Another Epilogue
Camden
“I’m buying a camper.”
She looks up, confused. “But…that’s against the rules.”
I huff out a deep breath. “True, but it would be more comfortable.”
She reaches over and cups my cheek. “I’m not uncomfortable,” she insists.
I purchased one of those crazy-ass expensive air mattresses for our tent because there is no way my baby mama is going to sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag.
Of course, one of the other reasons things are feeling a little cramped is the fact there’s a three-year-old fisherman sleeping soundly between us.
He insisted on being in the middle, and even though I’d love to have Maren in my arms, I wasn’t going to complain. Not for one second.
“He’s had such a great day,” she whispers, stroking Theo’s forehead.
An automatic smile spreads across my lips. “He has. Catching three fish, helping cook dinner on the fire, and then setting up the tents.”
“He’s such a big helper. He’s going to be an amazing big brother,” she murmurs.
“He is. He dotes on June, always wanting to give her toys or a pacifier or just rub her back like her daddy does.”
“I can’t wait to watch you be Daddy to our little one.”
“Next little one, Shortcake. I might not have been there for the first three years, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to miss a single second of anything moving forward. You’re stuck with me.”
She grins, her eyelids starting to droop. “I like the sound of that.”
Reaching over a passed-out Theo, I rub my fingers across her cheek. “You’ll never be alone again, Shortcake.”
“I like that too.”
“Good. Now, go to sleep. Let me know if you get cold, and I’ll grab another blanket,” I insist.
“I’m good, thanks,” she murmurs.
I stare at her as she drifts off to sleep, my mind replaying all the big moments we’ve shared in the last five months. Can that really be accurate? Five months since she moved back to Cooper Town? It’s fact, but even though it feels like such a short timeframe, our story truly began many years ago.
Her soft snores fill the tent, and when Theo turns into her side, she reaches for him in her sleep. I’m so damn lucky to have found her again, and with that, Theo. They’re my world.
A light echo of laughter reaches its way to me, and I realize someone’s outside. Since we’re on Wyatt’s property, it could be any number of people, but if I had to guess, I’d say Cade. We all decided to do our first campout together of the season, the four Miller siblings, Wyatt, and Alex.
Carefully, I slide from the air mattress, which is harder than expected since every movement is more dramatic on this thing.
When I finally get off and no one wakes up, I reach for a pair of sweatpants and my flannel shirt.
Slowly and as quietly as possible, I open the zippered door and climb out.
I lower the zipper before standing and turning toward the fire.
There I find the guys. Collin, Cade, Quinn, Wyatt, and Alex are all there, sitting in chairs around the fire and having a drink.
“What the hell? You’re having a party and didn’t invite me?”
“Check your phone, dumbass,” Quinn barks out softly, keeping his voice down so not to wake up anyone.
I don’t have my phone with me. It’s inside the tent and apparently on vibrate or something, since I didn’t hear the text.
“We just figured you were getting some,” Cade announces.
I snort and shake my head, grabbing a beer as I have a seat in one of the open bag chairs. “With a three-year-old in the tent with us? Sleeping on the same mattress?”
Cade shrugs. “Okay, fine. Not a good idea.”
“What’d I miss?” I ask, taking a drink out of my beer can.
“We were all taking bets on when you guys would officially tell us about the baby,” Collin says.
That beer I just took a drink of?
Yeah, I spit that out.
“What? You know?”
“Of course we know, dummy. You’ve been touching her belly all day,” Quinn says. “I know all about that. I couldn’t stop touching Charli’s stomach.”
Cade points at him. “You better be talking about the baby and not some weird kinky fetish and sexy stuff with our sister.”
Quinn rolls his eyes. “Of course I’m talking about the baby. Nothing better than feeling your child move.”
“I can’t wait for that,” Collin states softly, and we all look his way.
“Uhh, something you’re not telling us there, buddy?” Wyatt asks.
He just grins. “When we have something to share, you’ll be the first to know.”
“You gonna get that girl to walk down the aisle with you first?” I ask, knowing Collin and Lizzie have been engaged since last fall and have yet to set a date.
“Keep October fourth open on your calendars,” he replies.
“Seriously?” Cade asks.
“We just decided yesterday. Lizzie wanted to plan a cookout for everyone and share the news and ask everyone to be in the wedding. This is easier because I don’t have to feed you all.”
Several fingers lift in a middle finger salute.
“You’re having all of us?” I ask, looking around the fire. That’s five groomsmen.
“Yep. She’s got five too. Her brothers will be ushers.”
“Cool,” Cade states.
“We’re going to Stewart Grove though. She wants to have the wedding at her family’s bar.”
“Seriously?” Alex asks. “Is it big enough?”
“Her parents and uncles all got married there, so I’d say yes. It’s pretty big, especially if you use the restaurant side too.”
“So, Collin and Lizzie set a date and may be having a baby. Camden is having a baby but not telling anyone yet, even though he’s done a shitty job at hiding it and getting married soon. What about you and Charli?” Cade asks Quinn.
“No baby, but not for a lack of trying,” he replies casually before offering an ornery grin.
“Fucker,” Cade grumbles, clearly uncomfortable.
“And the proposal is happening soon,” he adds with a happy smile.
We sit around the fire for the next hour, bullshitting and catching up. We retell the same stories and recount childhood shenanigans. Honestly, it’s exactly what I think we all needed. Just six guys, all hanging out and telling lies.
It’s the perfect way to end the day.
“All right, assholes, there’s a gorgeous woman in that tent over there waiting for me,” Cade announces as he stands up and stretches his hands over his head.
“Same,” I agree, following his lead and getting up.
“What time is breakfast?” Quinn asks.
“How early can you wake Charli without her claws coming out?” I ask. My sister is a bear in the morning.
He snorts. “Noon?”
“How about eight?” Collin suggests, working on putting the fire out before we go to bed.
Always the firefighter.
“Fine with me,” I answer, throwing a wave over my shoulder. “Night, guys.”
They all offer their own good nights before we all disappear into our own tents.
As soon as I have the entrance zipped closed, I turn my attention to Maren.
My eyes adjust quickly and I find mother and son sleeping soundly where I left them.
Stripping off my sweats and flannel, I climb onto the thick air mattress and settle in beside my family.
My family.
All the heartache and pain has led me to this. To a future wife and son. To a new son or daughter on the way. To everything I always wanted but swore was out of reach. Now, it’s right here, sleeping beside me, and I’ve never been happier in my life.
No regrets.
This is only the beginning.
The End