control shot. She didn’t realize she was late until it was really late.
“Are you hungry?” I gently pick her up and cradle her tiny body against me, resting her head under my chin. She coos, and her warm, wet slobber dribbles down my chest. I kiss her cheeks as I lay her on the changing table, tickling her tummy.
“Let’s get you changed, baby girl. Mommy’s waiting for you.” With a quickness I didn’t know I possessed, I change her diaper before she realizes she hasn’t had breakfast yet.
She blows spit bubbles at me, and I hold her in one arm, gently swaying her back to my bedroom. It’s amazing how the two loves of my life fit in my arms so different, yet so perfect.
When I walk in, Char is on her side, ratty old t-shirt back on, and her eyes are closed. I watch her for a minute, her breaths slow and steady, and realize she fell back asleep.
I still question every day how I got so lucky to marry the most beautiful, kind, loving woman in the world.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, but Caroline starts squirming around and flailing her arms. Her tiny fist hits me in the face, and I look at her with an unnaturally large expression of shock— mouth and eyes wide open.
She laughs at my silly face and hits me again. This time, I grab her fingers and kiss them. Her laughter turns into a cry, and I try to calm her, walking toward the kitchen. Laugher escapes me when I realize I’m bouncing with every step.
“It’s okay, angel. You’re hungry aren’t you?” Caroline slept for almost six hours straight last night. But I woke Char up early this morning, so really, she lost a couple of hours sleep she normally would have gotten.
“Let’s get you a bottle.”
I warm the water and add formula, testing the temperature on my wrist. Caroline starts whining louder, and I lay her in my arm, and hold the bottle in my opposite hand. I walk back to her room and hold her close in the rocking chair. Her eyes start to close, and I take the opportunity to rest mine.
Once she falls asleep, the bottle falls from her mouth and drops to the floor. I wipe the formula from her chin before carefully laying her back in her crib. Leaning down, I kiss her cheek.
“Be a good girl for Mommy. Love you, baby,” I whisper.
I tiptoe out of her room and stand outside the door for a minute making sure she’s really asleep. I quietly slip into the master bathroom and take a shower. After I get dressed, I look at the clock and curse under my breath.
Hating to wake Char again, but knowing I can't leave without saying goodbye, I sit on the edge of the bed next to her and brush some hair off her face.
“Sweetheart, I’ve gotta go.” She stirs and without opening her eyes, leans up and gives me a crappy kiss, before plopping her head down and rolling over.
I laugh and roll her back over.
“Not how this works, Char.”
She squints an eye and gives me a saucy smile. “I like making you beg.”
Her voice is so damn sexy in the morning, and even though I just had her about an hour ago, my dick starts to get hard again.
“You know I’ll beg any time, but I’m running late. I really have to go.”
“Oh. Shit, sorry.” She sits up and leans over, wrapping her arms around my neck. We share a passionate kiss that’s supposed to get me through a few days. Finally pulling back, I kiss her nose.
“You work tonight, right?” I ask.
“Yeah. Just until about ten. Your mom’s coming up to watch Caroline and spend the night. We’re going out to lunch before she goes back tomorrow.”
Since having the baby, Char still works at The Pub, but very little. She more or less fills in at the bar but has also been doing some paperwork in the office lately. She says she’s happy there, loves working with her family.
“Have fun.” I kiss her again and rest my forehead on hers. “I’ll miss you.”