Epilogue
Keegan
T wo Years Later
“Keegan,” Landry whispers, running her hand up my arm. I groan and roll toward her, intent on wrapping her up in my arms and cuddling the fuck out of her until Lily starts screaming for us to “wate up” like she does every morning.
I think those are her favorite two words.
They definitely aren’t mine at sunrise, but our baby girl does not believe in sleeping in. She slept like a rock through most nights when she was a baby. And we’re paying for it now. She wants to go, go, go as soon as her little eyes open.
“You have to wake up. My water broke.”
My eyes pop open, my heart thumping against my ribcage. I find Landry standing beside the bed, fully dressed, smiling down at me.
“What?”
“My water broke,” she says. “It’s time to go.”
“Fuck.” I sit bolt upright, a current of emotion running through me that brings tears to my eyes. She’s in labor with our baby boy. “I’ll get dressed and go grab Lily.”
“I’ll get Lily. You get dressed.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “You’re in labor, sweetness. You shouldn’t be doing anything.”
“I’m fine, Keegan.” She touches my cheek, smiling sweetly. “The contractions are still far enough apart. We have time.”
“You should have woken me up,” I grumble. It’s my job to take care of her, to make sure she doesn’t go through a single minute of this pregnancy alone. And she hasn’t. This time, I’ve been there every step of the way. I’ve been there for every appointment, every late-night craving, every emotion she’s gone through.
I thought seeing her grow with my baby would be the best thing in the world. I was wrong about that. The best part has been seeing her flourish as she’s grown with my baby. I’m in awe of her strength and the way she makes it look so goddamn effortless.
I didn’t think it was possible to love her more than I already did, but I learn every day that my heart is infinite when it comes to her. I fall deeper, find a new reason to love her harder, every fucking day.
This woman and Lily have been my world. And today, my world grows by one. A little boy. I already know he’ll be just as perfect as his big sister.
He was worth the wait.
After everything, we decided not to have another baby right away. Landry needed time to enjoy being a mom to Lily without looking over her shoulder. We needed time to heal and grow and simply be together in a way we’d never been able to do before, without fear or worry hanging over our heads.
But the day she told me she was pregnant? One of the best days of my life. And today will be another, one more priceless, perfect day I’ll never forget. And one she won’t forget either.
She won’t be alone this time. She won’t be afraid. She doesn’t have to give birth, praying to hang onto our baby. No one will ever put her through that shit again.
Her future is bright…and it’s by my side, raising our babies.
I climb from the bed, pulling her into my arms to claim her mouth in a hard kiss. “I love you so fucking much, Landry baby.”
She whimpers my name, clinging to my shoulders as I kiss the taste from her mouth and leave her swaying on her feet. When I break away, I settle her on the edge of the bed.
“Let me get dressed and get our girl. You stay put.”
“Fine. But only because I’m having another contraction,” she groans, her brows furrowing with pain.
“Fuck.” I take off for the closet, rushing to get dressed, get Lily dressed…and go meet our boy.
I hope to hell that he’s just as strong as his mama, and as fierce as his big sister. And every bit as protective of them as I am.
When he arrives three hours later, screaming at the top of his lungs, only to settle as soon as he’s in Landry’s arms, I know I was right on all three counts. He’s perfect.