Chapter 47 Bonus Epilogue - Second Christmas
Bonus Epilogue: Second Christmas
Cruz
The fire crackles a few feet from where I’m sitting on the couch.
The scent of the fresh pine tree wafts toward me from where it’s wrapped in yards of twinkling lights by the front window.
The gentle murmur of quiet conversations from other rooms in my parents' house lulls my heart into a sense of peace as I linger in the living room, holding a bundle of joy.
Coming home for Christmas is always fun, but this year it’s even more so because I get to cuddle my nephew, Westley. When I asked Mateo and Holly where they got the name from, they just looked at each other. I think I heard Mateo mumble, “As you wish.”
If they named my nephew after Westley from the Princess Bride, I might die of happiness because that man is so romantic. Perfect example for my nephew of how to woo a woman.
You know, if you forget about the whole becoming a pirate, almost dying, and fighting people with swords thing.
Still perfect.
I gaze down at the baby boy sleeping on my chest. It’s the middle of the afternoon and Westley is perfectly asleep, his thumb in his mouth while his other hand grips a fistful of my hair.
I will not be relinquishing this baby anytime soon. I will not move from this position, ever.
I nuzzle his fuzzy baby head and breathe in the newborn baby smell as I kiss his forehead. This chunky three-month-old baby has my heart.
Man, I wish I could do this every day.
I’m known for being overly competitive and having huge goals—which I am, and I do—but not many people know the real desire of my heart.
It’s always been to be a wife and a mom.
So far, I’m zero for two on that front.
Granted, I’m only twenty. But I feel like my biological clock is ticking. There’s this yearning for babies and for motherhood that claws at my chest, daily. Maybe it’s from hearing the stories of my mom’s infertility, and her struggles to have kids. Either way, I want babies, and I want them bad.
Even though I’m the star of my university’s soccer team and I’m studying to go into business, my minor is in family relations.
There’s always this concern in the back of my mind that I need to be ready to be a mom.
I’m grateful for the university’s dieticians who help me make sure I’m eating enough, and managing my workouts so I can keep my reproductive system healthy.
I’ve prayed about this pressure for years, but the only answer I seem to get is prepare and wait.
I try not to get frustrated, but what am I supposed to do with all of these mothering desires and instincts building up inside me?
"Take it out on the soccer field," is what my coach would say.
If only that helped.
Mateo barges into the room from the kitchen, drawing my gaze away from his adorable son. Mateo’s elephant steps quickly quiet as he sees Westley asleep on me.
Good, he should know how finicky my nephew is if he gets woken up too soon.
Mateo smirks. “Westley sure looks comfortable cuddling his auntie.”
I put on my cocky grin. “It’s because I’m the baby whisperer.”
My sister-in-law, Holly, walks in behind Mateo. “Thanks for taking him,” Holly whispers. “It was nice to get away for a lunch date with Mateo. It’s been three months since we had a meal together by ourselves.”
I smile at Holly, who has instilled some level-headedness into Mateo, while he brings out her fun and crazy side. They balance each other out, and their love story is almost like one of my romantic comedy books, full of swoony moments and growing together before realizing they were in love.
Unbidden, the image of the men’s soccer team star forward pops into my head.
Nope, not thinking of that grumpy jerk of a man.
“You’re welcome. I can keep holding Westley if you want to go do something else. Like take a nap.”
Holly looks at the empty couch across from me with its stack of pillows and fuzzy blankets, the dark circles under her eyes more pronounced the longer I look at her. “I wish, but I really need to feed him. He’s not going to want to wake up, but Momma’s dying.”
My heart clenches at the thought of relinquishing this perfect little guy, but when Holly gently lifts him off my chest, I let him go. She cradles him in her arms as she coos, his eyelashes fluttering. Westley looks at Holly with a gummy smile, and my heart almost bursts from the adorableness.
Holly walks out of the room with Westley, and it’s like a little piece of my heart leaves with her.
Mateo plops down on the couch across from me. “You sure do love babies, little sister.”
I roll my eyes. “They’re the purest thing on the planet. Of course I love them.”
Mateo smiles, but he looks exhausted as he sinks further into the couch. “They’re a lot of work too.”
I shrug. “Mami always said babies are the hardest but most rewarding blessing.”
Mateo’s eyes flutter before closing. “It’s true.”
Gentle snores emanate from my brother as I sit, watching the flames dance across the logs. Just when I’m about to get up in search of a Christmas treat to distract me from my thoughts of babies, Mateo sits up and shakes his head.
His eyes land on me, and it’s like a light goes off. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Mami says there’s a guy on the soccer team that’s bothering you.”
Gray eyes and dark hair flash through my mind, a zing of heat racing through my heart.
“He’s not bothering me. Julian Storm is an irritant and a jerk, nothing more.
Unfortunately, we somehow keep being in classes together.
He’s cocky and thinks he’s better than everyone else.
Granted, he is an amazing soccer player, but he has zero humility.
” I scoff. “Plus he got the best soccer sponsor this year, and his social media following is ridiculous. All he has to do is post a shirtless picture and he gets like a million new followers. Meanwhile, I bust my butt to get sponsors and manage my social media marketing.”
Mateo’s eyebrow arches. “Hmm, someone is sounding a little jealous."
I glare at him. “I’m not jealous. I’m just frustrated. Men have it so easy, while we women have to work twice as hard to get as far, especially in sports.”
Mateo bumps my shoulder with his. “I get it, sis. That’s tough.” Then he smirks, and the teasing tone I know so well sneaks into his voice. “Is your frustration really because he’s irritating, or is it something more?” He wiggles his eyebrows, making him look absolutely ridiculous.
I fake a pout. “It’s definitely all from the fact he’s the most attractive man I’ve ever met.”
“Aha! Here we find the real problem.” He taps his chin dramatically before a sly grin appears on his face. “This sounds like the start of a very good love story, little sister.”
I shake my head. “It does not!”
He folds his arms and leans back on the couch, acting all nonchalant. “From where I sit, it looks like you’ve got a case of the hots for the snobby, grumpy soccer player. Sounds very trope-y to me.”
I facepalm myself. “Ugh. I should have never explained tropes to you.”
Mateo laughs. “I’m glad you did, seeing as how my marriage of convenience turned into a love match.”
I sigh. “Yeah, but love stories like that are one in a million. Real life is totally different from a romance novel.”
He pushes himself off the couch and ruffles my hair as he walks by. “That’s what you think, little sis, but keep your heart open to that broodingly handsome soccer player. He might turn out to be your Mr. Darcy.”
I straighten my hair, pushing strands out of my eyes. “You’re the worst.”
Mateo saunters toward the kitchen. “You love me!”
“Whatever,” I mumble as I put my legs up on the couch, taking up every cushion with my six-foot frame. “He has no idea what he’s talking about,” I tell the fireplace.
But for the rest of the day, I can’t get the image of Julian as Mr. Darcy out of my head.
He actually might look good in 1800s attire.