Epilogue
Six Months Later
Nick
I ring the doorbell and shift nervously on my feet, staring at a door I’ve walked through a hundred times—late nights, early mornings, the soft click of the lock she leaves undone just for me.
Today… I don’t get to barge in.
Today is different.
The door swings open, and there she is.
Amber.
Every damn time I see her, it knocks the air right out of me. Those blue eyes, that soft smile, the tiny flutter in her breath like she’s nervous too.
“Hey,” she says gently. “Come in.”
I step inside and glance around. Seeing no one, I lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“Living room.” She narrows her eyes playfully. “What’re you hiding behind your back?”
I waggle my eyebrows, because it always cracks her up. “They don’t call me Saint Nick for nothing.”
She snorts. “I’m the only one who calls you that. Are you seriously trying to bribe him?”
“Yes,” I say with zero shame. “Think it’ll work?”
Her laugh, God, her laugh, fills the hallway. “Honestly? It’s not your worst idea.”
We walk into the living room.
I very deliberately avoid looking at the couch, remembering how I fucked her on it last night so hard we dented the wall. I mentally add patch drywall to my to-do list.
In front of the TV, watching Bluey, sits a little dark-haired boy.
Braxton.
Today is the first time I’m meeting him. Amber has been fiercely protective for months, only seeing me after bedtime or when he’s at his dad’s. She apologized a hundred times for it, but she didn’t need to. Watching her be such a good mom only made me fall harder.
Six months.
She told me on our second date, when I took her to the nicest restaurant in town, that if we made it six months, she’d introduce me to her son.
I’d smirked, kissed her knuckles, and said, “Vixen…six months is nothing. I’m in for the long haul.”
She blushed and turned away, but not before I saw her face light up like she swallowed the sun.
Those months flew by.
Now, she squares her shoulders and says gently, “Braxton? This is the friend I told you about. The one we’re going to the park with. His name is Nick.”
He turns, curious.
I crouch down, smiling softly. “Hey, buddy.”
“Hi.” His voice is small and sweet. He’s got her freckles, her eyes, and that same cautious hope she gets whenever she steps into something new, trying her best to be brave.
With one look at him, something inside me…softens.
Shifts.
Snaps right into place.
In a single heartbeat, I fall for this kid.
And in the same heartbeat, I fall even deeper for his mom.
Like loving him is just another way of loving her.
“I brought you something.” I pull the gift from behind my back.
His eyes widen. “Cool!”
“I heard you outgrew the one you got for Christmas.” I hold out a neon green dinosaur bicycle helmet. “I like the T-rex best. How about you?”
“T-rex is my favorite too!” He grins.
He holds out his hands, and I pass the helmet over.
Amber huffs a soft laugh behind me. “What do you say, honey?”
“Thank you,” Braxton says dutifully.
“You’re welcome.” I ruffle his hair, soft and brown, just like hers. “Safety first.”
He beams and immediately tries to shove the helmet on, but it gets stuck sideways. His arms flail like a baby bird.
“Here, let me help you.” I adjust the straps and settle it on his head properly. Then I lean back, take him in, and grin. “You look great.”
His chest puffs with pride.
“We’ll take your bike to the park,” I tell him. “My sister’s bringing her kids. They’re about your age.”
“Really?” he asks, looking thrilled.
I nod and tap the top of his helmet. “Want me to take it off for you?”
“Can I keep it on?” he asks shyly.
Pride warms my chest. He likes it. My gift.
“Sure thing,” I say. “Wear it as long as you want.”
When he turns back to the TV, I stand and join Amber in the kitchen.
She’s packing snacks and water bottles into a cooler, humming under her breath, confident, calm, radiant. My favorite version of her.
I have to literally put my hands behind my back to stop from pulling her in. We agreed I’d be “Mommy’s friend” for now. Nothing too fast. Nothing confusing for Braxton.
“Noel said she’s bringing that wine you like,” I say, leaning against the counter.
Amber smiles without looking up. She knows exactly which wine I mean.
She and Noel are already friends. They get their nails done, hit happy hour, and absolutely talk about me behind my back. I know because afterward Noel can’t meet my eyes without giggling.
“What did Amber tell you?” I asked her dryly after their last outing.
Noel had winked, tipsy and delighted. “Nothing at all… Saint Nick.”
I buried my face in my hands. “You two are a menace.”
They really are. But they’re my favorite menace.
Noel already told me that if I don’t marry Amber, she’ll personally kick my ass.
She won’t have to.
I knew.
I knew it that morning, after we spent Christmas night together, after I finished her son’s bike, after I walked home feeling more alive than I’d felt in years. I sat there holding that stupid plastic walkie-talkie like it was her hand, waiting, hoping.
When it finally crackled to life and her voice came through…my heart damn near exploded.
That was it. I was done.
I’m going to marry this woman.
Raise her son like he’s my own.
Fill a house with more kids who I hope all end up just like her—bright, stubborn, soft, strong.
My Amber. My Vixen. My Christmas miracle.
When the time comes, I won’t get down on one knee.
I’ll pick up that walkie-talkie.
Press the button.
And ask her for forever.
THE END