Epilogue
“Are we really doing this?”
I look to Charlie, who’s nursing our daughter, giving me the look I know all too well.
The one that screams I’m ridiculous and she doesn’t know why she’s with me.
“How else are we supposed to introduce our child to our friends and family?”
“Through a social media post. Or having people over in small quantities.”
I shake my head. “That’s boring as hell.”
“I think you meant ‘normal.’”
I let out a huff as I kneel down in front of my two favorite girls. “Since when are we normal?”
I kiss Charlie on the forehead before leaning down to kiss Baby Bug. Yes, I know she has a name. But I don’t know if I’ll ever stop calling her Baby Bug. It’s even more fitting than it was before. This girl is going to be the spitting image of her mom. Right now her hair is light. Her eyes are a darker blue. And I can already tell their smiles are going to be identical.
I’m already screwed.
“Can you take her?” Charlie asks as she covers herself up. “Our girl is milk drunk.”
“Gladly,” I say, grabbing a burp cloth as Charlie gets up. “We got this, Mommy. You go get ready for the big party.”
Charlie shakes her head and throws in an eye roll with a smile before heading toward our bedroom. Which gives me a minute to hold my daughter, something that is still mind boggling to me in the week since we brought her home.
“So today’s a big day,” I tell her as I start to rock. “You’re going to meet all your aunties and uncles. And your cousins. And your grandma and grandpa, who have been dying to meet you. So many people who love you. And believe me, they are chomping at the bit to finally hold you.”
And that’s an understatement. Because Lainey made her entrance into the world a little early, there were a few things to keep an eye on. Nothing serious, but we wanted to play it safe. With that, we asked everyone to hold off on visiting in the hospital, and at home, until we were settled in.
It also gave me an excuse to throw a party.
“I don’t know if you know how much you’re loved already. See this nursery?” I hold her up like she can see what I’m talking about. “Your aunties and uncles got it all ready for you. Daddy didn’t even hire anyone, which you’ll know soon enough, is a very big deal.”
In my mind, my daughter is laughing. In reality, I think she just pooped.
“Now, you might get confused, because everyone is your aunt or uncle. And you’re going to be told that to be an aunt or an uncle, you have to be related to them, but I’m here to tell you that’s not true. Your family isn’t just by blood. Or marriage. It’s the people who love you. Who will have your back whenever you need them. Who will go along with your crazy daddy’s ideas and throw you a huge name-reveal party. Also, if your Uncle Shane ever tells bad stories about me, he’s a liar. Don’t believe him.”
Another in-my-mind giggle. Yup. She’s pooping.
“And they all love you very much. But do you know who loves you the most in the world? That’s me and your mommy. And we can’t wait to see you become the best parts of both of us.”
I walk over to the changing table. The second I take off her onesie, I’m hit with a smell that’s equally foul and impressive.
“I hope you are focused like your mama. Have her determination and drive. I hope you have my willingness to take some risks. Not big ones. At least not yet. But don’t be afraid to go for it. You’re a Banks. You can do anything you want.”
I toss the diaper into the trash and grab a new one, thankful she didn’t spring a pee leak between diapers.
“One day you’re going to do the math and realize that you came into this world before we got married. When that happens, I want you to ask your mommy why she hated Daddy. She’ll get mad at me, and that’s okay. I like to push her buttons. Secretly, she loves it too. But no matter when you came to us, you’re forever going to be the best thing we’ve done.”
I finish changing her diaper—I’m a fucking ninja at this—when I notice Charlie leaning in the doorway of the nursery.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.” She smiles and walks toward us, and I swear she’s glowing more now than she was when she was pregnant. She has on a long floral dress that softly hugs her curves. Her hair is down and curled, and her red lipstick is making me think things that I can’t be thinking. Well, I can. I just can’t act on them for another five weeks.
Not that I have an alarm set in my phone or anything.
“Everything I said was true,” I say. “She’s the best thing we could have ever done.”
“I agree,” she says as she grabs the outfit we have picked out for Baby Reveal Day. “We made a pretty fucking cute baby.”
“Yeah we did.”
We tag team getting her dressed—an adorable floral dress that matches Charlie. She’ll probably only fit into it once, but that’s fine. We accessorize it with a bow that’s twice the size of her head. I found a similar floral shirt, because of course my family has to match on such a special occasion.
I pick the baby up, but not before stealing a kiss from Charlie. “You ready, Mama?”
She gently rubs the baby’s back and flashes me a smile that I hope never stops knocking me on my ass. “Let’s go, Daddy.”
“Is that the music from The Lion King?”
“Is Simon about to fucking Simba his kid?”
“Damn right I am!” I yell as Charlie and I slowly walk out to our back yard where all of our friends and family are gathered. The low tone of the music is starting to build and all eyes are on us.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Charlie mumbles as she walks next to me and the baby.
“Just wait until her first birthday party. I think I want the theme to be One-Derland. Whole Alice and Wonderland theme. It will be epic.”
“Let’s get through this day first, okay?”
I hear the music building, and I know it’s about time. And on cue, just as I practiced all week, I hoist my daughter into the air, a round of applause following from all that have gathered.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages…”
“Isn’t that an old wrestling entrance?” Oliver asks.
“Yes, Oliver. But it works,” I reposition the baby back into my hold. “We like to thank you for coming out today and giving Charlie and I some space this week as we got in our groove.”
