“I know. I’m sorry about that. She freaked me out too.”
“Still, I shouldn’t have left things the way I did. I know you need to talk things out and be certain, but I got so emotional and started thinking I was losing who I am as a person.”
“I don’t think that at all,” I say, shaking my head. “If anything, I think you’re the best version of yourself when you’re with me.”
She smiles. “I agree with you, but I wasn’t thinking clearly last night. I was thinking Lilly was going to take my future from me or, at least, really fuck it up.”
“Never. I wouldn’t let that happen,” I promise, and she nods.
“I know, and I told myself that. As Aviva was having the baby, my mind kept floating back to you. How I wished you were here. How I wished it were me having the baby with you. How I wanted to spend my whole life with you and Celeste, no matter what.” My heart stops dead in my chest as she holds my gaze. “I know things will get messy with Lilly, but I don’t care. It will suck to trade weekends or whatever arrangement we set up. But as long as it’s we, then I’m there. I want to be there with you, every step of the way. I want to be at every birthday, every Christmas. I want a life with you two. If Lilly is in it, then she is—as long as you are mine and only mine.”
The weight of the world falls off my chest. I step to Jaylin, pulling her into me by her hips as our eyes stay locked. “Lilly is at the lawyer’s office right now, signing away her rights. You can have all you want and more, minus one crazy baby mama.”
Her eyes widen. “Really? How?”
I shrug, but then I shake my head. I’ve done really well not letting Lilly’s rejection get to me, and I refuse to allow it to ruin this moment with my lady. “She doesn’t matter. Only we do. The two people who really love Celeste.”
On cue, Celeste lays her hands on each of our cheeks.
“And each other,” Jaylin adds, and I smile.
“And each other.”
She smiles widely at me. “I’m sorry—”
“Don’t. You don’t have to apologize—”
“But I do,” she insists, her eyes burning into mine. “I shouldn’t have acted like that. You need more than that. You stayed up all night, didn’t you?”
“I did,” I admit, and she nods.
“See? I knew I should have called. I should have eased your concerns. That’s my fault, and I’m sorry.”
“You were upset.”
“Yes, but I shouldn’t take it out on you. It wasn’t your fault.”
I kiss her top lip. “I’m only worried about our future.”
Her lips curve, her bottom lip touching mine. “So, we’re going to do this.”
It isn’t a question; it’s a promise. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. “We are, and there is no backing out.”
“Backing out? Please, I’m not going anywhere without you two.”
We share a smile before our lips meet in a beautiful, wanton kiss. A kiss I have been craving since yesterday. A kiss that eases every single concern I had. A kiss that seals my forever.
I pull back only a breath away as our eyes lock. “I love you.”
She strokes her fingers along my jaw before she whispers against my lips, “Same, Kirb. Same.”
Epilogue
Jaylin
* * *
God knew we needed good weather today. The sun is bright, warming our faces. Though, the ocean air makes it a little too chilly for me. Still, the view is incredible.
“I, Aviva, take you, Nicolas, as my husband. My one true love. My forever.”
Aviva is stunning today. She wears a classic, long-sleeved white dress with an open back. Her hair is down, flowing with her veil in the breeze as she gazes up at Nico. Of course, her groom is perfectly handsome in a nice tux but without shoes. While I am cold, I doubt they even feel it. They’re too in love and too caught up in the moment to feel the chill. I glance out to where Callie sits with Vance in her lap. He wears a little tux, while Callie is in a beautiful lilac dress, her hair up in a bun and her makeup unstoppable. Beside her sits Nico’s mom and some more of his family. I don’t know anyone, but it doesn’t matter because I only care about Aviva and Nico.
Oh, and Kirby.
Across from me, he stands in all his glory. Tall as all get-out, his hair brushed to the side, and a sexy beard growing in. While I love him clean-shaven, I do like it when he grows it out some. He never lets it get long, but I enjoy it either way. In a striking tux that hugs his thighs and shoulders, he looks every bit the perfect best man.
Well, the best man for me.
When his eyes meet mine, we share a smile, and my heart flutters in my chest at all we’ve experienced together.
These last few months have been a fairy tale.
Full of magic and love, but also some wicked setbacks.
No matter what, though, I don’t think I could love him any more than I do.
It took over a month for me to finally sleep with him in his house. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night and leaving but coming back before Celeste would wake up. Kirby was patient; he was kind and supportive. When I finally made it through the night, I felt like I had run a marathon and come in first place.
I felt like I’d actually scored a goal instead of falling flat on my face like I almost did when Kirby took me skating. Like I am on the ice, I’m still a bit shaky when it comes to sleeping with him. But just like how Kirby was with me on the ice, he catches me when I fall.
He’s incredible.
I moved in with him a few weeks ago, and I’m so happy. We’re selling my condo so we can buy a bigger house once the season is over. The IceCats are last in the league, but that doesn’t bother Kirby. He’s too happy, he tells me, and I believe him. He still struggles with his anxiety, and he may question us occasionally. But for the most part, he is confident in us. In our relationship. In our little family.
I move my gaze to where Jean is sitting with Celeste in her lap. Jean is dressed all out in a stunning pink dress that hugs her curves in ways I wish I had. She is such a beautiful soul, and I’m so thankful for her. She loves Celeste, and she loves us. Her hours have been reduced since I’m now able to be with Celeste at night when Kirby is traveling, but Kirby still pays her the same. He doesn’t want to lose her, and I agree fully. Especially for when we decide to get married and have babies of our own.
Which, if my parents had their way, would be today.
My mom is sitting beside Jean, her eyes glistening for Aviva and Nico. Dad is currently playing with Celeste, making her giggle, and I’m overwhelmed with love. I never thought my parents would be okay with me being with a white man. But not only do they care deeply for Kirby, they absolutely adore Celeste. They spoiled her worse than we did on Christmas. I never knew Christmas could be so magical until I experienced it with a child. It was beyond my expectations, and I am in super planning mode for her first birthday.
It will be over the top, but I don’t care one bit.
She’s my everything.
Honestly, and I haven’t told Kirby this, I want to adopt Celeste. I want to make it official on paper that she is mine. I know she is in my heart, and I know I’ll be the best damn mom ever, but I want it to be official for when she goes to school and sports and stuff. When we signed her up for Mommy and Me gymnastics at the gym Chandler’s wife, Amelia, works at, she had to tell them I was her mom. I don’t want to have to have someone go to bat for me. I want her to be legally mine and me hers. I haven’t brought it up to Kirby since we aren’t married, but I can’t help yearning for that title.