Epilogue
EPILOGUE
…
About eight and a half months later
The light sneaking in through the partially closed curtains in the sunken living room pulls me out of my sleep. Normally, I’m up before six but after last night, I’m worn out and in no hurry to get out of bed. Besides being tired, I don’t want to interrupt her sleep either.
Yesterday, we arrived in Vegas right after noon and were on go. Not only are we here for Quinn to handle her Jaxson Boots duties but we are also here because I made it. After earning a few more buckles in Houston, Texas, Perry, Georgia, and North Fort Myers, Florida, I ranked up with my lucky charm right by my side. I’m number eleven and therefore eligible to compete in The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The NFR officially kicked off last night with the Annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala. Lab, Rini, and my moms were attending the gala with us. My lady, Quinn, made the impossible happen and if I hadn’t already fallen in love with her sexy ass, I definitely would have when my mom told me she was coming to Vegas. She still hasn’t gathered the strength to be in the actual arena when I compete but she will be here and that’s a huge ass step.
After the gala, we came back here to The Venetian, our home for the next nine days. My moms called it and went to her room for the night but the rest of us showered and changed for the Downtown Hoedown. The cowboys are in town and the Fremont Street Experience downtown hosted the official kickoff party. We didn’t make it back here until almost three.
“Baby, what time is it?” Quinn groans.
“I don’t know and I don’t know where my watch or cell is.”
“The remote. Under the pillow,” she utters.
I reach under my pillows and find the remote. I power it on and immediately hit mute. It’s later than I thought.
“Ten fifteen.”
“Oh no,” she groans again. “We have team pictures at noon. God, why?”
Her head lifts then drops back down on my chest. “What time is Phoenix arriving?”
“Transport said one. Practice rounds are today after two and tomorrow morning. So after the pictures, just come back here and rest while I’m at the arena. Last night was already too much. I didn’t want you out there in the first place,” I say and my words cause her to give me her full attention.
Her head lifts again but this time, she doesn’t drop it back down. Instead, she folds her arms under her chin then glares at me. “I’m not handicapped or debilitated,” she says sternly.
“But you are carrying my child,” I respond, just as stern, if not more.
“I’m barely pregnant. I’m only four and a half weeks and you want me on bedrest.”
She yawns then shakes her head, mad that she did. My point has been proven. She needs to rest; my baby inside of her stomach needs rest. When she yawns again, she sucks her teeth.
After wrapping my arm across her back, I hold her as I flip us over in the bed. When she’s on her back and her head is on the extra-large pillows, I hover over her and plant my fists on the bed at her sides. I lift her little sleep shirt then lean in and kiss her navel before moving my hands to the sides of her stomach and holding her. I get back closer to her navel.
“I don’t know why your momma is so damn hard headed. You’re tired and she’s tired and I want her to take it easy. Don’t you want that too?” I ask my unborn child.
Finding out the woman I love and am addicted to is having my baby is better than any buckle or prize I’ve won. Our love produced a baby and I’m going to be a father, a good one. One who will never leave his lady or his child.
“She’s the size of a pea right now and can’t hear you,” Quinn says. Her hands caress the back of my hand as she speaks.
“ He can fa sho’ hear me.” After turning my head, I press my ear to her stomach and pretend to be listening. Then, I nod in agreement. “I knew you did too,” I say and she bursts out laughing, almost uncontrollably.
She pulls my head to her face. With her soft hands now gripping the sides of my face, she lifts. Her lips graze mine then she kisses me, passionately yet tenderly. When our lips finally break, she looks at me like she always does—firmly, unwavering, and lovingly.
“If the man who means everything to me wants me to rest after the pictures, I’ll bring my ass right back to this suite, climb back into this bed, and do just that only if you promise that you will wake me when you make it back from practice.”
“That’s a promise.”
“Just leave your hat on though when you do, cowboy,” she says and I chuckle.
“This is why I love yo’ sexy ass.”
“I love you more, Titus.”
The End