Epilogue
GRIZZLY
Four years ago, I married my best friend and we wanted to have a baby.
I tried to hold it together, seated in the doctor’s office waiting for Toby to get here.
The three of us have been doing great. Stronger than ever despite the many work trips Toby went on and Libby and I traveling back and forth to Scornrock to visit her sister Mona, and the young mom Ella.
No sign of RJ in South Dakota. But we knew he was alive and it would only be a matter of time before he returned and we caught him. What Storm did with the dude after that was up to the Prez.
But now, Libby and I were looking into IVF. We needed help conceiving a baby, because it just wasn’t happening on its own and my wife was getting discouraged. In vitro fertilization might be the ticket. Toby agreed that we should give it a try. We included him in all of our important decisions.
I cut my gaze at my wife who was uncharacteristically quiet. Ms. Cool and Collected was distracted by something she was reading on her phone.
“What is that?” I asked, leaning over and trying to see.
“Oh, my gosh. It’s Val’s. A draft of her first romance book.” She fanned her face. “She gave it to a few of us old ladies to read. And it’s so good.”
“Romance book? Isn’t she like sixteen?”
“Mhm. But she’s seen a lot in the club, y’know.”
“But she’s sixteen.”
“Yes, Landon. I think this story is about Maddox. She’s crushed on him for years.”
“Sixteen, Lib. She is sixteen and shouldn’t be writing dirty smut about a guy who is much older and president of a 1% club.”
She sighed. “He’s almost the president. And ten years difference isn’t that big of a deal.”
“Oh, yeah. Try telling Raul and Track that, and see what they say.” They would lose their shit. “If she was my daughter, I’d put my foot down.”
She smiled and her green eyes twinkled. “A daughter would be wonderful. But I’d be happy with a boy too.” And just like that, her mind was off Val’s romance book and onto a baby, the reason we were sitting in this stuffy waiting room.
The entrance door opened and Toby entered. “Sorry, I’m late. Have I missed anything.” He kissed Libby, then me. I didn’t flinch or act weird like I would have before coming out.
“Only the smutty novel Libby was reading.”
“Oh, I love smut.” Toby rubbed his hands together.
“This is news to me.” Shouldn’t I have known that he reads romance books?
“I’m a closet reader. There’s a lot of hours in the day and sometimes I need more than a warm body.” He winked. “So what’s it called?”
“I don’t think it has a title. It’s Val’s story,” Libby told him.
“Val? Little Valerie?” His mouth dropped open. “There’s no sex in it, is there?”
“Exactly.” I pointed at him. “He gets it.”
“I think you’re both overreacting. It’s her first book. She’s only sixteen. This writing thing could be a phase she’s in. Or…”
“Or what?” I asked.
“Or it could be the start of her career. One day she could be a bestselling author.” Libby clapped quietly. “It would be so amazing if she got a movie deal too!”
“Oh, Lord. Slow it down and let’s not forget she’s writing naughty stuff about Maddox. What if he finds out?”
“Wait. Val is in love with Maddox?” Toby asked.
“It’s a girl crush,” Libby replied.
“Still, he’s a Knight. The new president. I’ve seen the women he takes into his suite.” Toby shook his head. “This is bad.”
“Not according to this book. Listen… ‘I watch from the shadows as he paws and kisses the blonde model. He acts like I don’t exist, and it slays me.’” Libby clutched her fist over her heart.
“He doesn’t notice her. There is so much heartache already, it hurts me to think she’s been feeling this way for years. ”
“And it’s just going to get worse.” Toby wasn’t wrong. Maddox would never mess with Raul’s daughter.
“Mr and Mrs Graves, the doctor can see you now.”
Perfect timing. I didn’t want to listen to anymore of Val’s story. Getting mixed up with Maddox would only break her young heart. The club didn’t need that kind of drama.
“This is exciting.” Toby whispered. “And you’re both okay if your child just calls me Uncle Toby?”
That was putting the cart before the horse. This was only a consultation.
“Of course we are. It’s my egg and Landon’s sperm. Uncle Toby is fine. We just might need to be more discreet.”
“I’m good with that.” Toby clucked his tongue. He was the most easygoing person ever.
So was I. We were in a solid routine with Toby. I wouldn’t want to change a thing, but I had a feeling a new baby would change everything, but I wouldn’t worry about it now.
Thank you so much for reading Greedy Grizzly! Your patience means a lot to me. Life gets rough sometimes and writer’s block is a real thing. It took me forever to get this book written, but it’s finally here! Yay!