Epilogue
Ten years later…
“WHY WON’T YOU GET in the hole? This hole is literally made for you and you won’t go in. Why are you being so damn stubborn?”
Josh followed his husband’s voice until he reached the bedroom and stood in the doorway. Riley was on the floor surrounded by wooden spindles and slats, cursing up a storm at the pieces in his hands.
Aside from the frustration lining his face, he was as handsome as the day they got married eight years ago.
He had some deeper lines on his face, notably his laugh lines thanks to the years of laughter they’d shared together, and crow’s feet that gave away his age, but Riley Hanson was still the most beautiful sight Josh had ever seen.
And any day now, he’d get to see his husband become a father, a dream they’d had for years.
They’d tried adoption for years, but it had fallen through so many times they’d almost lost hope—until they received a call a week before from the agency.
A woman in Pennsylvania picked them after the original couple set to take her baby suddenly dropped out, and Riley and Josh were overjoyed to take their place.
Their new baby boy was due sometime that week, and they were in a rush to prepare everything for his homecoming, which was likely why Riley was so frustrated trying to put the crib together.
The rest of the room was mostly ready, after Josh insisted on adding glow-in-the-dark accents wherever he could.
A recliner sat in the corner with a stack of blankets, and a changing table sat against one wall filled with diapers and everything else they’d need.
All that was left to do was build the crib.
Josh stepped out of the doorway and settled on the floor next to Riley. His gaze was fixed on a spindle that didn’t want to slide into a pre-drilled hole in a long wooden slat.
The tension slowly eased out of Riley’s spine as Josh slid his hand up his back, until Josh reached his opposite shoulder and pulled him against his side.
“Are you nervous?” Josh asked.
Riley let out a deep breath and melted into Josh’s side.
“Nope, not at all. I’m totally ready and not at all freaking out about a baby showing up any moment and not having a crib to sleep in because his new daddy can’t figure out the damn instructions.”
Josh was used to Riley’s sarcasm. He used it so he wouldn’t have to admit how nervous he was.
Well, fuck that.
“I’m scared as hell,” Josh admitted, and Riley immediately dropped the wooden pieces and twisted until he could pull Josh into his arms.
Worked like a charm.
Riley always put Josh’s feelings ahead of his own.
The best way to calm Riley was to distract him.
If there was one thing Riley was good at, it was protecting Josh.
Avery had explained to him once that it was something called reverse psychology, which sounded pretty cool and made Josh feel super smart. And it worked every time.
“We’re gonna get through this together,” Riley said into Josh’s shoulder. “Nobody’s a better team than us.”
“Damn right,” he said as he squeezed all the tension out of his best friend. “We’re so lucky. I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”
Riley pulled away from Josh until they were face to face.
“What kind of kid do you think he’ll be?” Riley wondered aloud. “I keep thinking about how he’s going to be this little person who could turn out to be so many different things by the time he grows up.”
“I wonder if he’ll get any art skills from me or if he’ll be good at math like you,” Josh said.
“Well, he won’t actually have our genes, but we will be the ones to raise him, so who knows? Maybe he’ll be an incredible dancer, or a huge football player, or even an astronaut.”
“Or a musician, or a singer, or even a doctor. I just hope he loves us.”
Riley gave him a soft smile and leaned forward to kiss him.
“He’s gonna love us like we’ll love him, no matter who he turns out to be.”
Josh couldn’t help but beam at his husband. “I can’t wait to meet him.” Riley winced, and Josh narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t wait to meet him either, but I want to get this crib done before he’s here.”
Josh chuckled, remembering the scene he'd walked in on earlier.
“Don’t worry, I’ve called in reinforcements, and they’re bringing tools.”
Riley groaned and fell against the floor.
“Please tell me these reinforcements actually know how to use tools. I’m not gonna forget the hole I had to patch the last time I let Cole use a hammer.”
“Ha! Nope. Elena has barred him from using tools ever again,” Josh said. “I called someone with actual skills.”
Riley’s head popped up off the floor, and he brightened. “Kai is in town?”
“Yup. As soon as I told him the news he hopped on a flight to New Jersey. He’s excited to meet his new cousin.”
It turned out Josh did have family in Hong Kong who wanted to reconnect with him, and he was grateful to Riley for helping him do that swab test ten years before. He’d have missed out on so much if he’d never tried, especially with his cousin Kai.
“Thank fuck. Maybe he can figure out these instructions.”
“If he can't, no one can. And everyone else is coming over tonight for an impromptu baby shower. They have plenty of hand-me-downs to pass on.”
“Why couldn’t any of them have had an old crib they were done with?”
Josh chuckled as he stood and helped pull Riley off the floor, tucking him into his side as he led them out of the bedroom.
“Forget about the crib for now. I have something that will make you feel better,” he said as he pulled Riley down the hallway toward their bedroom.
After they decided to try having children, they moved into a house in Cherrywood with a big backyard, the perfect place to raise their family.
Jollywood Graphics was doing better than ever, and they were able to live the lives they’d always dreamed of. Together.
“If it’s your dick, I know that will make me feel better.”
Josh barked a loud laugh as he steered Riley toward their bed, where a gift box sat atop the sheets.
“I can give you that after, but first, I have a present for you.”
Riley smiled and planted a kiss on Josh’s cheek, then rushed to the crudely wrapped box on the bed and tore at the paper. Josh had never been good at wrapping gifts, but he’d never let that stop him from doing it.
When Riley opened the box and unfolded the tissue paper, he froze, the contents surprising him like Josh had hoped.
Inside lay three folded shirts. One was a onesie with the words I love my dads. The larger shirts were labeled Dada and Bàba.
Josh saw the unshed tears in Riley’s eyes when he turned to him.
“They’re amazing,” he said as he fell into Josh’s arms. “You’re amazing. I can’t wait to be a dad with you.”
Josh held him tightly, wanting to hang on to this moment for as long as he could.
They’d have so many more moments together in the years ahead, but this was a big one. A life-changing one for both of them.
“It’s gonna be incredible, Ri. I can’t wait.”