Bonus Epilogue
Five years later…
Taylor
“I can’t wait for this trip. I’m so excited,” Harper says as she packs her suitcase.
“Me too, baby. We need and deserve this break. Did you make sure to call Mom and let her know we’re bringing the kids a day early?”
We’re going on a vacation with some of my old teammates, and their wives, who have also retired. Love Beach, South Carolina will be the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of our lives, the city, and we could all use a kid-free break too.
Our three-year-old twins, River and Raine, are going to stay with my mom for the weekend while we’re away.
Harper especially needs this time as not only are the girls a handful, but she still runs her own party planning business as well as helps me run mine.
Sometimes, I worry she works too hard, but she assures me that she can juggle it all, which is the exact response that made me jump at the opportunity for this AirBnB with the guys.
It’s a huge beach house right next to the ocean that will be amazing.
“Time to go. You got everything you need?” I ask and go pick up her now closed suitcase to bring our stuff out to the car.
“Yeah, just gotta check the girl’s things one final time and we’re good to go.”
I have the girls follow me out to the car, each holding onto a suitcase so they can ‘help’ Daddy load the car.
They giggle as they stumble beside me, trying to keep up.
After a few minutes of chasing them around the yard, my beautiful wife emerges with their bags in tow and we buckle the girls in, setting out to Grandma’s.
Harper
After dropping the girls off at Taylor’s mom’s house, flying to South Carolina, and waiting for our rental car, I was exhausted.
I couldn’t wait to see the beach house the guys rented and get to spend time with my friends too.
Plus, alone time with my husband is never bad.
Everyone was pulling in just as we were.
Grant and Mazie had come earlier to set up and park their yacht. Yes, I said their yacht, crazy right?
The first night went as you would expect. Dinner, a fire, laughter and conversation until well into the night. Today is the day I’m most excited for, I think. A whole day out on a yacht, being treated like royalty. Who wouldn’t be excited about that?
We’re cruising around the water, Grant showing us all the sights as we pass them.
Finally, we stop at this little private cove beach combo, and everyone decides to go swimming.
We have a blast on the beach, swimming, running and playing around like children.
When we return to the yacht, Mazie pulls out a bottle of chilled champagne, and my nerves get the better of me.
“Baby, you alright?” Taylor asks as he feels me shiver in his arms.
“I’m fine. I’m just… nervous,” I tell him, looking up at him with what I hope is a normal face. “Nervous? For what? Are you hurt or something?” I laugh at that, because of course, he goes right to worst case scenario.
“No. I’m not hurt. I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable because I can’t have any of that champagne.” I stare at him, hoping he understands and I don’t have to make a bigger fool of myself trying to explain.
“You can’t have any champ… wait… are you saying what I think you’re saying?” His eyes are as big as saucers, and he has a huge smile on his face.
“Yes. We’re pregnant. We’re going to have another baby.” I can only hope he’s as happy as I am.
He grabs a glass of champagne and clinks his ring against it.
Throwing his arm around my shoulders, he addresses our group of friends.
“I just wanted to make a toast. To the game that brought us all together, the friendships we have made last, and most importantly to my beautiful wife. The mother of my children, my best friend and my greatest adventure.” Everyone clinks their glassed and drinks and cheers.
Taylor clears his throat then and adds, “Oh, and I just found out, we’re adding another baby Wright to the mix!”
The ocean echoes with congratulations as all of our friends surround us in one big hug. Who would’ve thought that a party planner and a football player would make it through the fourth down and straight into the end zone.