Epilogue
Ten years later
“Mom! He won’t stop!” comes from the back door before it slams shut
Sighing, I place my book on the end table, standing, knowing exactly what L.J. is doing. One thing about him is that he lives to piss off his sister and cousins.
Stepping outside, he’s running back and forth, Laken’s doll in his raised hand. “Come get it if you want it,” he screams at her, laughing the entire way to the edge of the tree line. His black hair falls into his eyes when he turns around, seeing me, and stops immediately.
Laken turns to me, placing her hand on her hip, “You going to do something about this?” She’ll be eight soon, but I swear she embodies an old woman.
“I want to go to Uncle Damian’s.” Her blonde hair is in pigtails, and her overalls, once pink, are now a dingy color from how much she wears them.
She looks just like Lauren did at her age.
The moment I saw pictures of her as a child, my heart stopped.
Laken is her aunt made over. And she’s her daddy and papa’s girl, through and through.
“One day. Just one day.” I say that phrase literally every day, but they’ll never know my heart beats for these moments. The chaos, screams, giggles, and feralness they gift me with.
The moment L.J. was placed in my arms, my life changed forever. I knew undoubtedly that he was the reason I fought so hard. Luca made me want to be a better person, but L.J. made me a better person. He gave me every reason to be the woman I am now.
Luca Jr. walks toward me, his face already saying sorry. “Again?” I startle as Luca pulls me to him.
“Mommy,” comes from the toddler on his hip, who’s reaching out for me. Now, this one, this is all me and Luca combined.
Grabbing him, placing a kiss on his perfect cherub cheeks. “You have fun with daddy, Sebastian?” His smile widens.
“I think it’s time for his nap, and I’m sending those two to their uncles.” Luca points to L.J. and Laken, who squeals. “And you, meet me in the room, clothes off, bent over the bed.” He kisses me, becoming deeper before eww is called out, making us break our kiss.
“Okay,” I breathily reply, leaving him with the kids to do what he said. No matter how much time has passed, the number of kids we have, Luca still makes me feel like he did all those years ago. If anything, our love has grown, and our attraction to one another is stronger.
He is my forever.