“Yes, thank you,” Charlie says. “I know you all wanted to come meet her, so we appreciate your patience.”
“And we all know you are anxiously awaiting the name reveal, which will come in a second.” I hand Baby Bug to Charlie as I grab a piece of paper from my back pocket. “But first! It’s time to announce the winners of the prop bets placed at the New Year’s Gender Reveal Bash. The winner of closest to the due date is…Oliver Price!”
A few cheers, and more than a few groans, come out as Oliver runs up and grabs his envelope of winnings. “I had a feeling and ran with it. Thanks, Charlie.”
“You’re welcome?”
“Next up…the measurements. Our daughter came weighing in at six pounds, ten ounces, giving the win to…Izzy McCall-Price!”
“Hell yeah, wife!” Oliver cheers as Izzy comes up. “I’m calling a sweep!”
“Not so fast, my excited friend. Because the last one of the night was the ‘Does Simon cry?’ For all of you who said yes, because I did, were placed into a random drawing for the winnings. And that winner is…drum roll please.”
A hush comes over the crowd. “Fine, party poopers. The winner is…Magnolia?”
The quiet turns into raucous laughter as my seven-year-old goddaughter struts up to the stage. “Sorry, Uncle Simon. But I knew you’d lose it.”
The laughter only gets louder as Magnolia snatches her money out of my hands. And hope that no one calls us in for underage gambling.
“Enough of the bets. What’s the name of my grandbaby!”
“Yes, Mom, it’s time.” Charlie takes a step closer to me, holding our daughter for everyone to see. “We tossed some ideas around. And while some were great.”
“Most I vetoed immediately.”
This makes everyone laugh. “Charlie and I came up with a name that not only pays a little homage to our story, but also fits perfectly for Baby Bug.”
Charlie and I share a look and nod. It’s not like this isn’t already official. The birth certificate is signed and the social security card is on the way. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to Lainey Elizabeth Banks.”
A round of applause hits, though I don’t know if any truly know the importance of her name. Emmett would maybe pick up on it, but he couldn’t be here today.
“My grandbaby!” my mom squeals as she comes over to us. “May I?”
Charlie nods, gently passing Lainey to her Didi. She’s insisting on being called that. “Of course.”
Mom coos at her granddaughter as everyone surrounds us, giving us hugs and handshakes.
“Big brother!” Stella squeals as she jumps into my arms for a hug. “She’s precious. I can’t wait to spoil her.”
“I figured you already started,” I joke, pointing to her ‘In my Auntie Era’ T-shirt. “I’m guessing there’s something matching for Lainey?”
“Of course,” she says with a smile. “It’s one of the many presents I brought today.”
I laugh and reach out my hand for Duncan. “Hey, man. Thanks for coming.”
“Sure…”
He doesn’t look up at me, or return my handshake. His eyes are glued to his phone, and he couldn’t give two shits to be here.
God I hate this fucking guy…
I continue saying thanks and visiting with as many people as possible before I see Charlie a few feet away, talking to a few of her regulars. Instead of interrupting I just stand back and watch, in awe of this woman.
I’ve always lived in the belief that you make your own luck.
I don’t know what I did to get Charlie, but I know I’ll never be that lucky in my life again. I don’t deserve her. I’m probably not worthy. But I swear on everything I have and everything I am I’m going to try every day to be the best damn man for her.
Because she’s the best for me.
“I think she’s sleepy,” Mom says, bringing Lainey back to me.
“I’d assume so. She’s been up for an hour, which is a record for her these days.”
I take my baby girl, giving her a kiss on her head, before walking over to Charlie. “I’m going to go put her down.”
She smiles and waves goodbye to the group. “I’ll come with you.”
The look in her eyes is her ‘don’t fight me on this’ look, so I don’t. We use Lainey as an excuse to bypass a few people as we make our way to the house.
Who knew you could get out of shit because of your kid? This has so many new possibilities…
Charlie slips the headband off Lainey as I change her before putting her into the bassinet. She’s out before I even let go, but Charlie and I don’t go anywhere. No. I bring her into my arms, holding her as we watch our daughter sleep.
“Can you believe we’re here?” I ask.
Charlie shakes her head. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem real. Then I remember the labor.”
I laugh before kissing a spot on the slope of her neck. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
She turns around and wraps her arms around my neck. “You have. But I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“I love you.”
“Good. Because I love you too.”
Our lips meet in a way I can only describe as perfect.
Which is weird to think.
Nothing about us is perfect. Not how we got together. Not how we made this baby. Hell, not even how we make sense.
But all of that imperfect makes us perfect.
And I can’t hate anything about that.
Thank you for reading The One I Hate!
I couldn’t just leave the book here, because I love these two (and this group) so much. So let’s fast forward a few years to see the day Simon and Charlie get married. And where she has a surprise for him he doesn’t see coming (again). Click here to get their extended epilogue!
If this is your first Rolling Hills book and want to see how these friends got their happily ever afters, then head back to Wes and Betsy with The One I Want!
Now, what’s next? The Guide to Love series kicks off in September. And who do they follow? None other than the Banks Sisters.
Which means yes, that is four more books for Simon to make an appearance. He’ll be especially prominent in Book 1, The Runaway Bride’s Guide to Love coming in September.